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.

Fireworks above a downtown Salt Lake celebration — File photograph. Photo: S. Greenwood · Used with permission for destination coverage · Visit Salt Lake

Downtown celebrations

First Night brought crowds downtown for New Year’s Eve. Current listings cover this season’s holiday events.

Current event listings →

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.

Wildlife and plants in winter

Winter is a good season to understand why distance matters. Mule deer may reduce movement to conserve energy, and disturbance can force them to spend energy while interrupting feeding and resting. The fact sheet recommends open routes, keeping dogs leashed and choosing recreation areas away from wintering animals. Bear River's seasonal overview describes winter raptors, including bald eagles using the refuge for feeding and resting. Read the winter guide.

Mammals

Mule deer

Found across Utah, from high mountains to city neighborhoods, and named for its large, mule-like ears.

Odocoileus hemionus

File photo: American avocets with raised wings at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Birds

Bear River refuge birds

Read the refuge as a changing set of habitats, from shallow feeding flats to marsh cover and deeper water.

Other seasons

September to November