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Sponsored by Heber Valley
It’s no secret that Utah, home to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, is one of the most iconic winter destinations in the world. There’s a reason it played host to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and was chosen to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. But while you may be familiar with the popular ski destinations of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, let us introduce you to the charming mountain destination of the Heber Valley.
Heber Valley Boasts Easy Access
Heber Valley, nestled in a beautiful mountain valley just south of Park City, is located in a region known as the Wasatch Back. Here you’ll find sweeping views of the Wasatch Mountains, three state parks, access to Utah’s best winter adventures, and the towns of Heber City and Midway. Heber Valley is conveniently just a 45-minute drive or rideshare from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), with no stoplights. This means that you can be on the slopes in as little as an hour. Take the first flight of the day from a number of U.S. hubs and you’ll have the entire afternoon to ski.
Heber Valley Is Minutes From World-Class Skiing
Heber Valley boasts a unique combination of convenience and access to skiing and other winter adventures, but without the crowds. The Deer Valley East Village, debuting for the 2025-26 ski season with expanded terrain, the 10-passenger East Village Express Gondola, a day lodge, several restaurants, and the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley (and more hotels soon to come), is just minutes from Heber Valley. Be the first to experience North America’s most exciting ski expansion while enjoying the accessibility to the East Village from Heber Valley.
To the south, it’s about a 20-minute drive to Sundance Mountain Resort, the iconic mountain destination that Robert Redford founded. Here you’ll find 540 acres of skiable terrain and a variety of adventures for skiers and non-skiers alike, including skiing and riding, night skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, year-round fly fishing, and a winter zipline tour.
If cross-country skiing is more your speed, don’t miss Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, located within the boundaries of Wasatch Mountain State Park at the edge of the Wasatch Mountains. It hosted 23 events at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and today is home to more than 20 miles of cross-country trails, a biathlon course, snow tubing on Utah’s longest lanes, and the site of the Utah Ice Castles. Soldier Hollow is conveniently located just a few minutes from downtown Midway.
What To Do Off The Slopes In Midway
Heber Valley is home to the charming mountain village of Midway, often called “Utah’s Little Switzerland.” Tucked beneath the stunning Wasatch Mountains, Midway offers a picturesque alpine setting that feels like a slice of Europe. In the mid-1800s, Swiss immigrants settled here, drawn by the green valleys and snow-covered peaks that reminded them of home. Today, that rich heritage continues, making Midway one of the most authentic and scenic mountain towns in the U.S. to explore year-round.
You’ll find plenty of ways to soak in the town’s Swiss-inspired culture. Stop by the Bakery at Zermatt for fresh European pastries and croissants, sample award-winning cheese at Heber Valley Artisan Cheese, or enjoy a craft chocolate tasting at Ritual Chocolate. Craving a cozy meal? Book a table at one of the area’s European-style restaurants like The Blue Boar Inn & Restaurant. After a day of skiing at nearby resorts like Deer Valley or Sundance, wind down with après-ski in Heber Valley at Heber Valley Brewing, Melvin’s Public House, or the Pub at Zermatt. For a magical dining experience, reserve an alpenglobe at Café Galleria, where you can enjoy wood-fired pizza and winter ambiance under the stars.
You’ll find a number of other fun winter activities in and around Midway. Glide across the ice on the outdoor rink at Midway Town Square, enjoy a soak at the otherworldly Utah Crater (a geothermal hot spring that sits beneath a beehive-shaped limestone rock), go snowmobiling through dense forests and up stunning summits, or experience one of Soldier Hollow Nordic Center’s yurt dinners, featuring a half-mile snowshoe hike with Wilderness Access Outfitters (WAO) to a private yurt, followed by a four-course meal.
Plan Your Trip
- Getting there. It’s less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport to Heber Valley. Multiple shuttle service companies provide transportation between Salt Lake City and Heber Valley, but we recommend renting a car to make the best of a Heber Valley trip.
- Take advantage of multi-resort ski pass options. The Ikon Pass offers access for up to seven days at Deer Valley. Planning to ski numerous Utah resorts? Then check out the Ski Utah Yeti Pass, featuring one day at each resort.
- Where to stay. Heber Valley boasts a variety of accommodations, from luxury resorts to mountain lodges to bed and breakfasts and much more. Start planning your Heber Valley trip here.
Header image ©Adam Barker of friends gathering around the fire at the WAO Nordic Yurt
October 27, 2025
