Top 5 Things To Do In Salt Lake City In Winter

someone skiing in Salt Lake City

Welcome to the ultimate guide of things to do in Salt Lake City in winter with Red River Adventures! Our city transforms into a magical winter wonderland, and there’s no better way to experience it than by embarking on thrilling outdoor activities. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this guide will help you make the most of your winter stay in Salt Lake City with the expertise and services of Red River Adventures. Get ready to embrace the season and explore the top Salt Lake City winter activities that will make your visit unforgettable.

 

1. Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding

Salt Lake City is renowned for its proximity to world-class ski resorts, and winter enthusiasts flock to the area for its incredible powder. But for those seeking a more adventurous and untouched experience, backcountry skiing and snowboarding in the Utah wilderness is a thrilling option. Explore pristine, untracked terrain and relish the tranquility of the backcountry while surrounded by majestic mountain landscapes.

What to Bring: For a day of backcountry skiing or snowboarding, make sure to pack your backcountry gear, including touring skis or a splitboard, avalanche safety equipment (beacon, shovel, and probe), warm clothing, gloves, and a helmet. Always check avalanche forecasts and have the necessary knowledge for safe backcountry travel.

Tips:

    • Before heading into the backcountry, ensure you’re well-prepared and consider taking an avalanche safety course.
    • Familiarize yourself with the local backcountry terrain and conditions, and let someone know your plans for the day to ensure safety.

Introductory Utah Backcountry Touring Ski Package 

Utah’s backcountry skiing in the Wasatch Mountains outside of Salt Lake City is among the best on the planet – we are famous for the “Greatest Snow on Earth.”

Difficulty: Easy | 1,500 to 2,500 vert.

Minimum Ages: 10 years old

1 Person $450 each | 2 People $275 each | 3 People $200 each

Tours will take place either in Little or Big Cottonwood Canyons depending on snow!

2. Ice Skating at Gallivan Center

For a delightful winter experience in downtown Salt Lake City, lace up your ice skates and head to the Gallivan Center. This outdoor ice rink offers a charming setting with twinkling lights and music. It’s the perfect family-friendly activity or a romantic date night under the stars. The rink also hosts themed skate nights, adding a unique touch to your visit.

What to Bring: Dress warmly and bring your own ice skates if you have them. Rentals are available at the rink for those who need them.

Tips:

    • Check the Gallivan Center’s website for skate times and special events.
    • Plan your visit during the evening to enjoy the magical atmosphere created by the lights.

 

3. Exploring the Utah Olympic Park

If you’re looking for a unique Salt Lake City winter activity, the Utah Olympic Park is a must-visit. You can experience the thrill of bobsledding down the Olympic track or test your skills in the freestyle aerials and Nordic ski jumping facilities. The park also offers interactive exhibits and guided tours, providing insight into the 2002 Winter Olympics held in Salt Lake City.

What to Bring: Wear warm clothing, and bring your camera to capture the excitement. Special gear is provided if you choose to participate in activities like bobsledding.

Tips:

    • Book your activities at the Utah Olympic Park in advance.
    • Take a guided tour to gain a deeper understanding of the Olympic legacy.

 

4. Warm Up at Local Breweries

After a day of outdoor activities, warm up at one of Salt Lake City’s cozy breweries. Enjoy craft beers, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Local favorites like Squatters Pub, Red Rock Brewing, and Epic Brewing Company offer a wide selection of brews to satisfy your taste buds.

What to Bring: Your ID to ensure you can sample the local brews. Dress casually for a relaxed and friendly environment.

Tips:

    • Check the brewery’s website for their current beer offerings and special events.
    • Plan for a designated driver if you plan to sample multiple brews.

 

5. Ice Climbing with Red River Adventures

Experience the thrill of ice climbing with Red River Adventures in the stunning winter landscapes of Salt Lake City. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a beginner, our experienced guides will take you to frozen waterfalls and ice-covered cliffs for an unforgettable adventure. Red River Adventures provides all the necessary equipment and instruction to ensure a safe and exhilarating ice-climbing experience.

What to Bring: Dress warmly in layers suitable for the cold temperatures. Red River Adventures will provide all the specialized ice climbing gear, including ice axes, crampons, and helmets. Don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure and a willingness to conquer the ice!

Tips:

    • Book your ice climbing adventure with Red River Adventures in advance to secure your spot.
    • Trust our experienced guides and instructors, as they’ll ensure your safety while you scale the frozen walls.

1 Day Guided Ice Climbing Trip

The Cottonwood Canyons and Provo Canyon have some of the coolest ice-climbing routes in the West and Red River Adventures can guide you there!

Difficulty: Easy to Hard | WI2-WI5

Minimum Age: 8 years

1 Person $350 | 2 People $275 | 3 People $225

Level of difficulty and style of climbs are tailored to your ability level!

There are plenty of things to do in Salt Lake City in the winter with the expertise of Red River Adventures, you can push your limits, create lasting memories, and make the most of the winter season. Whether you’re seeking an adventure, a romantic evening, or a relaxing day on the ice, Salt Lake City offers something for everyone during the winter months. Enjoy your visit and embrace the beauty of a Salt Lake City winter!

