Salt Lake City is renowned as one of North America’s top winter playgrounds – dusted with an epic 23 metres of annual snowfall and easily accessible just 30 minutes from downtown. But you don’t have to be a ski bunny to get among the many natural attributes in all seasons – there’s ‘snow’ much more to explore.
Here’s why you should head to Utah’s surprising Salt Lake City.
Snow is the biz
Of course, Salt Lake City and snow go hand in hand. It’s one of the world’s most coveted skiing and snowboarding destinations where plenty of international athletes, including Aussie train.
Choose from family-friendly groomers and beginner terrain to steep and deep powder runs and everything in between at Salt Lake’s world-class resorts.
Its renowned winter resorts – Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude – are located within an easy 35-minute drive of downtown and receive what’s dubbed as the ‘Greatest Snow on Earth’.
Plus, the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass is your ticket to getting a whole lot of stuff for less like access to any of the four Cottonwood Canyons resorts.
Naturally inspiring
The section of Utah’s best-known mountain range bordering Salt Lake City to the east is known as the Central Wasatch. Access to this high-alpine wonderland is through a series of canyons, including City Creek Canyon – a carless reserve within walking distance of downtown.
There’s also canyons for hiking, picnicking, rock climbing, bouldering and cycling along with cross-country and backcountry skiing.
To hit the trails, venture out on the vast mountain biking and hiking network along SLC’s northern and eastern city limits that includes seven established trailheads.
Hike to spectacular destinations such as Donut Falls and Lake Blanche, and make use of the mountain bike lift at Solitude. You can also hike and mountain bike at Alta and Snowbird respectively.
Across the valley from the legendary Wasatch Mountain Range lies the Oquirrh Mountains where more than 45 hectares of newly built hiking, horse-riding and biking trails add to Salt Lake’s impressive backyard playground options.
On your bike
If road cycling is more your speed, ‘Spin’ Lake City is geared for urban rides with 70 per cent of streets capped at 20mph (32km/h) for cyclist safety.
Hire a bicycle or use the city’s GREENbike share program to explore the mostly flat 22km Cycle the City loop dotted with places of interest.
Other popular urban biking routes include the 72km Jordan River Parkway along the Salt Lake Valley floor and the 12km Parley’s Trail to the mouth of Parley’s Canyon through to more advanced routes such as the pinnacle Little Cottonwood Canyon grind up to the town of Alta at 2.6km elevation.
Just add water (in all forms)
Refresh your perspective at the many reservoirs, rivers and lakes also located within 30 minutes of Salt Lake City, including its namesake, the Great Salt Lake.
For watersports enthusiasts, it’s a prime spot for paddleboarding, sailing, kiteboarding, waterskiing, rafting, kayaking and fishing.
In the city and nearby alpine canyons, you can also indulge in soothing spa treatments, or perhaps wet your whistle with the Salt Lake Brewery Pass for access to 15 of SLC’s top breweries and brewpubs and USD$5 credit at each establishment.
Nature bathing is also on the up in SLC with open space preservation top of mind and plenty of ways to immerse yourself in flora and fauna close to the city.
Don’t miss a guided tour to experience the free-range bison herd of Great Salt Lake’s Antelope Island and the summertime Blossom & Bloom: Wasatch Wildflower Festival is another must-do.
For more inspo and info, head to visitsaltlake.com
