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Snowboarding
To put it simply, the riding in Utah is epic. Thirteen snowboarding resorts are scattered along the state's mountain ranges that are perfectly positioned for dumps of fluffy powder all winter long, most of which see an average of 500 inches of snow each year. Best of all, there are eight world-class, snowboard-friendly resorts within an hour’s drive of Salt Lake City, so you can easily ride new terrain every day of a week-long vacation.
Start Planning
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Plan Your Utah Ski Trip
Utah's easy access to The Greatest Snow on Earth® allows for more time on the mountain and easier planning.
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Ski & Snowboard FAQs
Are you planning your cold-weather vacation to Utah? Find winter travel tips on highway safety, liquor law information skiing and snowboarding gear.
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Ski Rentals in Utah
Need ski or snowboard gear? These go-to ski rental shops in Salt Lake City, Park City and Ogden outfit skiers and boarders for the perfect day on Utah's snow.
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Read the Stories
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A Closer Look at North Fork Park
Written By Paula Colman
4 minute read
Welcome to North Fork Park, one of Utah’s multiple International Dark Sky Parks, just minutes from downtown Ogden. While it is best known for its stunning scenery where hikers and Nordic skiers can meander the trails swirling through the mountainous Ogden Valley, its biggest attraction lies in the voluminous sky directly above.
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A Party of Astronomic Proportions
Written By Matcha
Every Saturday from May through Labor Day weekend, weather dependent, crowds ranging from 100 to 500 people gather at Cedar Break’s main overlook, Point Supreme, to gaze up at the region’s amazing dark skies and explore the stars and the planets that make up the solar system.
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Dark Skies in Capitol Reef National Park
Written By Matcha
Capitol Reef National Park in Utah is a designated International Dark Sky Park. Make plans to come see the most magnificent night sky ever!
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Discover Dinosaur Astronomy
Dinosaur National Monument's celebrated dark skies can offer some of the most inspirational looks into our universe given the monument's unique context: see the stars on an unblemished canvas like our human — or dinosaur — predecessors did.
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Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park
Written By Rosie Serago
4 minute read
The best Utah state parks will entice you with ice fishing, white sand and snow-dusted scenery. Take a winter break to refresh with a visit to a few of these places.
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How to Stargaze in Utah
Written By Whitney Childers
7 minute read
Tips on what to pack and when and where to go stargazing in Utah.
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Looking Up: Dark Skies of Heber Valley
Written By Kristen Pope
3 minute read
A trio of state parks in Heber Valley offer stellar views of the Utah night sky. Come stargaze here.
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Ogden Activities: Downtown to Dark Skies
Written By Paula Colman
5 minute read
Two days' worth of sun-up-to-sundown Ogden activities — eat, shop and bike where the locals go, end at an International Dark Sky park.
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Reclaiming the Stars: Utah’s Dark Sky Initiative
Written By Austen Diamond
4 minute read
Utah's Dark Sky Initiative helps state park visitors experience the cosmos by protecting night skies, encouraging astrotourism and promoting stargazing.
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Seeking Starry Skies Near Salt Lake City
Written By Haley Rodgers
3 minute read
You don’t have to go far from the city to find dark skies filled with stars in Utah. Find out where you can see the Milky Way near the city or gaze into space from an observatory in Northern Utah.
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State Park Stargazing: Interacting With the Galaxy in Real Time
Written By Whitney Childers
4 minute read
Northern Utah's Camp Floyd State Park offers more than history to those who stick around after dark. With intense dark skies blanketing the atmosphere, stargazers of all ages gather to interact with the galaxy above.
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The World's First Dark Sky Park
Written By Matcha
On March 6, 2007, Natural Bridges National Monument became the first International Dark Sky Park certified by the International Dark-Sky Association. More than 100,000 people visit Natural Bridges each year to check out the stunning bridges and hike in cool canyons, but only a handful of them stay through the night to see the area’s most amazing and unique feature: dark skies and glistening, bright stars.
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Tips for Astrophotography
Written By Visit Utah
3 minute read
Need tips on how to take pictures of stars? Utah is the perfect location to put tips from an award-winning photographer into action.
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Where to Find the Darkest Skies in Central Utah
Written By Matcha
5 minute read
A tapestry of thousands of stars awaits visitors to Helper and Price where conditions are some of the best for exploring the night sky.
