If you are in Utah for the winter season here are several fun winter activities you can take part of! All of them are family friendly so feel free to take the kids along or turn one of these into a date for just you and your significant other.
Some of these activities can be done anytime during the winter months but some have specific dates that they run throughout the winter season. Make sure you check dates and hours before making plans to go anywhere so that places are definitely open.
The best part is almost all of these winter activities are within an hour of Salt Lake City barring bad road conditions or traffic! So get ready for lots of fun things to do in Utah in winter this year.
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Skiing & Snowboarding
Whether you’re an experienced skier or it is your first time on the slopes, if you are spending a winter in Utah you should give it a try. There is nothing quite like the wind in your hair, adrenaline in your veins as you glide over the snow. Not to mention, Utah has some of the greatest snow in the united states that you can enjoy.
You can take a quick lesson on the mountain or go with a friend that skis and have them show you the basics. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the experience. I took my husband up his first time and by the end he could ride down the green and blue trails only falling occasionally! I would definitely say that skiing, snowboarding, or cross-country skiing are must experience winter activities in Utah.
Pro Tip: To find great deals on day passes to almost any local resort I recommend using Liftopia. The further in advance you purchase your pass, the more money you can save. There are still great deals to be found last minute though so always check.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is another great way to get out and enjoy the snow but this one requires no skill at all. I picked up snow shoeing so that I could keep hiking year round with Copper, my husky.
The gear is fairly affordable (makes a great christmas gift!) or it can be rented from places like BYU Outdoors Unlimited in Orem or Canyon Sports in Salt Lake City.
I recommend using the Alltrails App to find trails that are snowshoe friendly! We loved the trails around Tibble Fork Resevoiur. We also really enjoyed Timpanogos Falls trail, it is up past Sundance ski resort and takes you to a small waterfall (plus it is dog friendly).
Winter Hiking
If you don’t feel like snowshoeing you can also go hiking on the winter trails. The winter is the perfect time to explore Utah’s five national parks without the crowds. Bryce Canyon National Park in the winter is truly a beautiful sight to see. You head down to southern Utah to visit Zion National Park or Arches National Park. Or take some time to explore the state parks or other amazing hikes throughout the state of Utah.
Hot Springs
It may be cold outside but that shouldn’t keep you inside. A quick hike through the cold can feel really rewarding when it ends in a warm soak at one of Utah’s many natural hot springs!
- Crystal Hot Springs
- 5th Water Hot Springs
- Mystic Hot Springs
- Homestead Crater (Hot springs in a large cavern, must have a reservation)
Snow Tubing
If you’re looking for a super fun winter activity in Utah that will be fun for the whole family then look no further! Soldier Hallow has the longest tubing lanes in Utah at 1,200 plus a lift that will take you to the top of the lanes. You can spend a couple super fun hours speeding downhill on large, industrial strength blow up tubes. Snow Tubing is a fun activity for kids and adults of all ages and is one of the best winter activities in Utah. We went for an extended family get together and everyone had a blast!
Soldier Hallow is located in Midway, UT.
Dates: Dec. 18th – Feb. 28th
Hours: Weekdays: 4pm – 6pm, Friday and Saturday: 10am – 8 pm, Sunday: 12pm – 2pm
Pricing: ~ $25 per person.
Pricing varies depending on day of the week and wether it is a holiday or not. Check their website for accurate prices and hours!
Other Helpful Utah Posts
- How to Spend a Relaxing Day in Park City, Utah
- Adventurous Day Trips from Salt Lake City, Utah
- One Day in St. George, Utah
Ice Skating
A classic winter activity, and one of my favorites, is ice skating! Utah is no exception and there are several places that you can partake in the fun. Park City, only 35 minutes from Salt Lake City, has a small outdoor rink at the base of the ski hills that would be great for some day skiing. They also have the Park City Ice Arena.
In downtown Salt Lake City there is an outdoor rink set up each year.
If you are further south in Provo there is an indoor Peaks Ice Arena which is a great place to skate and is very affordable.
I am sure there are many other locations throughout the valley that you can find to skate at as well.
Visit Utah Olympic Park
In 2002 the Winter Olympics were hosted in Utah which really put Utah on the map for winter sports like never before. Located in Park City all the buildings and tracks that were built for the Olympic winter games are now used by professional athletes to train and compete. People who are looking for a little adventure can go bobsledding. You are taken down the olympic track with a professional driver and can reach speeds over 60mph! Make sure you visit the Utah olympic oval and more less than an hour from Salt Lake City.
Cost to bobsled: $175 (cost during peak holiday season is $195)
Requirements: Riders must be 16+ and weigh over 100 lbs.
For more information or to buy tickets please visit the Utah Olympic Park website.
Luminaria
Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside. At Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton’s Gardens there is a HUGE light and music show set up. You and your family members can walk along the path and enjoy magical scenes of christmas and winter set to music. The sheer number of lights is astounding! And for restless kiddos there are fun play areas with games they can play. Plus, be sure to grab some hot chocolate and treats to enjoy as you walk.
Dates: Nov. 20, 2020 – Jan. 2, 2021 (closed Sunday’s)
Hours: 5pm – 8:30 pm
Pricing: $17 per adult, $13 per child
Book your tickets and check updates on their website.
