Utah offers such varying terrain and opportunities to explore, be active, eat well and have fun year-round. Writer Jimmy McDonough made the rounds of the most stunning ski areas in Southern Utah and found plenty of winter adventures.

Eagle Point ski area offers wide open runs.

Utah’s natural beauty attracts millions of tourists, mostly in the summer. Come winter, the beauty remains, the crowds thin and new adventures await those who seek a getaway. The ski resorts of northern Utah attract the lion’s share of winter skiers where 10 resorts are within a one hour drive of Salt Lake City International Airport. For a quieter, more restorative winter escape, enjoy these three stops in a winter playground among the dramatic, colorful landscapes of Southern Utah.  

Hungry for more? Read Jimmy’s tips for travel planning for Iceland.

Winter Adventures in Southern Utah Stop 1:

Eagle Point is an intimate ski area up a winding canyon road from I-15. Ringed by dramatic snow-capped peaks of the Tushar Range and surrounded by 1.5 million acres of the Fishlake National Forest, the isolation provides quiet, clean air and dark night skies for stargazing. 

The warm glow from Eagle Point main lodge at dusk.

Open to the public on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, some Mondays and select holiday dates during the week, the snow quality is excellent; the runs are well-groomed, and powder lingers long after storms. Skiers and Boarders of all ages will enjoy the long, uncrowded runs and no-wait lift lines. Lessons for all levels are available. Eagle Point staff are friendly and enjoy chatting with guests. Remarkably, ski lift tickets are incredibly low for such top notch skiing, as are rentals and lessons.

Ski lifts at Eagle Point.

Lodging is available in a variety of condos and private homes for rent; no hotels or other major commercial activity mean this is a quiet escape from the usual hubbub of ski resorts. Bring groceries and cook in your condo kitchen or enjoy dining at the Eagle Point Canyonside Lodge restaurant for hearty fare like steaks, pasta and chicken for dinner and full breakfast menu. Apres ski, the warm and welcoming bar is a nice place to relax with a Utah craft beer (brews from Moab Brewery are on tap) and a snack. Skyline Lodge, on the mountain, offers lunchtime sandwiches, salads and soups. Oh and don’t miss the homemade baked goods offered at each lodge – the carrot cake is to die for and the oatmeal apricot cookies are a winner!

Unlike perhaps any other ski area, Eagle Point offers a unique opportunity: “As You Wish” means the entire ski area can be rented out for private use. Corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions, bachelor/ette parties – for $10,000, you and up to 200 of your besties have the place to yourself – a dream come true for any ski lover!

Housemade carrot cake at Eagle Point’s restaurant.

Winter Adventures in Southern Utah Stop 2:

Brian Head is a bustling small resort town, with hotels, condos, shops and restaurants, perched high above the valley floor up a scenic canyon about 30 minutes from the interstate. The skiable acreage spans two mountains; short lines form at peak times on week-ends and holidays, but waits rarely exceed a few minutes. During the week, you may have many runs to yourself. This family-friendly resort offers two tubing hills for those who enjoy the easy thrill of sliding down a hill. Also friendly are the prices – everything from lift tickets to rentals to food on the mountain is reasonably priced – much less expensive than the typical resort.

Scenic canyon on the way to Brian Head ski area.

On-mountain dining is offered at the Navajo Lodge food court (pizza, grill, salads) or the Last Chair Saloon (cafeteria downstairs or the upstairs bar for sandwiches, burgers and beers). Prices at both are very reasonable for a ski resort, and the quality is excellent; come back to Last Chair for a terrific BBQ dinner and live music on Fri./ Sat. evenings!

A surprisingly stylish Best Western is a great lodging option for those who seek amenities like an indoor pool, on-site spa, indoor/ outdoor hot tubs, fitness room, kids arcade, on-site dining, and a striking bar hosting live music on some evenings. Spacious rooms are beautifully decorated, clean and comfortable.

Western style and comfort at the Brian Head Best Western hotel.