Tomis
Post Author

River Rafting Reviews and Red River Adventure Testimonials!

Kylee Butler
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Kylee Butler
June 13, 2026

Great experience! Everyone was so fun and nice! 10/10 recommend if you go anywhere go to Red River!

Jerry Connet
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Jerry Connet
June 13, 2026

We stayed here 20 years ago and couldn’t wait to come back and we are so impressed with the changes that have been made in such a positive way that we can’t wait to come back next year

Sheila Butler
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Sheila Butler
June 12, 2026

Great guides! Would def recommend Red River!

David Sara Riley
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David Sara Riley
June 12, 2026

A very easy float down the river. Nice views. If doing rafting a first time with kids. Good experience.

Douglas Wellens
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Douglas Wellens
June 12, 2026

Molly was a great guide. She made the trip fun for the whole family!

Adam Boyd
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Adam Boyd
June 11, 2026

This was a five-star day with John Lemonnitis. John showed the difference climbing with a full IFMGA pinned guide makes. He got to know us and then tailored the perfect day to meet our goals.

Seth Gassman
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Seth Gassman
June 11, 2026

Great tour of bow and arrow canyon. Knowledgeable, friendly guide.

J Wells
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J Wells
June 11, 2026

Aaron was top notch! Extremely professional as well as relaxed and funny. Whould highly recommend!

Daniel Humke
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Daniel Humke
June 11, 2026

Every guide was excellent, especially our guide VJ. The entire trip was fun for the entire family. We would definitely recommend Red River Adventures to anyone.

Carson Wells
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Carson Wells
June 10, 2026

Truly an amazing experience!! Aaron our guide was very fun, informative and overall wonderful!

Wendy McKay
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Wendy McKay
June 10, 2026

We took the half-day trip and everyone had a great time. Marissa was a great guide. Rapids weren’t too intense, but were fun. Scenery is beautiful, prices were reasonable, and staff was great.

Susan schoen
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Susan schoen
June 10, 2026

Thank you Red River Adventures and Liz, Aaron and the rest of the crew. Had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon rafting the Colorado River yesterday. Aaron was a lot of fun as he guided us down the river. He was enthusiastic, engaging and entertaining. Lots of laughs all around.

Parker Rayl
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Parker Rayl
June 10, 2026

Best crew we’ve had on any tour, super fun!

Leo Spaans
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Leo Spaans
June 9, 2026

We had a fantastic guide, the views and nature are incredible Highly recommend Leo

Meredith Reyna
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Meredith Reyna
June 8, 2026

Aaron was our guide and he was great. He connected with the kids and made it fun for everyone. We had a crazy headwind that day (it actually pushed us upstream at times) but we still had a great time!

Tiffany King
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Tiffany King
June 8, 2026

Loved the experience! Great your company. Good communication.

Madison Parsons
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Madison Parsons
June 8, 2026

The team at Red River were fantastic! Aiden was a wealth of knowledge and so kind. Very fun, experienced, and willing to do anything to get us down the river. We encountered some intense wind but it was still a blast. We would definitely recommend them!

Tom Cachaza
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Tom Cachaza
June 8, 2026

We had a blast. We took a half day raft trip on the Colorado river in Moab Utah. Mariam was our guide and she made the trip so much fun. There were 6 of us on the raft with her and we all hit it off well. Mariam was very competent in guiding the raft and the on the river and its features. The section of the river flows through magnificent red rock canyons carved by the river. It was not the most challenging rafting that we have done it was actually sedate with a few class one rapids but it was a relaxing experience with light hearted banter on the raft. We enjoyed it throughly.

Brian Halpin
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Brian Halpin
June 7, 2026

Organized, knowledgeable, personable and an organized outfit knows how to put together a fun adventure on the river!

Theresa Meister
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Theresa Meister
June 7, 2026

The water was a bit slow for what we had hoped for but Vjay was great. He told us many interesting things about the cliffs and surrounding area. He pointed out a pair of bald eagles also. We jumped in the water to cool off.

Darren Hooker
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Darren Hooker
June 7, 2026

Great times! The wind was crazy strong coming up the canyon but we powered through it! VJ was amazing!

Matt Kaderly
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Matt Kaderly
June 7, 2026

Highly recommend, our guide was so encouraging and the kids had a blast

Ryan Kramer
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Ryan Kramer
June 7, 2026

Excellent guides! Had a great time with a party of 14.

Tony Olson
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Tony Olson
June 6, 2026

Awesome experience, our guide Adam was great, patient, knowledge and friendly. Great with the kids and adults guiding and teaching them through the whole experience.

Chalise Estes
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Chalise Estes
June 6, 2026

Fantastic trip! Will def use them again. Great guides, esp Molly

Mike Seguin
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Mike Seguin
June 6, 2026

We had a blast Do it!

Lauren Fuller
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Lauren Fuller
June 6, 2026

Professional & Mary was great with my 6 year old who was nervous climbing!

