Utah winters can be hard. It's snowy, cold, and cloudy most days. It's so hard to find things to do, especially if you live outside of Salt Lake City. We have made a goal to start enjoying winter activities more so we aren't just waiting for summer! I've compiled a list of our favorite things to do in Utah in the winter, some general activities and some specific. I tried to keep it to free or cheap activities as well! Enjoy!
Hardware Ranch
Hardware Ranch is located at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon in Hyrum UT! It's an elk refuge that wild elk come down to in the winter time for food, and to get out of the deep mountain snow. You can see the visitor center and the elk from a distance for free. Usually, you could take a sleigh ride for $5 a person in a horse drawn carriage through the elk and see them up close, but it's been cancelled this year. It's such a fun activity, and well worth the beautiful canyon drive!
Crystal Hot Springs
Crystal Hot Springs in Perry UT was recently remodeled and gained a brand new hot spring pool! It's close to Cache Valley and Ogden, and is such a good option for a weeknight activity when it's cold out. We love going while it's snowing! It's about $9 a person, and there are multiple pools and even a water slide in the summer.
Park City
We love taking weekend getaways to Park City! There's so much to do. Check out Hotel Tonight for last minute deals on resorts (our favorite resorts are Westgate, Sundial, and Newpark) and walk around the town! There are lots of little shops to window shop, theaters to watch movies and shows, skiing, great restaurants, and it's super close to the Midway Ice Castles. Can't miss places: I Love Moo, Southwest Indian Traders, Park City Museum. Be prepared for booked out hotels and a parking nightmare if you go during Sundance, but it is fun.
Bryce Canyon
Another great weekend getaway! Bryce is down south, but high elevation so there's still snow. We like to stay at Ruby's Inn in Bryce Canyon City. See this blog post for my Bryce Canyon hiking faves and tips.
Beaver Mtn.
Skiing or snowboarding is a must if you live in Utah! It's so fun, and a really popular winter activity here. We love going to Beaver Mountain because its close, not too expensive, and has some great runs. They are currently open for the season!
Sledding
Another popular Utah activity we often forget about! Sledding is legitimately fun if you go way up in the mountains and make a day out of it.
Snowmobiling or Four Wheeling
Rent (or use your own if you own one) a snowmobile or four wheeler and take it out on a snow covered dirt road! This is one of our favorite day activities. We like to bundle up, bring snacks and hot chocolate, and go somewhere super pretty so I can take photos.
Volunteer Work
I love doing volunteer or charity work in the winter! Especially around Christmas time there is a lot to do, but even after the holidays people are in need of volunteers for community projects, food pantries, shelters, etc. Even last year building our house, we had companies send out their employees as volunteers to help us, since our program is a non-profit!
Basketball Games
We aren't big basketball fans, but basketball games can also be fun for the experience. We used to go to Utah Jazz games pretty often, but now that we live in Cache Valley we go to USU games more! I love getting a pretzel and a soda and hanging out with Daylen.
Local Hikes
Hiking in the winter is a thing! Sometimes we even combine it with a campfire. Our favorite places to hike in the winter are Green Canyon, Franklin Basin, and Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Family / Couple Photos
Winter photos are my fave! Snow is such a great background, and especially when it's sunny out, winter photos are magical. They look so good framed on your walls as well! Click here for info.
Go Somewhere Warm
When in doubt, escape. We run off to California, St. George, and Las Vegas in the winter. Sometimes you just need one weekend of warmer temps.
Thanks for reading! Do you have more tips for surviving Utah winters? I'd love to hear them in the comments! Remember this year to wear a mask and social distance.
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