It’s always been my dream to live in the mountains. I really lucked out when I got a job in Park City Utah. Now I don’t just live near the mountains, I live in a ski town! What makes Park City so great is that you have world-class, Olympic ski slopes less than an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. Of course, skiing is the most popular of all the things to do in Park City Utah in Winter. But there are plenty of other Park City winter activities to experience besides ski.

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Park City Winter Activities

Obviously, skiing is the top thing to do in Park City in the winter. But that’s not all there is to do, so even if you don’t ski or snowboard, it’s still fun to travel to Park City in the winter months. In fact, as someone who loathes heat in the summer, I actually find more things to do in winter than in the summertime! Snow typically starts flying in November/December, but a lot of these winter activities need a good snowbase, so plan on January through April for the best time! (You’ll also pay the highest prices for lodging in these months!)

Park City Locals’ Travel Tips: If lodging prices seem too good to be true, do some research. You may be visiting during the off-season. Just because there is snow, doesn’t mean the ski slopes are open!

Don’t forget to reserve your Park City hotel well in advance, too!

Snowmobiling Near Park City

Snowmobiling is my new favorite thing to do in the winter! My cousins visited when I first moved to Utah, and we all went snowmobiling. I was too chicken to drive my own the first time, but the following winter I got out a handful of times and I loved it! I had no idea I would be such a speed demon – I got my sled up to 80mph on an open stretch and it was thrilling! The beauty of snowmobiling in Utah is that the tours often combine scenic trails through the woods and large open meadows where you can go really fast.

• Wasatch Excursions has fantastic tours in Midway, Utah. Starting at the golf course, and winding up the mountains through Wasatch Mountains State Park.
• North Forty Escapes is another great place for snowmobiling near Park City; they have hundreds of acres near Oakley, and huge aspen forests to ride through.

Wondering what to wear snowmobiling? Essentially, you should dress like you’re going skiing, with perhaps an extra layer since you’re not exerting yourself as much. Insulated leggings, snow pants, warm socks, and snow boots, plus a few top layers and a good waterproof jacket. You won’t need a hat as the helmet keeps you pretty warm. Waterproof gloves are also essential. (A lot of snowmobiles have heated handlebars!) Helmets and goggles are usually provided, and some outfitters will loan or rent snowmobile suits and boots, so call ahead if you don’t want to pack heavy winter clothes and boots.

Park City Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is a really unique activity for your Park City winter trip. It’s also very popular, and the few vendors that offer it sell out quickly! If this is a dream of yours, make sure you call ahead and reserve at least one month in advance! Park City dog sledding tours are usually one hour in length, and the weight of each sled is limited to two adults and one small child. (typically, 350 pounds) This is one of the most expensive excursions, but it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course, there’s lots of time before and after the ride to hang out and pet the dogs. As an animal lover, I am always concerned about animal tourism, but once you meet the sled dogs, you can tell they LOVE to work!

• North 40 Escapes is our preferred vendor for Park City dog sledding. They offer one-hour tours for $375. If you have a larger family, you can do a split tour with each half of the group getting 30 minutes.
• Bear Ridge Adventures also offers tours ranging from one hour to 1/2 day. They have a great crew and a beautiful property near Park City.

Wondering what to wear dog-sledding? It’s a fairly passive activity, so some warm layers are all you need. You won’t likely have a lot of snow spraying back at you. A warm coat, insulated pants, warm socks, boots, a hat, and gloves are all you really need to wear dog-sledding.

Snowshoeing Park City

If you love to hike, you’ll love snowshoeing. It’s a fun way to stay active and explore Park City trails, even when the ground is covered in snow. You can take a guided snowshoe trek, rent snowshoes or buy your own snowshoes. All you need is a good pair of winter boots and some trekking poles and you are all set. Make sure you dress in layers as you’ll warm up quickly. Snowshoeing is a great workout!

Make sure you prepare for Park City altitude before doing anything strenuous!

For a special occasion dinner, check out the Nordic Yurt in Midway! From the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, you take a guided snowshoe tour to a beautiful yurt. Inside, you’ll have four gourmet courses, followed by s’mores at the outdoor fire pits. This is a super cool Park City winter experience!

Snow Tubing

If you’ve never been snow tubing, it’s like sledding on steroids! Several Utah ski resorts also offer snow tubing, and the best place for snow tubing in Park City is at Woodward. They have multiple tubing lanes, all serviced by a magic carpet, so there’s no trudging uphill with your sled after each run. You buy a two-hour ticket that allows you as many tubing runs as you can squeeze in. They do sell out during peak periods, so make sure you plan ahead for holiday weekends!