Ryland Drollinger
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Ryland Drollinger
June 6, 2026

Best experience i’ve had ever! The tour guides were all super friendly and love taking you down the river showing you the amazing nature Moab has to offer! Love all the jokes even the dad jokes and had a blast!!! 💥

Clark Kegley
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Clark Kegley
June 5, 2026

Great tour, great staff! Dave, our bus driver was fantastic, Erin, our guide was equally terrific. The whole experience was excellent. Thanks for a great white water rafting trip!

Eddie Darrell
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Eddie Darrell
June 4, 2026

Our guide Ryan was great! We had an epic adventure mixed with epic views, slot canyons, and Awsome repels!

MJ Stew
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MJ Stew
June 3, 2026

We had a great time on the river with Molly. The river was a little low but she made the trip fun. She was an amazing guide with lots of great stories. We were such a great group she even promised us a free Canyoneering trip on our next visit hahaha

Ryan & Mary Felton
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Ryan & Mary Felton
June 3, 2026

Red River Adventures offered great raft ride down Colorado River all the guides were very knowledgeable about the area and well trained in taking us through the river. The rapid were pretty calm when we went but the guides kept it entertaining. We recommend Red River !

Mackenzie Katz
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Mackenzie Katz
June 2, 2026

Molly, our guide was amazing and so fun! I learned so much about Utah and Moab. The lunch was very good as well as the rafting, of course. Overall, excellent experience!

Lori Stegink
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Lori Stegink
June 2, 2026

Nice crew. Fun day.

Sarah Larson
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Sarah Larson
June 2, 2026

My family and I had a great time on our raft trip! Beautiful river, beautiful day and knowledgeable, friendly guides! My daughter said it was her favorite part of our Moab visit!

Todd
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Todd
June 2, 2026

What a fantastic trip!!! My whole family including my 16 & 19 yo loved it. Molly our guide was fantastic and the weather was incredible!

Crask Racing
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Crask Racing
June 2, 2026

This was a lot of fun. Aaron was our guide and was a ton of fun. The other guides, Molly and Seth, were also a lot of fun and they all interacted with the whole group all throughout the day.

DeNardo Lab
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DeNardo Lab
June 1, 2026

Great guides and a great set up. Ton of fun for my family!

K. Adam
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K. Adam
June 1, 2026

We had the best day. Our family of four couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Adam was knowledgeable, fun and put everyone at ease so we could relax and enjoy an incredible adventure. Exceeded our expectations.

Staci Williams
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Staci Williams
May 31, 2026

Enjoyable half day on the Colorado. Upon arrival staff was friendly and professional, bus ride was smooth, and drop off at the river was organized and easy. All guides were approachable, knowledgeable and fun. Dry bags and water bottles provided. Scenery along ride was gorgeous, river is calm and excellent for taking in views and for beginners. There were a few spots to swim. Easy,, fun morning for the entire family.

JoAnn Ortega
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JoAnn Ortega
May 31, 2026

Every guide was amazing. Very informative and great at making sure we didn’t miss any focal points. Dave the truck driver was also awesome. Highly recommend!

Goog Mail
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Goog Mail
May 30, 2026

Fun raft tour of Colorado River. Knowledgeable guide, top notch equipment, fantastic catered lunch.

Amber Kaleward
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Amber Kaleward
May 30, 2026

Professional, on-time, and fun. Our guide Marissa was informative, kept our raft playing a game and she didn't panic when we all went for a swim and the wind took her and the raft up river. :) Great experience!

Stephen K
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Stephen K
May 30, 2026

Great trip down the Colorado River! Guides were fun and easy going. Great way to see canyons and wildlife including Bald eagles that we were fortunate to see on our trip.

X-VP
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X-VP
May 30, 2026

This was our first rafting trip and we are extremely happy with the service Red River’s people provided. They were enthusiastic and entertaining, while keeping our safety and satisfaction a priority. We will definitely return for a full day trip next time.

Bryan Nagel
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Bryan Nagel
May 30, 2026

Our guide, Steph, was incredible. We had such a great time. He made sure everyone was safe the entire time, as well as being friendly and really made sure we were all having a great time. Would highly recommend for anyone looking for a great adventure and a new way to see the canyons.

Alison Berry
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Alison Berry
May 29, 2026

BEST ROCK CLIMBING EXPERIENCE EVER!!!!

Lawrence Powell
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Lawrence Powell
May 29, 2026

Went for the one day guided rock climbing adventure in Salt Lake City; couldn’t have been better! John was super informative, fun to be around, and made it a super interactive experience. 10/10 recommend for anyone both new to rock climbing or looking for a new adventure!

Brad Steffen
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Brad Steffen
May 29, 2026

Awesome job. Will recommend to friends. Thanks

Laura
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Laura
May 28, 2026

We had two awesome experiences with Red River Adventures. First, Liz led an amazing and informative Colorado River rafting trip we got to jump in on. We felt so fortunate to have her as our guide making our time together so fun and exciting as she grew up rafting. Second, we had the privilege of having Steph lead us in a rock climbing afternoon at Wall Street. He is so knowledgeable and skilled as a climber that he taught us so much about outdoor climbing we did not know. I highly recommend both Liz and Steph as your guides and I would recommend any adventure with Red River Adventures while you are in the Moab area.