It’s cold outside, and in Utah, that means fantastic winter activities to have fun and recharge before Spring Semester. Check out our top five below.
Skiing
The obvious thing to do in the winter in Utah is ski in our world-famous resorts. With four resorts within 30 minutes of the university, you can easily take a day trip to ski. Shred the “best snow in the world” with an IKON pass, or purchase a discounted day pass from Outdoor Adventures located in the Student Life Center. You can rent skis here as well.
Ice Skating at the Gallivan Center
The outdoor skating area is open to the public from mid-November to February for $12.50 or $8.50 if you bring your own skates. The rentals are first come, first serve; you can see the hours here on their website. Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake, grab a bite from one of the great restaurants downtown and head over to the Gallivan Center for hot chocolate and ice skating.
Sledding at Sugar House Park or Woodward
If you are not a big skier but still love to be outside, then sledding might be the activity for you! You can opt to sled for free at Sugar House Park, which is also bustling with fellow sledders and has a massive hill. If you are lucky, there might also be jumps on the hill that could be used for either sleds or skis! If you want a more planned and private experience, check out Woodward. Woodward is home to the longest sledding lines in Utah and has conveyor belts to bring you back up the hill, so you don’t have to worry about walking back up! Tickets usually cost around $40-$80 for 2 hours of fun.
Midway Ice Castles
Located under an hour away from the U, make like royalty while exploring the Ice Castles in Midway. Ride down ice slides, squeeze through small ice tunnels, and even explore a frozen maze. You can do all of this for $25! Make sure you dress warm because chances are you are not Elsa and will get cold in an ice castle.
Crystal Hot Springs
Need a good way to warm up? Check out Crystal Hot Springs and take a dip for only $18. An hour from campus, it’s the perfect way to wind down after finals. For hours and more information, visit their website here.
Shannon Yanes is a junior studying Marketing with minors in Information Systems and Business Analytics at the David Eccles School of Business. She is currently an intern for Marketing + Communications at the Eccles School and a Campus Ambassador for the University of Utah.