Snowboarding Resorts
Snowboarding in Salt Lake City
With 13 of Utah's 15 resorts open to snowboarding (Deer Valley and Alta are skier-only), it’s easy to find a resort that is perfectly suited for you.
Salt Lake City is arguably the best hub for snowboarding in the United States; with eight world-class, snowboard-friendly resorts within an hour’s drive of the airport, Salt Lake is the perfect place to launch the ultimate winter vacation. Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon are nestled right alongside Salt Lake’s greater metro area, giving easy access to the renowned resorts within, including:
- Brighton: One of the oldest resorts in Utah, Brighton is a local boarder’s favorite. It's filled with well-designed terrain parks, a wide variety of groomers—from beginner-friendly to seriously steep—and plenty of off-trail terrain to keep you exploring for dozens of visits.
- Snowbird: The Bird is a snowboarder's dream come true, with terrain to scratch any freeride itch you may have. The resort offers the consummate big mountain snowboarding experience, from steep and deep terrain to open powder fields, endless chutes and cliffs and immaculate groomers.
- Solitude: Boarders looking for more accessible terrain can stop by Solitude Mountain Resort for a mostly intermediate-friendly front half and a fun back half packed with hidden cliffs, powder-stashing woods and backcountry runs that stretch for miles, keeping even the most skilled snowboarders entertained.
About 40 minutes north of Salt Lake, Ogden is another gateway to world-class snowboarding, including the upscale Snowbasin, intimate Nordic Valley and expansive Powder Mountain. And just south of Salt Lake near Provo, you'll find the cozy Sundance Mountain Resort.
Snowboarding in Park City
Luxury, comfort and snowboarding truly come together in Park City. While Deer Valley is one of the nation's few resorts that doesn't allow snowboarders, Park City Mountain and Woodward Park City welcome them with open arms.
- Park City Mountain: Featuring more than 7,300 acres, Park City Mountain boasts the most lift-accessible ski acreage in the U.S.; it’s common for snowboarders and skiers who’ve been riding this resort for years to find areas they’ve never explored. The massive resort seamlessly blends into Park City’s charming downtown, making it convenient to grab a bite to eat at a local eatery or simply explore this pleasant mountain town.
- Woodward Park City: Utah's first all-in-one action sports mountain center is a park rider’s dream. With an expansive indoor training facility just as impressive as the outdoor lift-served terrain parks, it is an easy choice to put your snowboard tricks to the test. The fun doesn't stop at snowboarding and skiing. You can also go tubing, mountain biking or utilize the indoor and outdoor facilities for skateboarding, BMX, scooter and parkour. (Read: Woodward Is Fun For the Whole Family).
![Woodward Park City](/azure/cmsroot/visitutah/media/site-assets/winter-photography/ski-resorts/woodward/woodward-park-city_ski-resort_markewitz-scott_2020.jpg?w=400&h=800&mode=crop&quality=65)
Woodward Park City
Photo: Scott Markewitz
Terrain Parks
When Utah hosted the Winter Olympics in 2002, many ski and snowboard resorts developedworld-class terrain parks and features for athletes to train and compete on. If park riding is your idea of a perfect day on the slopes (and why shouldn’t it be?), these are the resorts for you.
- Brighton - Four terrain parks are regularly redesigned throughout winter long with options for all ability levels.
- Park City - Six terrain parks, one half pipe and a mini pipe. Excellent terrain for everybody, whether it’s your first park lap or you’re a seasoned pro.
- Powder Mountain - Home to a public boardercross course, a handful of terrain parks and a halfpipe.
- Woodward Park City - ‘Park’ might as well be Woodward Park City’s first, middle and last name. Woodward is Utah's first all-in-one action sports mountain center, with small, medium, large and extra-large terrain parks to explore.
- Snowbasin - Snowbasin has enough park to scratch your itch. Get some midwest-style tow-rope hot laps in or get sendy and step up to their medium-to-large jump lines.
Utah's Snowboarding Season
Thanks to The Greatest Snow on Earth®, Utah’s resorts usually open by early December and can often stay open into April or May. Start planning your snowboarding trip with updated resort operations, snow totals and more.
Getting There
Consider carpooling or taking the bus to help reduce traffic congestion. Traction law requires 4WD or AWD and snow tires or chains. When driving, ensure your vehicle is well-equipped and that you practice safe snow-driving behaviors by going slowly and smoothly.