Brian Head abuts Cedar Breaks National Monument, and snowmobiling is a thrilling way to explore this beautiful landscape. Thunder Mountain offers guided tours along a network of groomed snowmobile trails; we chose the three-hour tour (1.5 hour and half day tours are also available), and covered about 30 amazing miles. After a brief lesson, we sped off through forests, meadows, up and down hills, and finally stopped along the edge of a vast open space; gazing down and across, the golden hues and bizarre hoodoos of Cedar Breaks brought giddy smiles of wonder to all of us. Snowmobile tours are not cheap, but it is hard to imagine a more thrilling way to have fun and explore this vast place. Snowmobiling is also far more physically demanding than you might think; turning requires full body movement, and maintaining control requires a great deal of upper body strength.

Incredible vistas can be seen when snowmobiling into Cedar Breaks National Monument, next to Brian Head ski resort.

Winter Adventures in Southern Utah Stop 3:

Even more physically demanding, cross country (Nordic) skiing offers a more peaceful winter adventure option, and Bryce Canyon National Park offers miles of groomed trails for novices and advanced level skiers alike. For a relatively easy going outing, rent equipment at Ebenezer’s Nordic Center (very inexpensive and close to the main entrance), then head out into the fairly flat forest terrain behind the shop. After some gradual climbs, one of the trails leads to Fairyland outlook with spectacularly colorful scenery of mesas, far off ridges, forests and rock formations. From here, you can continue along the groomed trails and access other outlooks over the otherworldly Bryce Canyon amphitheater. Watch your time and plan carefully to ensure you don’t overexert yourself and remember, darkness falls early on short winter days.

Jimmy enjoying Nordic skiing in Bryce Canyon.  Photo by Eric Williams.

While in Bryce Canyon, be sure to visit the Visitor’s Center to learn about the geologic forces that formed this place, as well as the natural and human history. Fascinating. The park is open 24/7, so you may even enter after dark and go to the edge of Bryce Canyon for exhilarating and slightly spooky star gazing. Be sure to stay on sidewalks along the designated outlooks; hiking into the canyon after dark on slippery icy trails is not recommended, and going off trail is dangerous and always prohibited.

In winter, you have the park to yourself in Bryce Canyon.

A terrific place to stay and enjoy Bryce Canyon is Ruby’s Inn, named after a lodging compound that has endured for over 100 years (see the fun old photos in the lodge). Today’s property is an impressive spread and the main lodge has a spectacular western-style welcome center, restaurant, small liquor store, enormous gift shop, grocery store, art gallery and loads of other amenities including a large indoor pool and exercise room. Ruby’s is just outside the main entrance to the park, providing quick access. Their restaurant offers meals from 6am until 11pm; the menu offers a wide range of American fare, and a self-serve salad bar is included with some entrees. Rooms are spacious and nicely appointed with updated décor, furnishings and toiletries. Low key, family-friendly and overall quiet. Across the highway is Ebenezer’s, a special events barn of sorts; in winter, it hosts a rental center for Nordic skis and skates to enjoy their ice skating rink out front.

It’s a sign! You’re welcome at Ruby’s Inn.

Winter travels around Southern Utah mean no crowds – you’ll almost have the national parks to yourself to enjoy in relative peace and quiet. Winters tend to be fairly mild, with sunny blue sky days that make it warmer and easier to travel than you might imagine; dress in layers so you can adjust for the temperature variances, and wear sun screen and lip balm with SPF protection. Drink lots of water to hydrate your body in this dry climate and help adjust to the high altitudes; both Eagle Point and Brian Head ski resorts are at high altitudes, so allow your body time to acclimate to avoid altitude sickness. Nights are very cold, so be sure to bring winter gear in order to comfortably venture out at night to enjoy incredible star gazing.

The adventures of Southern Utah are an easy drive along I-15 from the major airports of either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City. Keep an eye on weather reports, to be sure, but don’t let the fear of snow squalls scare you away. In Southern Utah, the prices are reasonable, people are friendly, and winter’s beauty and peacefulness in this region is something you’ll always treasure.

— Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Eco-Friendly Food, Travel & Adventure Editor

Hungry for more? Take a tour of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks.