Sponsored by the Utah Office of Tourism
Many people coming to Salt Lake City for New Year’s Eve this year have one thing on their mind: The 2027 Discover NHL Winter Classic, taking place on New Year’s Eve between the Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche at the picturesque Rice-Eccles Stadium. But while many people are coming for the big game, there’s more to discover right in Salt Lake City and beyond. And it doesn’t get better than winter in Utah, which is home to The Greatest Snow on Earth. Let us show you how to turn a game-day getaway into a full-blown winter vacation in Utah.
The Greatest Snow on Earth
It’s not just a marketing tagline. There’s real science behind what makes Utah’s famous powder, which delivers an unrivaled skiing experience, The Greatest Snow on Earth. It starts with storms that roll into Utah from the northwest. Warm, moist air is then closely followed by cold air. What begins as heavy snow turns into colder, lighter snow that layers on top and gives the terrain a bottomless feel to ski and ride through. Combine this with 15 world-class ski resorts, legendary terrain, and a Winter Olympic legacy—host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and preparing for the 2034 Winter Olympics—and it becomes clear why Utah is one of the world’s top ski destinations.
Salt Lake City Has the Easiest Access to World-Class Skiing
No other city has access to world-class skiing like Salt Lake City does. Ten of the best ski resorts in North America are less than an hour from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). There are three main regions that are an easy drive from Salt Lake City. This includes the Cottonwood Canyon ski resorts—Alta (skier-only), Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude—which are known for their steep and deep powder, on average receiving more than 500 inches of annual snowfall. Nearby, Park City is home to two of America’s largest and most prominent ski resorts, the skier-only Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort, as well as Woodward Park City, a state-of-the-art action sports center with several lift-served terrain parks.
Just 45 minutes north of Salt Lake City, the historic town of Ogden is the perfect base for those who want to explore some of the more low-key, less crowded ski resorts of Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and Nordic Valley. Another iconic ski destination is the luxuriously rustic mountain resort of Sundance, created by Robert Redford, which is located just an hour southeast of Salt Lake City.
The Best of Both Worlds
Salt Lake City is the gateway to winter in Utah. And it begins in the city itself. By day, guests can experience Utah’s Winter Olympic legacy at the Utah Olympic Oval, dubbed “The Fastest Ice on Earth.” There’s public ice skating on select days during the week, while guests can also learn to skate or curl. On a nice day, Salt Lake City is full of fun adventures, including outdoor ice skating at Gallivan Center Ice Rink, exploring Red Butte Garden, and hiking nearby trails—like Millcreek Canyon—and more. By night, experience the city’s great food and drink scene and catch a show at the Eccles Theater or other fun Salt Lake City venues. Come the holiday season, Temple Square, Utah’s most visited attraction, is not to be missed, when its beautiful grounds are lit with millions of bright lights.
The best part, however, about visiting Salt Lake City in the winter is how easy it is to pair an urban getaway with a ski trip. You can easily make a day trip out of it, too, since most of Utah’s ski resorts are an hour away. No car? No problem. Catch the Utah Transit Authority Ski Bus to a number of resorts, including Snowbasin, Powder Mountain, Solitude, Brighton, Snowbird, Alta, and Sundance. Enjoy après-ski at the resorts or come back to Salt Lake City at the end of the day for après at one of the city’s fun cocktail bars or breweries.
Travelers with a little extra time to extend their trip can easily rent a car either at the airport or in downtown Salt Lake City for a multi-day ski trip to Park City or Ogden. Both are 45 minutes from Salt Lake City and offer easy access to some of Utah’s most renowned ski resorts. While many people rent a car to go to Park City, it’s not necessary. There are private shuttle services that run between Salt Lake City and Park City. Alternatively, High Valley Transit Route 107 connects Salt Lake City to Kimball Junction, which is just a few miles north of Park City. Once in Park City, visitors can take the Town Lift from Main Street up to Park City Mountain Resort, while the town’s free bus system makes it easy to get to both Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley. Those travelers who plan to ski near Ogden may want to rent a car. Ogden, and especially its Historic 25th Street, is very walkable. However, the three nearby ski resorts, Powder Mountain, Snowbasin, and Nordic Valley, are 30 minutes away by car.
Whether you take a day trip or a multi-day trip to the mountains, make sure to factor in time for gear rentals. Rental shops can be found across Salt Lake City, so you can head straight to the lifts upon arriving or, you can rent gear directly at the resorts.
Whatever adventure you choose, you don’t have to pick between the city and the mountains. Salt Lake City boasts that rare combination of both. Come for the game, stay for The Greatest Snow on Earth. Start planning your trip at visitutah.com.
