Utah

A vacation in Utah in the winter is usually for downhill skiing at one of the thirteen downhill ski resorts in the area. Ski resorts are scattered throughout the state from northern Utah to southwestern Utah and are easily accessible from major cities. Seven ski vacation resorts are less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City and another three are located in Park City.

A vacation in Utah need not be at a crowded resort however, as there is are plenty of opportunities for winter adventure sports here in remote areas. Pristine powder and ice are what await you in Utah where you can go heli-skiing, heli-boarding, snow-cat skiing, ice skating and snow kiting.

Utah is well equipped for snowmobiling. There are eight unique snowmobiling complexes located across the state with interlinking trail systems. You can choose to go snowmobiling anywhere on the eight hundred miles of groomed snowmobiling trails from the red rock canyons of Southern Utah at Cedar Mountain East Fork to the rugged mountains in the North at Cache Valley or Hardware Ranch. Endless trails can mean endless fun here!

A relatively new adventure winter sport is snow-kiting which is the ultimate in backcountry skiing. It is advisable to go in groups but all you really need is the wind, a snow kite, skis or snowboard. There is no need for a ski lift or resort as your snow kite will pull you uphill and downhill at varying speeds. A good place to try this is at Skyline Drive on the Wasatch Plateau, which is at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet. It is a great spot for snow-kiting because it offers plenty of deep snow, steep slopes and open bowls.

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains offer exciting helicopter skiing on pristine slopes with untouched powder. The other option that is more economical is taking a ride in a heated snow cat or open-air sled into Utah’s mountains. One need not worry about being grounded by bad weather as may be the case with a helicopter.

Utah Resorts: