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
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River Rafting Reviews and Red River Adventure Testimonials!

Karla G
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Karla G
September 11, 2026

Had a great, relaxing, and very scenic float down the Corado River. Our guide, Seth, was excellent.

Joan Hoffberger
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Joan Hoffberger
September 8, 2026

I would highly recommend Red River Adventures.We had a great half day on the river with our guide Dallan,who was awesome!A really fun time with lots of stories and jokes.Liz and the rest of the gang were amazing also.Join them for an adventure you won’t forget!!

Jan Lewis
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Jan Lewis
September 8, 2026

Great ride! Beautiful scenery and fun guide! Loved Hanks bubble bath!!

Guru Dwarakanath
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Guru Dwarakanath
September 8, 2026

We tookricer rafting, a morning round. The team was fantastic and fun! We had kids with us who thoroughly enjoyed their first rafting exp! Team made it safe for kids to jump in the water, swim, sit on raft's nose. The Red River team has great crew, boats and take sound care about managing risks and gave us good walk through Do's and don'ts. Overall a wonderful experience as we redid rafting with Red River after 14yrs!

DXC
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DXC
September 7, 2026

Great excursion, fantastic guide, awesome people on our tour. What a beautiful day we spent with Molly as our guide! The scenery was amazing, the participants were everything (I couldn’t have handpicked a better group). Highly recommend this company and would do this trip again in a heartbeat. Thank you!!!

Lucus Allen
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Lucus Allen
September 7, 2026

Best experience ever. Request the Taco Champion dude. And his buddy. Amazing staff. Kids had a blast.

Trent W
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Trent W
September 7, 2026

Great time! Great guides!

Bryn Johnson
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Bryn Johnson
September 6, 2026

My husband and our 2 teenagers had a great time with this fun group! We especially enjoyed the raft guides’ jokes and games, including: “rocks that look like other things” and searching for “rockadile babies and Moab flamingos!” Dallin was a joyful and knowledgeable guide. He was very patient with our silly fam :) We will happily load up on their “brown whale” and be “sardines” on their awesome red rafts again soon!!

Shelisa Pinson
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Shelisa Pinson
September 6, 2026

We had the best time! Steph was super kind, patient, and very knowledgeable. He taught us so much about the dinosaur tracks and petroglyphs we saw, and even educated us about the cryptobiotic soil along the way. The rappel adventure was definitely what we were there for, and it did not disappoint! It started off a little easier, but it definitely got more intense as we went. You won’t walk away feeling like you signed up for a toddler adventure 😂, but you also won’t feel like you’re in over your head. It was the perfect balance of fun, adventure, and challenge!

Eyal
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Eyal
September 4, 2026

Even when the river wasnt as exciting, the guides were awesome and made the trip memorable for us. Would do it again only with them.

Mary Nofs
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Mary Nofs
August 31, 2026

We chose a canyoneering expedition, and the experience was great! I was a first-timer, and our guide, Steph, was top-notch!

Taylor DeBoer
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Taylor DeBoer
August 30, 2026

Our guide was super knowledgeable and super fun! Red River made everything super easy, from booking to drop off. I genuinely had an amazing time and would recommend them to anyone looking to raft in moab.

Craig Kief
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Craig Kief
August 29, 2026

Excellent adventure. Had a great raft trip with Aaron and Carl rocked for setting things up.

Mark Tripp
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Mark Tripp
August 28, 2026

Top tier adventure company! My family and I had the pleasure of doing the half day canyoneering tour paired with the half day rafting tour. Steph (aka Jimmy) was our guide for canyoneering and we were beyond impressed. He did a great job of educating us on petroglyphs and local flora/fauna as we hiked into the canyon. My eight year old daughter also did the canyoneering tour and Steph went above and beyond coaching her through the rappels. As a parent I was most impressed by his attention to detail and safety. Rafting in the afternoon was also a great experience. Molly (aka Jersey Mikes) was our rafting guide and she also did an exceptional job and made sure everyone on the boat had a great experience. The other rafting guides on our tour were Ainsley and Seb; they were also very engaging and made the short bus trip more enjoyable with their comedy :-) Highly recommend this company. All of the staff that we encountered were friendly and seemed to truly enjoy what they do.

Jennifer Nappila-Nutter
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Jennifer Nappila-Nutter
August 28, 2026

Amazing adventure with great guides! Would highly recommend this tour company

Jeri Hurst
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Jeri Hurst
August 27, 2026

Had a fun trip on the Colorado river with guide Aaron. Aaron made the rafting trip special

Christa Wittenberg
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Christa Wittenberg
August 26, 2026

We had a great time on this rafting trip! It is a tame river, perfect for kids (it was my kids' first time), and a beautiful backdrop. The guides were great.