Cross Country Skiing

Like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing is another popular winter activity in Park City. There are plenty of groomed trails to explore at White Pine Touring Center, and they offer rentals, classes, and tours. You can also go out at Soldier Hollow, where the 2002 Olympic biathlon games were held. Sadly, I gave XC skiing the old college try but never could get the right rhythm down to propel myself forward.

Park City Sleigh Rides

Sleigh rides are such a fun way for the whole family to enjoy some time in the snow. While horseback riding is also a fun Park City winter activity, sleigh rides are suitable for all ages. There are several options for sleigh rides in Park City, including horse-drawn sleigh rides, and snowcat sleigh rides.

• Broken Arrow Sleigh Rides offers Deer Valley sleigh rides in the evenings after the skiers leave the slopes. Departing from the Stein Eriksen Lodge at Silver Lake Village, the sleigh rides last 30 minutes and they can drop you off at a local restaurant, or back at the Stein Eriksen Lodge.
• Snowed Inn Sleigh Rides operates at Park City Mountain Resort, with horsedrawn sleigh rides to their barn for a fun evening of dinner and entertainment.
• The Viking Yurt transports dinner guests via a Snowcat sleigh ride. Guests enjoy a seven-course Nordic-style dinner served in a mountainside yurt.

Midway Ice Castles – closed in 2025

Sadly, the Ice Castle season got shorter and shorter until they announced that they would not open in 2025. They did not cancel this winter activity indefinitely, but said they will “thoughtfully rework our build process and better adapt for future weather conditions.”

Seeing this first-hand impact of climate change, and now starting the 25/26 ski season with the lowest snow totals in 25 years, you have to wonder how much longer skiing will be sustainable here!

Bobsledding

While a lot of these winter activities aren’t unique to Utah, bobsled tracks are pretty rare in the United States. They are fairly limited to former Olympic sites. And even more rare is the ability to experience an Olympic bobsled track, from inside the sled! At the Utah Olympic Park, you can ride along on the bobsled track. It’s pricy, but it’s a pretty amazing experience.

Park City Ski Resorts

Of course, if you’re visiting Park City in the winter, you are probably going to ski at some point! Even if you’ve never skied before, Park City has some really great beginner slopes. Park City has two ski resorts and one snowpark.

• Deer Valley Resort – this skier-only resort has a ton of terrain for all ski levels. Ski services are top-notch, with excellent restaurants in the upper and mid-mountain villages. Part of the Ikon Pass, Deer Valley is also one of the most expensive lift tickets in Utah. Having skied all 14 Utah ski resorts, I think Deer Valley is the best Utah resort for beginner skiers.
  • Check out my insider’s guide to Deer Valley Utah!
• Park City Mountain Resort – two base areas (Park City and Canyons) cover a ton of terrain. Pick one side or the other each day. Owned by Vail Resorts, PCMR is on the Epic Pass. Park City Mountain Resort also has an outdoor ice skating rink
• Woodward Park City – if you want a terrain park, indoor ramps, and the longest snow-tubing lanes in Utah, then head to Woodward in Kimball Junction. There are some great restaurants in Kimball Junction, too!

Don’t forget to make reservations at these Park City restaurants!

Park City Winter Events

Of course, the Sundance Film Festival is a major Park City event that takes place usually at the end of January. The town is mobbed with celebrities, media, and film fans. I hear it’s a great time to ski, but expect the highest prices of the year if you come during Sundance.

For the last few winters, the Park City Chamber created the Historic Main Street Snow Globe Stroll, a fun way to explore Main Street at the height of the pandemic. I hope they continue to do the snow globes, as they were super cute!

Sometimes, it’s too cold or windy and you just want to be indoors. For those days, the Kimball Art Center is a great spot to look for indoor activities in the winter. In addition to art exhibits, they also hold frequent art classes and workshops.

The last weekend in January is the annual Utah Ski Joring contest in Heber City. Watch skiers of all ages being pulled behind a rider on horseback. From tiny tots to senior citizens, there are jumps on the course and it’s a blast to watch.

In March, the National Ability Center holds its major fundraiser, Red White & Snow. The three-day celebration includes a wacky day on the slopes, wine dinners, and a gala to close out the week. If you’re looking for a good cause and a good time, check it out!

What are YOUR favorite winter activities in Park City?