Ice Castles in Utah | The #1 Place You Need to Visit!

Ice Castles in Utah

Utah is full of magical places and the Ice Castles in Utah are definitely at the top of the list! This place is a must visit for locals and tourists alike. They are open each year from the end of December-March (weather dependent).

They are truly spectacular and they are actually man made by professional artists! Each year they look different and even each day they can look different depending on how the weather has affected them. The Ice Castles also light up at night which is pretty incredible to see. The Ice Castles in Utah are fun for the whole family and there are actually even ice slides and tunnels for kids!

Activities at the Ice Castles in Utah

While visiting the ice castles there are plenty to do! They have “ice chutes” for bigger kids and adults that are fun winter slides which they provided the mats for. They have smaller chutes for the wee ones too!

There are horse-drawn sleigh rides. We have done this twice and definitely recommend it! There is room for up to 15 people and they generally last 15-20 min. This is a fun way to enjoy Utah’s wintery landscape. You will have to add this to your main ticket when buying. Although there is a specific time, you can go and do the sleigh ride at any time during your visit.

Others include hand carved tunnels, fountains and frozen thrones and much more!

You can even book a private alcove for special events. We had a friend do this and propose to his now wife, how romantic!

Ice Castle Performers

There will be the “Snow Queen and Winter Fairy” performers on select dates and times so make sure to inquire before you go if this is something you are interested in. They are included in the price of your ticket! Some previous performances include Princesses and Fire performers.

How to Get to the Ice Castles in Utah, Midway

The Ice Castles in Utah are located in Midway- just about 30-40 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City or about 20 minutes from Park City. If you are visiting for a ski trip in Park City, the Ice Castles are a perfect addition to your trip.

Soldier Hollow Nordic Center 2002 Olympic Dr, Midway, UT 84049

What to Wear to the Ice Castles

The weather in Utah in the winter is generally very cold, usually averaging under 30 degrees F and can sometimes get as low as 0 degrees F! Make sure to wear lots of layers at the Ice Castles. I suggest wearing thermal tops and bottoms, wool socks, snow boots, heavy gloves and a nice Winter coat.

I would also suggest bringing hand warmers to put in your mittens, just in case. Also, don’t forget your scarf and a nice warm beanie hat. (I took off my coat for my pictures so don’t let that confuse you, the weather was very cold!)

Midway, Utah

Midway, Utah (where the Ice Castles are located) is a cute and quaint little town which is definitely worth a visit. Midway is sometimes affectionately referred to as “Switzerland of Utah” because many immigrants from Switzerland settled here and as such there are many houses and buildings with Swiss architecture and there is even a Swiss Days held here each year in September.

Midway and the surrounding cities have a lot of activities to offer besides the Ice Castles. It is a really great place to visit in the Winter, as there is cross country skiing, snow shoeing, tubing, sledding, horseback riding and snowmobiling nearby. Midway is also home to the Midway Homestead Crater which is actually right across from the Ice Castles. You can read more about the crater in my post all about Utah’s top hot springs here!

Midway Utah Hotels

I love to stay at the Zermatt Resort in Midway. The hotel is in the perfect location for visiting the Ice Castles and the Homestead Crater as it is just right across the street. The atmosphere is perfect and it feels like you are in Switzerland. They also feature their own restaurant, cafe, carousel, indoor and outdoor heated pool, mini golf course and spa! Book your stay here.