Braden Young
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Braden Young
August 25, 2026

Booked a full-day 1-on-1 trad class with Red River Adventures on short notice and it was one of the best days I've spent on rock. I came in as a relatively new trad leader — solid on movement, but still pretty heady about my own gear. I explained where I was and what I wanted out of the day, and Carl met me exactly there. No canned curriculum, no dumbing it down. He watched me place, corrected me where I needed it, and critiqued placements I would have walked away from thinking were fine. The part I valued most was the reasoning. We covered protection selection and *why* certain pieces work in certain features — the kind of thing you can read about for months without it clicking. He also went through my entire rack piece by piece and walked me through what I was carrying, what I should be carrying, and why. I had no idea how much of my rack was there out of habit rather than intention. That conversation alone changed how I'll approach every route from here on. He also cleared up a few misunderstandings I'd picked up secondhand and never questioned. Having someone qualified put those to bed was worth the price of the day by itself. Carl was honest about what I was ready for and what I wasn't, confirmed my capabilities, and turned me loose. I left with a much clearer head and a much better sense of what I'm actually looking at when I'm deciding where to put a piece. If you're stuck between following your friends and leading your own routes, this is money well spent. Highly recommend.

Robert Raymond
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Robert Raymond
August 25, 2026

We had a blast. Aaron was a great tour guide! Great stories and was very helpful with my wife who is not a fan of water!

Jennifer Kioski
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Jennifer Kioski
August 24, 2026

Our guide Aaron made the trip so much fun! All of the staff were very friendly. Great trip!

B B
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B B
August 23, 2026

Had a few days to kill in Salt Lake City and hired a guide (Carl) to show me some multi pitch in the area. Awesome service, I’ll definitely be back

Melissa Bardsley
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Melissa Bardsley
August 23, 2026

We had a fantastic time. 2 moms and 3 kids, everyone loved our time on the river and the bus! Aaron was hilarious and a great guide. We definitely recommend renaming the last rapid “Hank’s Bubble Bath”.

Lesley Klett
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Lesley Klett
August 22, 2026

Experienced and knowledgeable guide! Despite the low water made the 1/2 day rafting trip fun for a family w tweens. Recommend!

Sophie Wolfe
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Sophie Wolfe
August 21, 2026

Our group had such an amazing time with Red River Adventure and their crew! It was a great experience in total, entertaining as well as very cost effective. The owner, Carl, even made a point of reaching out to me multiple times during the booking process to answer my questions. I will definitely book with them again.

Ana Sanchez-valdes
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Ana Sanchez-valdes
August 18, 2026

We had an amazing experience due to out wonderful guide Steph

Cindy Correa
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Cindy Correa
August 17, 2026

I always choose Red River Adventures for my river rafting trips. Thanks everyone!

Boysen Hodgson
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Boysen Hodgson
August 17, 2026

We loved this trip. Aaron was hilarious, informative, and professional. Being on, and in!, the water was an awesome way to spend an afternoon. Or, in a word, epic.

A Aa
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A Aa
August 16, 2026

Only wish the river water was higher. Our guide was great as were our boat mates

Etienne Detrie
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Etienne Detrie
August 13, 2026

On a passé un bon moment avec l'équipe de Red River pour profiter du colorado é rafting. Ballade paisible avec quelques rapides dont un dans lequel on peut se jeter dans l'eau. Les enfants ont beaucoup aimé

Longevity Physical Therapy LLC
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Longevity Physical Therapy LLC
August 13, 2026

We booked canyoneering and white water rafting for our day and it did not disappoint. We were greeted right on time of our arrival by Steph who was our guide for canyoneering. We didn’t quite know what to expect and it was absolutely amazing. Steph was 10/10 and would rate him higher if we could. He provided knowledge, lots of laughs, and a calming presence during repelling. His attention and care to the two little ones in our group was amazing helping them. They re named him “Jimmy John” which provided great laughs he was an amazing sport with. Our next adventure was rafting with Molly (aka Jersey Mikes) who was also amazing. She knew exactly how to have a good time when the water was calm with rafting games and water gun fights. All of the guides were friendly and Ainsley’s jokes were top notch! If you are seeking adventure and fun don’t hesitate to book with Red River Adventures. They truly are #1 in our book!

Lisa Lyman
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Lisa Lyman
August 12, 2026

Professional guides. We took all of our kids ranging from 12 to 5 and they all loved every second of it. Would definitely recommend. Beautiful place.

Leonardo Pracchi
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Leonardo Pracchi
August 11, 2026

This trip canyoneering with Steph was AMAZING. Extra care in talking about the beautiful land and history of the people who lived it for the past couple thousand years! Repelling is hard but so fun and it was overall a fantastic experience.

