11 Magical Things to do in Utah in Winter

Utah is one of my favorite states in the U.S and I believe it is such a hidden gem! It is amazing in all four seasons, even Winter. No need to go somewhere warm this winter, there is an abundance of fun things to do in Utah in the Winter and it is seriously a beautiful Winter Wonderland.

Here are the top 10 things to do in Utah in the winter!

1- Ice Castles

The Ice Castles are honestly one of the coolest places I have ever been and they are definitely the top thing to do in Utah in the Winter! They now have many locations all throughout the United States, but they started in Utah and they are a perfect addition to your Utah Winter trip! I advise getting tickets in advance as it is a really popular attraction for locals and tourists alike and tickets do sell out!

When you go on their website you actually pick a time slot that you want and after that you can stay as long as you like. I recommend going about an hour before sunset that way you can see what they look like during the day, at sunset and then at night when everything lights up! It is really magical!

You can buy tickets here.

NOTE: The Ice Castles are also family friendly and there are cool ice slides the kids can go on!

2- Tubing

Tubing is one of the most fun things to do in Utah in the Winter. I was seriously laughing my head off the whole time and that is the most fun I have had in awhile! It is a perfect activity to do with your family or a group of friends. Everyone has their own tube, but you can all hold on to each other\’s tube so you can ride down the hill together and it is so fun. My husband and I went and had so much fun. I can’t believe how fast you can get going.

We went tubing in Soldier Hollow and you can buy your tickets here.

3- Horseback Riding

This was my first time horseback riding and it was truly magical! Being able to ride through snowy mountains was actually really calming and peaceful and the scenery was breath taking. There are many places you can go horseback riding in Park City or Heber Valley, Utah. It is so nice to be able to go out with a guide especially if you are a first timer like me!

4- Hot Springs

There are an abundance of incredible hot springs in Utah and what better time to visit them than in the Winter? There is even a hot spring you can soak in that is inside of a crater in Midway, Utah. I can’t think of a more unique experience! The craziest part is that you can also take a scuba diving class in there!

5- Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is an especially fun time to be in Utah and this takes place every January. Most of the events are located in Park City on Main Street so you will definitely want to give this place a visit. If you get lucky, you’ll even be able to spot some celebrities! Many celebrities come each year for the event- mostly during opening weekend.

Try to book tickets for a film you want to see beforehand, but if it sells out, you can always try your luck at standby. There are many activation’s and pop up shops as well during Sundance. Last year I checked out the Dell pop up shop that was in the Park City Museum and they had a lot of really cool displays, breakfast, a panel with some film makers, some cool swag to giveaway and even a free sign up for Sorrel shoes! You seriously don’t want to miss this event!

6- Snowmobiling

I went snowmobiling for the first time last year and I don’t know why it took me so long to try it out. It was so much fun and extremely exhilarating! We went snowmobiling with Daniel Summit Lodge which I highly recommend!

It is a rustic lodge that you can stay the night at as well. You can rent gear from them as well- like heavy duty gloves and winter clothes- snow suits, heavy duty coats and the like. You can either go snowmobiling with a guide or head out on your own! It’s really nice here because they have a trail laid out for you so you shouldn’t get lost!

I absolutely loved this experience and going through the snowy winter wonderland was magical! We were able to see some wildlife off in the distance as well which was really cool!

Check out this website to go snowmobiling at Daniel Summit Lodge.

7- National Parks

The National parks in Utah are great any time of the year- including Winter! I actually think Winter is an especially special time to visit them. The juxtaposition of the white snow contrasting with the red rocks is unbeatable. Another pro is that they will be a lot less busy! It might even feel like you have the park all to yourself in some areas! Just make sure to dress properly and be careful of ice!

8- Tibble Fork Reservoir

Tibble Fork Reservoir is one of the best places to go in Utah in the Winter! The lake is frozen over and if you are lucky, you can even ice skate on it! There is also a lot of people there ice fishing so this is a really good place to do that. Tons of families also come here for some amazing sledding! I love going here just to explore the beautiful mountain scenery and hiking around. This would be an ideal place to go snow shoeing!

9- Sundance Mountain Resort

Sundance Mountain Resort is a really nice place to go in Utah in the Winter. They have a ski lift and mountain and this is a really fun place to go if you enjoy skiing. If you are not a skier, this resort is still really nice to visit in the Winter. It’s location right in the mountains and next to a small pond, river and waterfalls makes it a perfect location to explore and take pictures. They are nice fire pits around the bottom of the ski slope as well so you can keep warm and enjoy the setting. There is also a really cute café there where you can warm up with some hot cocoa. Want to keep warm while still enjoying the Winter mountain setting? Check out their art studio! They have different classes everyday, including a pottery class.

10- Winter Wonderland Sleigh Ride

You can also go on a private sleigh ride with the whole family at Rocky Mountain Outfitters in Heber Valley, Utah in the Winter. We went through the most peaceful Winter Wonderland and our 2 year old absolutely loved it. We got to meet all of the horses at the ranch after as well. This was truly a magical and memorable experience for us.

Visiting Utah in the Winter is so fun, but make sure you bundle up- it can get very cold here! I love to buy my Winter clothes for me and my Toddler at Target.

Utah in the Winter is perfect for a magical sleigh ride

11- Dine in a Snow Globe

One of the most magical things to do in Utah in the Winter is to dine in an Alpenglobe. They have these incredible dining globes in a few places near Park City and Midway. We dined in The Alpenglobes at Cafe Galleria in Utah. Make sure to make reservations in advance because it fills up quickly.

The globes can fit up to 8 people and they are equipped with a heater and blankets. However, our feet were still pretty chilly so make sure to dress your feet really warmly if you are going on a really cold day like we did.

Overall, our experience was wonderful and it is definitely one of our favorite things to do in Utah in the Winter.

Note: There is a fee to make a reservation for the globes because they are so popular. Also, If the dates you want are full, make sure to keep checking constantly because reservations get cancelled all of the time and that’s how we got ours!

Where to Stay-

Black Rock Mountain Resort

We stayed at The Black Rock Mountain Resort on our recent winter trip in Utah and we highly recommend it! It’s great for everyone, but we really loved it for families.

They have suites equipped with kitchens and a living area so you can cook food and have plenty of space for your family. They also have 2 and 3 bedroom suites!

The amenities are great and they have a heated pool, hot tub and Sauna. There’s also a HUGE entertainment area with tons of TV’s, pool tables and ping pong tables. Down the hall from this area, they also have an arcade with at least a dozen games which is such a fun place to hang out after a day of cold adventures in the snow.

There is even an on-site Bar and Restaurant as well. The food at the restaurant was very good and the views of the snowy mountains can’t be best!

One last huge perk is the free shuttle they offer to ski areas and downtown Main Street which is especially useful when visiting Utah in the Winter.