Utah is Why Winter Exists

Sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism

Utah, home to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, is why winter exists. But that’s not just a marketing slogan. A number of factors, including the nature of Utah’s Wasatch Mountain Range and a combination of weather patterns, brings the low-density “cold smoke powder” that skiers’ dreams are made of. This is evidenced by the last two winters in Utah. When you combine the 903” of snow from the 2022-23 season at Alta Ski Area with the 628” that fell during the 2023-24 season, you get a two-year total of 1,531 inches, which is the highest two-year snowfall total in Utah history. 

Yet winter in Utah is more than just powder days. Discover what makes Utah one of the world’s best winter destinations. 

Where To Ski In Utah 

There’s no destination in the world that has the convenience and access to renowned resorts like Utah. Utah is home to 15 ski resorts, 10 of which are within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). This includes the Cottonwood Canyon’s resorts of Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude, and Park City’s Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, and Woodward. It’s no wonder why Salt Lake City played host to the 2002 Winter Olympics and will host the 2034 Winter Olympics.  

While Utah is well-known for its Salt Lake and Park City resorts, don’t miss some of its other renowned ski areas. Powder Mountain, which is closer to Ogden, has more than 8,000 acres of skiable terrain — the most of any U.S. resort. Sundance Resort, north of Provo, is set to the backdrop of Mt. Timpanogos. It offers a wide-selection of winter adventures for skiers and non-skiers alike, including 540 acres of skiable terrain for skiing and riding, night skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, year-round fly fishing, and a winter zipline tour. And in Southern Utah, alongside its red rock views, Brian Head Resort boasts the highest base elevation in the state. 

Things To Do Off The Slopes 

Unique adventures and experiences await off the slopes in Utah, too. Park City offers activities you can have nowhere else. Visit Utah Olympic Park, where you can take the Comet Bobsled Ride down the Olympic track and reach speeds of over 60 mph. For a bit of a slower pace, try dog sledding. After a day of Park City winter adventures, treat yourself to aprés-ski at any number of iconic bars and restaurants, like the St. Regis Mountain Terrace, for the daily champagne sabering at 5:30, or High West Distillery, the only ski-in distillery in the world.  

Many of Utah’s ski towns, including Ogden and Park City, are a gateway to miles of trails for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and fat tire biking. Or get the adrenaline pumping with a snowmobiling adventure, as Utah has more than 800 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. If you’re traveling with kids, enjoy snow tubing at any number of destinations, including Cherry Peak Resort, Woodward Park City, Brian Head, or Soldier Hollow, the latter of which hosted the Nordic events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. 

Plan Your Trip 

• Stay slopeside at ski resorts. Many Utah ski resorts boast slopeside lodging, which makes skiing and riding that much more convenient.   

• Ski during the week—or in the afternoons. The best time to ski in Utah is midweek, and after 1 p.m. on weekends, when crowds are fewer, and parking starts to open up. Just be sure to check whether parking reservations are needed at your chosen resort. 

• Carpool or take the bus. Help cut down on traffic, and save money on gas and parking, by carpooling or taking the bus. The Utah Transit Authority Ski Bus, for example, provides service to numerous resorts, including Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Solitude, Brighton, Snowbird, Alta, and Sundance. 

• Max out your multi-resort ski pass. Pass holders of the Ikon Pass, Epic Pass, and The Mountain Collective can enjoy access to a number of Utah resorts. If you want to visit every one of Utah’s resorts, then check out the Ski Utah Yeti Pass, featuring one day at each of Utah’s 15 resorts. 

• Monitor traffic, road conditions, and resort openings/closures. Plan your trip accordingly. Roads to resorts may close due to unsafe driving conditions, natural avalanches, or avalanche mitigation efforts. Check current conditions — weather, traffic reports, snow reports — often.