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Utah National Parks in Winter
Hoodoos sprinkled in snow. Deserted desert trails. Slot canyons of solitude. Sure, national park visits go hand-in-hand with warm weather. But the best national parks in winter offer a few perks summer doesn’t: unmatched beauty and fewer people.
Thanks to mild winter temperatures, park enthusiasts enjoy the Mighty 5 — Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Capitol Reef National Park — all winter long. Parkgoers can also experience nearby Southern Utah towns that offer golf, local eateries, art galleries, ice fishing, snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, mountain biking and hiking trails.
The Best of National Parks in Winter
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Winter in Arches National Park
Skip the crowded peak season and embrace the quiet of a winter visit to Arches National Park. Enjoy winter hikes, scenic drives and some of the best stargazing in the world.
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Winter in Bryce Canyon National Park
See red rock hoodoos coated with a dusting of snow against a stunning scenic backdrop on an unforgettable winter visit to Bryce Canyon National Park.
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Winter in Canyonlands National Park
As the largest national park in Utah, Canyonlands provides a variety of winter adventures, including winter hiking and stargazing.
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Winter in Capitol Reef National Park
Towering red rocks dusted in snow, often set against bright blue skies, welcome winter visitors to Capitol Reef National Park. Soak up incredible views along the park’s scenic drive or gear up and head out on a wintry hike.
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Winter in Zion National Park
Winter visitors to Zion National Park will find plenty to do, including hiking, photography and gazing up at the wonders of the night sky.
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Park Preparedness for Winter
While winter weather in Southern Utah can be mild, cooler and widely fluctuating temperatures with intermittent rain and snow exist. Nights and shaded areas are quite chilly, even when exploring in the sunshine is delightful.
- Check weather and current road conditions often. Winter weather changes quickly bringing sudden storms.
- Research business hours in advance. Businesses in Utah’s smaller communities sometimes close for the season.
- Layer up and wear shoes with tread. Microspikes work great on hard, icy surfaces.
Read the Stories
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Beyond Sundance: The Ultimate Guide to Utah's Hidden Film Scene
Written By Kirby Dorsey
4 minute read
From historic art house theaters in downtown Salt Lake City to a vintage drive-in beneath the stars of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah offers movie buffs experiences as dramatic and diverse as its landscapes.
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Explore Utah Through the Lens of "Horizon: An American Saga"
Written By Taylor Hartman
2 minute read
It's no surprise that Hollywood has turned to Utah's stunning and untouched terrain time and again.
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Filmed in Utah: 7 Itineraries Through Hollywood's Most Iconic Settings
Written By Visit Utah
Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places.
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HBO's Westworld. See it now, in Utah.
Written By Visit Utah
2 minute read
Where is Westworld filmed? Much of Castle Valley is actually located in Utah. Learn more about the setting of your favorite television series.
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Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival
2 minute read
Kanab's Western Legends Heritage and Music Festival is filled with round-the-clock Western-themed entertainment — think: music, cowboys and history.
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Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through
Written By Andrea David
Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography.
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On the Trail of Utah's Classic Movies
Written By Andrea David
7 minute read
Germany-based film enthusiast Andrea David is back in Utah, embarking on a road trip to explore 100 years of Utah film history.
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Robert Redford Sets the Sundance Scene
Written By Rosie Serago
6 minute read
Watch the story behind Robert Redford's founding of Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, and learn what makes this Provo ski resort stand out.
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Salt Lake City FanX: Geeking Out in the Nerdiest State in the Nation
Written By Arianna Rees
5 minute read
When it comes to Utah, you may never find a more fervent hive of fans and nerdery.
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Selfie at Forrest Gump Point
Take a selfie where Forrest Gump decided he was done running near Monument Valley in Utah.
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Sundance, Full Circle
Written By Cody Kirkland
5 minute read
When visiting the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, movies are only part of the experience.
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Sundance: The Story is Utah
Written By Paula Colman
For Sundance audiences and filmmakers, the Story is Utah, one with many visions and interpretations and where revolutions are encouraged.
![](/azure/cmsroot/visitutah/media/site-assets/winter-photography/state-parks/ski-resorts_woodward_markewitz-scott.jpg?w=956&h=1187&mode=crop&quality=65)
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5 Days
Winter Aglow in Southeastern Utah
Find your sense of adventure and awe in the vast yet intricate swaths of desert from Arches National Park to Monument Valley. From delicate river-fed ecosystems to crimson-hued rock buttresses, this magical landscape is awash in history, dating back thousands of years to the original Native American settlers to whom these places were sacred.
Hiking, Adventure, History and Heritage, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Stargazing, Native American, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Arches National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Castle Valley
- Bears Ears National Monument
- Goosenecks State Park
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4 Days
A Winter Trip Through the Heart of Utah’s Desert
Experience a world unlike anything you’ve ever imagined in the high desert mountains and plummeting canyons of south-central Utah. You’ll step into two national parks, three state parks, and all the scenic winding roads your heart could desire.
Hiking, History and Heritage, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Stargazing, Camping & Backpacking, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Explore Goblin's Lair
- Wander Capitol Reef's Historic Fruita
- Journey through South-Central Utah
- Winter Hiking
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5 Days
Larger Than Life: Winter in Southwestern Utah
This desert is dramatic. In a really good way. Experience the towering heights of Zion, the depths of Buckskin Gulch, the dunes of Snow Canyon, the sunset over Gooseberry. Southern Utah’s wilds are wearing their winter splendor.
Hiking, Cycling, Fishing, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Stargazing, Mountain Biking, Camping & Backpacking, Glamping, Climbing & Canyoneering, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Zion National Park
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
- Mountain Biking on a Red Rock Mesa
- Hike Zion's Most Iconic Trails
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5 Days
Winter's Summits and Rockscapes
There’s no better way to experience a bit of everything Utah offers. Ski its heavenly powder snow, then point your car southward to wind your way through the exquisite Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and a series of crimson-hued state park gems along the way.
Hiking, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Ski and Snowboard, Stargazing, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Stargaze at Bryce Canyon National Park
- Ski Sundance Resort
- Hike in Zion National Park
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Kodachrome Basin State Park
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5 Days
Alpine, Après and Arches
Timed perfectly for winter, this journey takes you to some of the finest mountain resorts in the world, then to the most spectacular vistas of the scarlet-hued desert.
Hiking, Scenic Drives/Road Trips, Ski and Snowboard, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Ski Northern Utah
- Explore Southern Utah in Winter
- Alpine Mountains to Red Rock Expanses
- Ski Boots to Hiking Boots
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5 Days
Ski Southern Utah: High Alpine Trails + Red Rock Wonder
Southern Utah is home to two high-elevation ski areas with generous helpings of what we call (with authority) The Greatest Snow on Earth®. Things can be a little quieter down here this time of year. Give yourself at least five days to combine the thrills of Southern Utah skiing and boarding with exploring the wintertime wonders to be found in Utah’s red rock country.
Ski and Snowboard, Non-ski Winter Activities
Highlights
- Brian Head Resort
- Eagle Point Resort
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Southern Utah Ski Vacation
- Winter Hiking in Southern Utah