Most people come to Utah to ski and ride The Greatest Snow on Earth®, but you don’t have to be a skier or rider to enjoy the magic of Utah’s mountains. Utah has so much to offer beyond its famous slopes. From a thriving urban hub, to winter outdoor activities like snowshoeing and tubing, Utah is home to some iconic winter experiences.
Whether you want to cozy up in a cabin and marvel at the glistening snowfall or bundle up and make core memories building a snowman with your kids, here are some unique ideas to get your trip planning juices flowing.
Winter Hiking
Just because you don’t ski, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the mountains. Utah is a mecca for hiking and has many trails that are still accessible during the winter months. If you do choose to get outside, be sure to dress appropriately, utilizing gear like YakTraxs and hiking poles. Also be sure to check Utah Avalanche Center for safe places to hike and to check the current avalanche forecast.
Tubing at Woodward Park City
There are many great places to go sled or tube with your family, but one that stands out is Woodward Park City's snow tubing park. With the longest tubing lanes in Utah, it’s an experience sure to elicit a laugh even from the harshest critic. The tubing lasts in two-hour sessions and you can even tube into the night with their “Magic Under the Lights” lasting until 7pm daily.
Cross Country Ski or Snowshoe at Solitude Nordic Nights
Cross country skiing is a great sport for all experience levels and a really unique way to get outdoors in winter. A particularly fun event to try out is Solitude Nordic Nights at Solitude Mountain Resort. On specific weekends throughout the winter, Solitude will light hundreds of torches and candles to illuminate their Nordic and snowshoe trails. You can enjoy cross country skiing or snowshoeing under the moonlight and even snag some complimentary s’mores and hot chocolate while standing around the fire pits. With trail passes for just $8, it’s not only a special experience but an affordable one as well!
To learn more about Utah's nordic ski areas, visit our comprehensive guide.
Curling
As host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Utah offers some surprising winter activities. Take curling, for example. Channel your inner Olympian at the Utah Olympic Oval's “Learn to Curl” program and learn fundamentals, including proper delivery, sweeping and basic strategy. If you’re not ready to dust off your Olympian shoes just yet, you could try for a more social curling experience at the Hyatt Regency’s "Rooftop Curling." Coming mid-January, reservations starting December 1, Hyatt Regency in downtown Salt Lake will offer a one-of-a-kind curling experience on their sixth floor Sundance Terrace, complete with pop-up curling lanes, outdoor heaters, and, of course, cocktails.
Dining
If skiing isn’t for you or you need a day off, you may be looking to find yourself indoors admiring the snow, preferably next to a fire, rather than playing in it. We get it. Not all winter experiences have to be outside in the cold — cue in Utah’s award-winning dining. Become fully immersed in the snow, while not actually being outside, in one of Utah’s snow globe dining experiences at Stein Eriksen Lodge, or get a wood-fired grilled pizza while looking out floor to ceiling windows at Stoneground Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake. You can even surround yourself with skiers by taking the famous Snowbird Aerial Tram and dining at The Summit at a whopping 11,000 feet elevation.
There are so many winter activities to see and do in Utah. For more ideas and help planning your Utah vacation, visit our trip planner page and start planning your trip today.
