Winter · December to March
Utah in winter
The Greatest Snow on Earth, and red rock in the quiet season.
Photo: GyozaDumpling · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Utah's winter is built around snow: light, dry powder that piles up in the Cottonwood canyons at 500 inches a season, an easy drive from the Salt Lake City airport. Ten resorts sit within about an hour of the airport, and the 2034 Winter Olympics are coming back to Salt Lake City and Park City.
Winter is also the secret season in the south. Bryce Canyon's hoodoos under fresh snow are one of the great sights in the West, Zion is nearly empty, and St. George stays mild enough for golf and hiking all season.
What to do
- Ski the CottonwoodsAlta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude sit up two canyons from the Salt Lake Valley. Take the UTA ski bus or plan for parking reservations and traction rules.
- Try the Olympic venuesUtah Olympic Park near Park City runs bobsled rides, a museum and ski-jump shows; Soldier Hollow in Midway has groomed cross-country trails and tubing.
- See Bryce in the snowThe rim trail stays open, the crowds are gone and the red rock glows under white. Snowshoes are often available from the park in winter.
- Soak in a craterThe Homestead Crater in Midway is a 55-foot limestone dome with 90-degree mineral water inside, open to swimmers and scuba divers all year.
- Catch a gameThe Jazz and the Mammoth both play downtown at the Delta Center, and college basketball fills the Huntsman Center and the Marriott Center.
Good to know
- Little Cottonwood Canyon can close during and after big storms for avalanche control. Check UDOT Cottonwoods on social media or the UDOT Traffic app before you drive up.
- Cottonwood canyon traction laws require 4WD/AWD or chains on many winter days.
- Inversions can trap haze in the valleys for days. Head up to the resorts or out to the desert to get above it.
- Mountain passes like SR-12 near Boulder and SR-14 above Cedar City stay open but can be icy. Carry water, food and warm clothes.