Experience Exhilarating Winter Activities Throughout Utah

Home to 21 ski areas, including luxurious Deer Valley and powder-laden Alta, Utah is a haven for both skiers and snowboarders. However, there’s so much more to explore throughout Utah in the winter. From wondrous ice castles to epic scuba diving in geothermal waters, Utah is a winter wonderland. Adventurous travelers can get the most from a Utah winter visit via the following exhilarating experiences.

Ice Castles

Utah’s magical Ice Castles are a must-see in the winter. Archways, mazes, tunnels and more are handcrafted from over 25 million pounds of ice. Expanding across an acre of land in Midway, families can wander through the maze of ice and find fountains, slides and playgrounds cut just for kids. The castles are a true winter wonderland during the day, and night-time visitors can watch the ice towers shine bright in beautiful technicolor with hundreds of rainbow LED lights. Open on most winter holidays through March.

Insider Tip:

Strollers are not allowed in the castles so bring a sled to pull little ones and anyone with limited mobility through the tunnels. For the ultimate festive experience, add a horse-drawn sleigh ride to your visit when you purchase your ticket online.

Homestead Crater

Warm up at Homestead Crater, a warm pool of geothermal waters in Midway. A year-round attraction, this geothermal pool is found at the base of a 55 foot crater and is perfect for soothing the body after a long day in the cold.

Insider Tip:

Bring your scuba gear. Homestead Crater is the only warm water scuba destination in the continental United States, and you can dive year-round. Visitors can even get scuba certified at the crater.

Snowshoeing

The ultimate winter adventure for outdoor lovers, snowshoeing in Utah is the best way to explore the state’s beautiful winter landscape. From easy, calming walks through the trees and half-frozen streams to moderate climbs through mountain landscapes, snowshoeing is an activity that everyone can enjoy.

Insider Tip:

No need to bring snowshoes on the plane. There are numerous outfitters across Northern and Southern Utah that can rent the gear you need, or better yet, guide you to their favorite spots.

Winter Stargazing

One of Utah’s best locally kept secrets, the winter months are the best time to view the expansive, starry sky fields. Winter provides the unique opportunity to access the night sky longer and earlier in the evening, and the crisp air allows for clearer viewing.

Stay Slopeside near the Greatest Snow on Earth.

Nestled in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, Snowpine Lodge shares the mountain with Alta Ski Resort. Enjoy apres-ski fare at Snowpine’s two unforgettable in-house dining experiences with stunning views of the mountains, with dishes made from regionally-sourced Utah ingredients.

Insider Tip:

Don’t miss the iconic Stillwell Spa, once a building used for the mining industry, Stillwell embodies its history with a sacred space made from the original granite stone, a dimly-lit grotto with a plunge pool and other natural materials used throughout. Enhance any service with Oxygen inhalation therapy to combat the altitude, detoxify the body and cleanse the blood.

Sundance Mountain Resort (Sundance). Rustic, cozy and one of the top-rated ski resorts in the country, Sundance Mountain Resort has it all. The resort is only an hour from Salt Lake International Airport, but it feels like its own private world, due to founder Robert Redford’s devotion to help grow a community committed to the balance of art, nature and community. Built in 1969, Sundance offers an atmosphere steeped in cultural heritage. The resort has 50 runs, 2,150 feet of vertical, 500 skiable acres and beautifully rustic slope-side suites.

Insider Tip:

Not into skiing? Enjoy the winter landscape in a unique way with the Nordic Center Night Owling hike. Take a professionally guided snowshoe tour where wildlife experts use live owls to teach guests about wildlife in winter, then head out on the trail to call and locate owls in the area.

A winter mountain for every personality.

Spread the winter love throughout Utah’s mountains by visiting those lesser traveled and favored by locals. Nestled deep in the heart of the Wasatch Mountains, Nordic Valley is just a few short miles from the restaurants and comforts of the booming town of Ogden. Nordic Valley is one of the most accessible, family centered and budget friendly ski areas in the country, and is famous for its ski school, intermediate and advanced slopes.

Snowbasin is less crowded (and far less expensive), but no less spectacular than some of the top mountains in the country. New to the Ikon Pass this year, digital snowmads taking to Salt Lake City for the winter have season access to Snowbasin and five additional nearby mountains.

Reconnect with nature at Eagle Point Resort. Experience the fresh mountain air at Eagle Point Resort. Perched high upon a stunning location in the Tushar Mountains, Eagle Point is peaceful, intimate and inviting.

Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection

Deer Valley’s newest luxury resort and residences, Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection and the revolutionary cold plunge company, Plunge, have partnered to bring winter sports enthusiasts from slopes to recovery and relaxation with a new après ski wellness program. Located steps away from the lifts at Deer Valley’s Silver Lake Village and in proximity to Park City’s numerous other ski resorts, Goldener Hirsch guests have free access to the Plunge on the rooftop, which also features a heated pool, hot tub, sauna and undisturbed mountain views. The rooftop recovery hub allows guests to alter their body temperature switching from hold-cold and vice versa, often called the Nordic Cycle.

The partnership will also include various new après ski experiences that combine cold plunging with other mindful practices to maximize the healing effects:

* Inhalation, Exhalation: Beginning with 15 minutes of pranayama breathwork, guests will learn the mechanics of how to breathe properly while plunging.

* Cardio to Plunge: This performance-based experience starts with a warm-up to increase blood flow to muscles before a HIIT circuit for a rejuvenating boost of energy.

* Hot to Cold: To transform your physical and mental body, this experience taps into the Nordic Cycle ritual.