Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you.

With the temperature dropping, the typical activities you might think of to do might change. Fortunately, Salt Lake City and the surrounding area has a lot of options during the colder months. Struggling to come up with ideas? Here are 15 things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter.

Salt Lake City Winter Activities

1. Skiing/Snowboarding

Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Utah is one of the best ski destinations in the US and one of the most popular things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter is to hit the slopes. In fact, this is the main reason that there are so many visitors in the wintertime.

Twelve of the Utah ski resorts are located within about an hour drive from downtown Salt Lake City. To the north are Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, and Nordic Valley. To the south is Sundance Resort. The ski resorts centrally located are: Park City, Canyons, Woodward Park City (terrain park), Deer Valley, Brighton, Solitude, Alta, and Snowbird.

Check out one (or several) of these mountains and see why they say that Utah has the “greatest snow on earth”. You can find a complete review of the best place in Utah to ski here. And if you’re already sold, get a discount on lift tickets here.

2. Snow Tubing

Want to get an adreneline rush without having to work quite as hard for it? Check out Woodward Park City. As the newest winter destination in Utah, Woodward Park City is a complete adventure destination. For those that have visited Utah previously, Woodward Park City took over the old Gorgoza Park Tubing Hill. Woodward Park City has a lot to offer from a terrain park and snow tubing, in addition to indoor activities. For a complete review of tubing in Park City check out this post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrea Cannon | Adventure Travel & Outdoors (@andreafcannon)

3. Go Hiking/Snowshoeing

Many people think it’s time to pack up the hiking boots mid-fall and don’t break them out again until the spring. However, hiking in the winter is an amazing experience and completely different than hiking during the rest of the year.

If you hike near Salt Lake City during the rest of the year, you might not even recognize some of your favorite trails with how different they look. This is especially true for waterfall hikes. Personally I think there is something extra special about a frozen waterfall. Be sure to check out these 5 frozen waterfall hikes near Salt Lake City this winter.

This post on how to hike in the winter has more tips on how to make your experience safe and more enjoyable. Some trails with deeper snow will require snowshoes, but for a large majority you can use Microspikes. Check trail reviews on AllTrails to get a better idea of trail conditions before heading out.

Check out this blog post for easy hikes in Salt Lake City and this blog post for Salt Lake City hiking trails you can’t miss. Always check the trail conditions prior to hiking (I look for recent reviews on AllTrails) and remember hiking in snow is a lot slower than hiking on regular conditions. Check out this post on hiking in the winter to make sure you are prepared.

4. Visit the Great Salt Lake

At other times of the year, the Great Salt Lake can be less-than-fun to visit as the salty water is the perfect breeding ground for biting gnats. Fortunately, these do not hatch until the spring making winter a perfect time to visit the Great Salt Lake. You can check out the Great Salt Lake at several locations including Antelope Island State Park or the Great Salt Lake Marina. Both of these locations do have a fee but are covered under the Utah State Parks Pass.

5. Explore the art scene

While this might not be the first thing you think of when you are looking for Salt Lake City winter activities, Salt Lake City has quite the art scene. Like most vibrant downtowns, Salt Lake City has plenty of art in the form of murals and sculptures. If you are trying to get that shot for the ‘gram, it’s definitely worth checking these out as they could be relatively close to where you are staying and walkable.

6. Visit Midway

Although this isn’t technically something you can do in Salt Lake City itself, Midway is about an hour drive from Salt Lake City. This adorable town has cute restaurants, charming hotels, a heated underground crater, and also ice castles. For a complete overview of what to do in Midway, you can check out this post.

7. Attend Sundance Film Festival

Sundance Film Festival is one of *the* big events of they year in Utah. It takes place annually at the end of January/beginning of February. If you are coming from out of town and not trying to attend this festival, definitely try to avoid coming during this time as hotel prices are much more expensive and restaurant tables are hard to come by.

However, if you’re into celebrity spotting, the movie scene, or just want to see what all the fuss is about, you are in for a treat with Sundance. Personally, I am not that into movies but I found the Sundance experience incredibly cool when we went a few years ago. They show films in downtown Salt Lake City, Park City, as well as at Sundance Resort.

8. Mormon Tabernacle Choir/Temple Square

One of the first things people think of when mentioning Salt Lake City and Utah in general is significant influence from the Mormon Church (formally known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). If you are visiting Salt Lake City in the winter and looking for things to do, visiting Temple Square downtown is a great way to get in the holiday spirit. The whole square is lit up with beautiful lights. While you are there you can tour the welcome center if you are interested. And if the timing is right, you may be able to see The Tabernacle Choir perform for Christmas.

Please note: You do not have to be Mormon/LDS/religious to enjoy this activity. I personally have toured the Welcome Center downtown because I was curious and wanted education but am not a member of the church myself.

9. Go Snowmobiling

This is an item on my to-do list for this winter – but going snowmobiling is a great idea if you are looking for things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter. There are many companies that offer snowmobiling with most of them to the east of downtown Salt Lake City in Park City.