Ice Castles of Midway
Bring fairytales to life this holiday by visiting an ice castle that looks like something Elsa could have made. The Midway Ice Castles is a large ice structure that is a great spot for a date night. The ice lights up at night giving it a truly magical feeling. Or bring the kids along and you can all enjoy the ice slides, explore tunnels, and sip on hot cocoa. Truly a winter wonderland in the middle of Utah.
The ice castle is located in Midway, UT.
Dates and Hours: Weather dependent, please check online.
Pricing: On weekends and holidays Adults are $20 and Kids are $13. On weekdays tickets are $14 for Adults and $10 for kids.
Please check their website for updates and tickets!
Shop Our Winter Gear Favorites
Christkindlmarkt
// Black Tights //
One of my favorite winter activities in Utah is the Christkindlemarkt. The Christkindlemarkt is an authentic German christmas market right in the center of downtown Salt Lake City! The German christmas markets are world renown but if you can’t make it this year then this is the next best thing.
The market is held in “This is The Place Heritage Park” which is across from the zoo. Inside they have everything from food stands with delicious german foods like curry-wurst and brat-wurst, shopping stalls with hand made and boutique items, and live performers! And so much more for kids and adults. If they are there this year I highly recommend getting some roasted pecans to snack on as you walk around. So yummy.
Dates: Closed in 2020 due to COVID-19
Price Free
Please check out their website for the most current and up to date information. Hopefully things will be back to normal for the 2021 season.
Christmas Village
Around Christmas time every year downtown Ogden lights up the Ogden Municipal Gardens. There is a whole village and several cottages placed throughout the park that gets completely decorated for christmas! There are visits from Santa and his reindeer as well as a firework show and more put on throughout the season.
Dates: Nov. 27, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
Prices: Free
Things will look a different than normal this 2020 season. To see what is cancelled and what is still happening along with dates and times please check their website.
Guides for Utah Parks
- 2 Days in Arches National Park, Utah
- Day Trip Guide to Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
- Visiting Sand Dunes in Utah at Little Sahara Recreational Area
Temple Square
Visiting temple square during the holiday season is a right of passage in Utah. It is something you have to do in the area whether you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ or not. The main attraction is the hundreds upon hundreds of lights that get put up. I don’t even want to know how many man hours go into setting up the whole area. There is something magical about seeing the temple grounds all lit up with lights though, so worth it.
While you’re there, especially on a chilly night, I recommend grabbing some hot chocolate from the ground floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It is delicious and of course warm plus super close to the temple! Another cool sight they have set up are the nativities from around the world where each set has people dressed like different cultures. I always like to go around and guess which country they are from.
Dates: Temple Square is closed for construction for 2022.
Price: Free
Although the Temple grounds are closed this year there will be a virtual event held online by missionaries so that everyone can still enjoy the christmas lights. Please check out their website to learn more!
City Creek Center
Another fun Christmas activity in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is the visit City Creek Mall. Located just across from Temple Square (and where you should park when visiting temple square) they have huge christmas tree displays all over. Between the christmas displays in every store window, meeting Santa Claus, and snacking on christmas treats from places like Crumbl means there is no shortage of things to do.
If you get there at opening the Disney store lets one guest unlock the store with a special key that you can keep as a souvenir!
And as an added bonus the whole mall is dog friendly so feel free to bring your pup along. There is even one night a year when your dog can meet Santa!
For Santa dates and times make sure you check out their website.
Christmas in Color
This winter activity in Utah helps you get into the christmas spirit without even leaving the car! Christmas in Color is the largest animated light show in Utah. It is all set to music that you listen to through your radio making it a private show just for your car. I recommend bringing some fun snacks to share or make a night of it and go out before or after for a special treat.
Dates: November 20, 2020 – January 2, 2021
Hours: Monday – Thursday they are open 5:30pm – 10pm. Friday and Saturday they are open 5:30pm – 10:30 pm.
Price: $30 per Vehicle
Tickets are exclusively sold online this year to cut down on person-person contact. Visit their website to purchase tickets and check for updates.
Zoo Lights
At Utah’s Hogle Zoo each year they set up a huge display of lights throughout the zoo. You can enjoy the zoo at night, see the lights and of course you can meet Santa here as well! There is a large lit tunnel that is fun so walk through and lots of fun treats and hot chocolate being sold at the concession stands.
Dates: December 5, 2020 – January 5, 2021
Hours: 5:30pm – 9pm
Price: Adults are $9.95 and Children are $7.95
Please check their website to purchase tickets and reserve a spot. You can also find all their updates and see what activities are planned for different days!
Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Flim Festival takes place in late January each year in Park City, Utah. The film festival showcases creative films from documentaries, to short films. Everything gets submitted ahead of time and several films have gone on to win big awards. If you’re looking for unique winter activities in Utah to experience then the Sundance film festival definitely fits the bill.
Dates: Jan 28, 2021 – Feb 8, 2021
Please check their website for updates concerning this years schedule and ticket prices!
Practical Information for Visiting Salt Lake City, UT
Find accommodation, sign up for a local tour, or buy your Utah Travel Guide.
Fun Winter Activities in Utah
Whether you are looking for outdoor adventure or holiday cheer there are so many fun activities to enjoy in the state of Utah during the winter! Just because the weather turns cold doesn’t mean the fun has to stop or that you have to be pent up indoors. So give a few of these a try this year! I hope you have the best time doing these winter activities in Utah.
If you know of any other fun winter activities in Utah please share them in the comments below so that others can learn about them too!