The GUILIG
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The GUILIG
August 11, 2026

Top team, great place, perfect moment!

Jody Lyman
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Jody Lyman
August 11, 2026

Well informed and fun guides! Our river guide was so friendly and especially patient with our enthusiastic boys on the trip. It was a really fun day for the whole family!

Larry
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Larry
August 11, 2026

Absolutely spectacular. Excellent, professional service. Totally recommend this company to anyone. 👌👌👌👌

A K
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A K
August 10, 2026

Great team at Red River Adventures. Knowledgeable and fun guide team. Molly was our guide and she was fantastic with keeping our group safe and cooled off with the high temps while sharing details of the amazing views from the Colorado River. Highly recommend!

Brianne Jordan
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Brianne Jordan
August 9, 2026

All the guides in our group were great and we loved the jungle cruise-esque jokes on the bus. Dallin was our guide on the river and he was the best and made sure we had an awesome time! We have kids aged 5-15 and it can be hard to find things they all enjoy, but this checked all the boxes. We were told that Molly made the curry for lunch and we loved it and will try to dupe it at home. We would definitely do another trip with Red River!

Hannah Harrison
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Hannah Harrison
August 9, 2026

Our guide, Ansley, was fantastic! Each rapid, swimming in the river, hearing the majestic eagle call, and playing “rocks that look like stuff” was all stellar. 10/10 would recommend. Ps. Hanks bubble bath was our favorite rapid.

Roxanna Isaacs
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Roxanna Isaacs
August 9, 2026

So much fun!!! Our guide was awesome!! Thank you

Michael Vitols
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Michael Vitols
August 9, 2026

Great Staff! Super welcoming and friendly. Highly recommended!

Laura Schultz
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Laura Schultz
August 9, 2026

We really enjoyed our day whitewater rafting with Red River. Our guide, Seb, was fun and capable making sure everyone was comfortable and having a good time. We enjoyed the rapids, the chances to swim in the river, the geology lessons, wildlife and the jokes.

Jeff Shuff
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Jeff Shuff
August 9, 2026

Great time from the bus ride to drop off and the jokes that were told to the history of area and geological features and wildlife. We saw a beaver!!!

Michele David
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Michele David
August 6, 2026

Wisconsin travelers here to bear-ify that Molly did in fact see a bear on our full day rafting excursion. We had a blast with Red River Adventure and their crew- the entire day was great and well organized! If you are looking for an adventure - check them out our family had a blast on the Colorado River. Molly was amazing -we learned lots of fun facts about the area, jumped in for a refreshing swim and lunch was awesome! I highly recommended Red River Adventure!

Matthew Lord
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Matthew Lord
August 5, 2026

Our guide was both professional and entertaining. Favorite rapid was Hanks Bubble Bath…so fun!!!

Courtney Beck
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Courtney Beck
August 4, 2026

Red River Adventures was the absolute BEST! My family (5 of us…3 kids ages 16,14, and 12) had an amazing whitewater rafting float down the Colorado River with our super awesome guide Aaron. We saw lots of wildlife, including big horn sheep, and Aaron was not only super chill and hilarious, but very informative of the river and history of the area. The whole crew of Red River Adventures was awesome, actually! So much fun!! My kids had an absolute blast.

Seth Jones
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Seth Jones
August 4, 2026

Seb was a great guide and would recommend him to anyone.

Dawn Wilson
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Dawn Wilson
August 3, 2026

Our group of tween boys LOVED it, as well as the adults!!! The guides were professional yet soooo full o’fun, and the raft ride had adventures abound. So glad this is the company we landed with!

Steven Henderson
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Steven Henderson
August 3, 2026

The guides were terrific and fun. Ours took a personal interest in everyone in the raft. Safety was obviously a genuine concern, and having fun was a top priority. Although the rapids were basically only Class I, it was still a very fun ride with beautiful scenery.

Thomas Hartung
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Thomas Hartung
August 2, 2026

Wir haben das Bow and Arrow Canyoning gebucht. Dauer ca 3h plus Fahrzeit. Wir hatten zu viert gebucht und einen eigenen Guide bekommen. Alles super professionell. Zuerst ein kurzes Abseilen zur Eingewöhnung und Kennenlernen der Handgriffe. Danach 3 unterschiedlich hohe Felswände. Die höchste war 35m hoch. Ob der Preis gerechtfertigt ist, muss jeder selbst wissen. Es war nicht günstig. Wir würden es aber sofort wieder buchen

Chuck M
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Chuck M
August 2, 2026

We spent two days with Red River Adventures and had a blast! The guides were very professional, knowledgeable and we learned lot. I highly recommend this outfit if you’re ever in the Salt Lake City area.