10. Utah Jazz

If this rather long list of outdoor winter activities in Salt Lake City has you feeling pre-emptively cold, then maybe consider attending a Utah Jazz game. Regardless of whether or not professional basketball is your “thing”, going to a Jazz game once is definitely a cool experience. The Utah Jazz play in the Vivint Smart Home Arena which is located right downtown.

11. Go dogsledding in Park City

While I haven’t been dogsledding in Park City specifically, dogsledding was a highlight of my trip to Northern Sweden last year. I had no idea they even did this in Utah as well until we went to ski at Deer Valley one day and passed the dogs hooked up to the sleds on the way to park our cars.

12. Explore some hot springs

When it’s cold it can be nice to relax in some hot springs. While about an hour north of Salt Lake City, Crystal Hot Springs is a commercialized option if you are interested in visiting a hot springs. Alternatively consider visiting Saratoga Hot Springs. This hot spring is accessible from a park with a short 10 minute walk. Looking for a cute swimsuit? Cupshe has some very affordable options.

13. Go bobsledding in Olympic Park

This is another one of the Salt Lake City winter activities that I have not had a chance to check out just yet myself but I felt like the list would be incomplete without it. As Salt Lake City was the host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, you can still see some remnants of the Olympics in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas – the torch, the long jump, signs on specific ski runs, etc. A way that you can participate in the Olympic spirit yourself is to go bobsledding in Olympic Park.

14. Try the Polar Plunge

If you’re an adventurous person looking for some of the best things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter then you may want to try the Polar Plunge.

Just drive to nearby Stansbury and jump into a frozen lake wearing nothing but the bare essentials. However, if this type of polar plunge sounds a bit too intense for you then you can always just watch. Either way, it’s a truly unique experience and one of the coolest things to do in winter.

15. Go Ice Skating

Whether you want to skate indoors or outdoors, Salt Lake City has many places where you can go for a twirl on the ice.

However, personal favorites include the Utah Olympic Oval and the Gallivan Center. In fact, the Gallivan Center is great if you want to skate in the heart of the city and are looking for an experience that costs just $10.00 per person.

In contrast, the Utah Olympic Oval lies 14 miles outside the city and was actually used during the 2002 Olympic games. It’s also a great spot to hone your skills and try your hand at curling.

Bonus Option – Visit one of the local breweries

I know I promised 15 things but as a bonus option, consider a visit to a local brewery. A great way to take a break from the winter weather is to warm up with a nice local beer. There are dozens of breweries in Salt Lake City that are crafting the local beer scene and quickly making this place a destination for craft beer.

Whether you spent the day exploring the Great Salt Lake, skiing or snowboarding in Park City, or visited the the Mormon Tabernacle and Temple Square, relaxing with a frothy brew is a perfect addition to round out your list of things to do in Salt Lake City.

Things to do in Salt Lake City in Winter FAQ

Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting in Winter?

Yes! Salt Lake City is absolutely worth visiting in the winter. Because when winter arrives so too does a lot of snow. Therefore, visitors will have plenty of chances to get outside and go skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and more.

However, if you’re not a fan of the cold then you could always head inside and enjoy exhibits at some of the city’s state-of-the-art museums.

Where Can You Go in Salt Lake City in the Winter?

Some great places to go in Salt Lake City in the winter include:

• Alta Lodge for a classic ski vacation
• Snowbird to ski the day away
• Garage on Beck for some live music
• Fisher Brewing Company for some craft beers
• Cliff Spa for a well-deserved massage
• And more!

What is Salt Lake City Like in the Winter?

Contrary to popular belief, winter in Salt Lake City isn’t as cold as you might expect. In fact, temperatures rarely get below 0°F. Although, highs also don’t go above freezing during the month of January.

However, with the cold weather come many opportunities to go skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding.

Is Salt Lake City a Good Place to Visit in December?

Salt Lake City is an amazing place to visit in December if you enjoy the snow and love the great outdoors. So, hit the slopes at one of the area’s many great ski resorts or curl up inside a ski lodge, by a roaring fire, and sip on a nice cup of hot cocoa.

What to wear in Salt Lake City in the Winter

As many of these things to do are outside, you want to be prepared with cold-weather gear: gloves, warm boots, ski pants, and wool layers are a MUST to enjoy your winter activities. This is especially important for tubing, bobsledding, snowmobiling, dogsledding, and enjoying the ice castles because you won’t be moving much. Below are some of my favorites (and you can see me wearing them in the pictures above):

Things to do in Salt Lake City in the Winter

Hopefully this list of winter activities in Salt Lake City has you all ready to plan your next getaway to Utah. Have you done any of these on the list? Did I leave anything out? Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Utah Ski Resorts: A review from a local skier
• Snow Tubing in Park City
• Best Hikes in Utah
• Easy Hikes near Salt Lake City
• Salt Lake City Hiking: 7 Trails you Can’t Miss
• 21 Places to Visit in Utah that aren’t National Parks
• Best Salt Lake City Winter Hiking Trails
• Jackson Hole Wyoming in the Winter
• Salt Lake City to Las Vegas Road Trip

Sharing is caring!