![web2000_adiamond_20170406_uot_brightonterrainpark_103216](/azure/cmsroot/visitutah/media/site-assets/articles-photography/article-photography-5/web2000_adiamond_20170406_uot_brightonterrainpark_103216.jpg?w=300&h=400&mode=crop&scale=both&quality=65)
Everything in its Right Place
Written By Austen Diamond
5 minute read
Bring your snowboard on your Brighton Ski Resort trip. Visit the six terrain parks – with new designs each week – to add some exhilaration to your ski vacation.
Skiing, Ski Resorts, Support Local
Learn to Snowboard
Even if you’ve got a few seasons of experience, we can all afford to brush up on our fundamentals. Every resort offers snowboarding lessons for all ages. Private adult ski lessons are an excellent way to acclimate to Utah’s terrain. Plus, if you feel confident in your ability level, signing the kids up for ski school is a perfect way for the entire family to get some time riding at their own pace.
Backcountry Riding & Splitboarding
Miles and miles of rideable acreage lie just outside the boundaries of Utah’s resorts. Each year, thousands of early risers follow their favorite skin track to the top of untouched stretches of powder. While it’s an excellent way to escape the crowds, backcountry snowboarding can be dangerous. Before you head out, make sure you have the necessary avalanche gear and know the day’s avalanche forecast.
More Winter Experiences
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Backcountry Skiing & Snowboarding
Thousands of people each day enjoy Utah's famous backcountry — the areas outside of ski area boundaries.
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Cross Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing Utah is awesome! Find popular Nordic trailheads in the north, high altitude serenity in central Utah and miles of regularly groomed trails in the south.
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Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire biking has become the latest rage among cycling enthusiasts and newbies. Find out tips for riding and the best places to explore in Utah.
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Heli Ski & Snowboarding
Utah heli skiing and snowboarding are perfect for those who want to ride some of the best backcountry in the world. Find your next ride here.
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Ice Fishing
Utah’s award-winning waters hold some of the best ice fishing in the country, and with so many large lakes and reservoirs, it’s easy to grab your gear and join in.
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Ice Skating
Find the best ice skating rinks in Utah and plan the perfect skate night with your friends and family. Lace up and get skating!
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Kite Skiing
Kite skiing (snow kiting) is attracting freestyle adventure seekers to Utah. Learn about the cool places to kite ski in Utah, grab your equipment and go!
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Skiing
Skiing in Utah? Choose from 15 resorts — 10 within an hour of the airport. Discover lively ski towns, best times to visit and tips for booking lessons and rentals.
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Snow Tubing & Sledding
The classic, winter tradition of finding the perfect hill from which to launch a tube or sled is alive and well in Utah. Whether you’re looking for commercial parks with structured lanes or a local hill and your own thermos of hot cocoa, we’ve got it all.
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Snowmobiling
Snowmobile vacations are popular outdoor adventures. Utah’s 800+ miles of groomed trails offer winter snowmobiling fun for all — find out more!
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Snowshoeing
There’s a sense of excitement that comes with breaking trail across an untouched stretch of Utah’s famous powdery snow.
![](/azure/cmsroot/visitutah/media/site-assets/winter-photography/winter-northern-utah/why-winter-exists_mountains_cottonwoods_video-still_2023.jpg?w=956&h=1187&mode=crop&quality=65)
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4 Days
Ski City Downhill + Downtown
Big city amenities support 10 different resorts within an hour of SLC International, which means the best in downhill meets the best in downtown.
Kid-Friendly, Ski and Snowboard, Community, Non-ski Winter Activities, Urban Experiences
Highlights
- Craft coffee, dining and spirits
- Alta Ski Area or Snowbird Ski Resort
- Solitude Mountain Resort or Brighton Ski Resort
- Performing arts, après-ski and live music
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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
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4 Days
Weekender Ski Park City
So you've decided to ski in Park City for a weekend. That decision alone will be rewarded with three resorts that eclipse over 9,000 acres of Utah's renowned skiing and riding.
Ski and Snowboard, Solitude, Non-ski Winter Activities, Olympics, Urban Experiences
Highlights
- Ski City Urban Lifestyle
- Park City Mountain
- Deer Valley Resort
- Park City Experiences