The days between Christmas and New Years are the perfect time for a winter adventure. Last year I found a fantastic flight deal to Utah roundtrip on American Airlines for $333. I was planning on going skiing in Salt Lake then heading down south to do a few national parks. Instead of it being a solo trip, my dad joined me and it was a fun father-daughter adventure. Skiing, hiking, and exploring in Utah was the perfect way to end the year. In this post, I’ll break down what we did every day along with the best trails and cost-saving tips, for you to make the most of your own Utah adventure.

Utah Day 1:

Skiing at Brighton:

We got a foot of snow overnight almost immediately so this was a perfect day to head to the slopes. It takes around 45 minutes to drive to the resort with the winding road and traffic. Given likely road conditions, I advise you to make sure you get a rental car with 4 wheel drive. It was around 9:45 that we hit the slopes after we parked, checked in and got our equipment. I stuck to mostly green and blue routes with some of my favorite routes were Pacific Highway to Snow-Drift, Western-Trail to Sunshine, and Back-Door to Main-Street. We skied from 9:45am-4: 30 pm with only one large lunch break in the middle. To save some extra money, I recommend packing a lunch and keep it cool in your car. Afterward, we then went to Citris Grill for dinner with some friends we were staying with. I got the delicious sourdough turkey melt, but my dad had the Greek Salad and said it was lovely.

Utah Day 2:

Cross Country Skiing and Drive to Zion:

Staying with a Salt Lake local, we experienced cross country skiing for the first time. We rented cross country skis (yes, they are different) from REI. Since I am an REI Member, I had a $20 off coupon and the gear was discounted as well- we were able to rent 3 pairs for only $20! We skied at a local state park called Millcreek Canyon. With the sheer amount of snow on the ground, we had to ski on the actual road up to the trailhead for the Pipeline Trail. Honestly, this was one of the most challenging experiences I’ve done. Skiing upwards, you ski almost like you are on an elliptical, and skiing downwards you have zero control compared to regular skiing. Despite these challenges, I can say stepping out of my comfort zone for nature views like these at an affordable cost was entirely worth it.

Afterward, we then headed down south to Zion National Park. The drive took us approximately 4 hours including stops for gas and food. We stayed right outside the park at the BumbleBerry Inn. At this point, we realized just how little is open during the “off-season” in Zion regarding food options. After going to 3 different restaurants and waiting 40 minutes we finally got to eat at Oscar’s Cafe. I highly recommend the restaurant given the affordability as well as the fantastic burger and sweet potato fries they serve at the cafe.

Utah Day 3:

Zion National Park:

Our hotel included a delicious breakfast at Porter’s Smokehouse and Grill, the only expense out of our pocket being the tip to our waiter. Before heading out, I recommend running to Sol Foods Supermarket and grabbing sandwiches and trail snacks to fuel your journey. We knew that the park was going to be crowded since they do to run shuttles this time of year, so we got to the park just before 8 am. I bought the American the Beautiful National Parks Pass in October since I knew we had this trip coming and it is very helpful in reducing entrance fees. What we didn’t know is that the government would be shut down, so the park was free regardless! We did gain a little extra luck and parked right next to the Canyon Junction Bridge, which is conveniently a trolly stop as well and can make any side journeys you undertake a little more convenient.

Hike #1:

Our first hike was Angel’s Landing. Angel’s Landing is one of the most popular trails in the park so we decided it was best to tackle this hike first. Taking the shuttle from Stop 3 (Canyon Junction) to Stop 6 (The Grotto), we hopped across the street to find the trailhead. We stopped our hike on this trail about three-quarters of the way to the very top. The last quarter mile is straight up the hill while holding chains, with multiple ice patches impeding our progress, so we decided it was for the best to cut our trip short. Overall, it took us 2 1/2 hours round trip to complete the hike.

Hike #2:

After an initially tough first hike to start the day, we took the shuttle from Stop 6 (The Grotto) to Stop 9 (Temple of Sinawava). This particular trail is very easy and mostly paved. In all this took us around 1 to 1 1/2 hours round trip. Temple of Sinawava, known as the place many people visit The Narrows going waist-deep in water. We did not plan for that externality and only went leg deep in the water, but if you are interested in the Bottom-Up Route you don’t need to acquire permits. I recommend renting your equipment through Zion Adventure Company or Zion Outfitters for the day. Equipment should cost around $40-$50 and is worth the money spent.

Hike #3:

Our final hike of the day was a last-minute decision. Hopping on the shuttle to Stop 7 (Weeping Rock) after eating a late lunch, we thought the Weeping Rock trail was going to be much longer. But we saw another trail headed up towards Hidden Canyon Trail (which was closed). We then realized that we could hike to Observation Point about halfway through. This was one of the toughest trails I have ever completed. We took the East Rim Trail to East Mesa to Observation Point, a grueling 7 miles of slick ice, taking us 5 hours round trip (factoring in the trail conditions and my graceless father constantly slipping). No risk- nor reward, however, the views were some of the most stunning I have ever seen. It provides access to a beautiful canyon with a frozen river that allows you to see the backside of the park of the East Rim Trail and 360-degree views above Angel’s Landing. If you are going to work hard on a hike, I recommend the East Rim Tail as the be-all, end-all.

After a long day of hiking, we decided to order a to-go pizza from Juniper to eat at our hotel. Even though we ordered the pizza to-go relatively early at 5:30 pm, it still took some time given not many restaurants are open and the town is incredibly busy with tourists competing for said pizza. Moral of the story: plan your pizza acquisition in advance and factor in extra time to avoid getting “hangry.”

Utah Day 4:

Zion National Park Day 2:

After a long first day of hiking, we slept in and didn’t head out to the park until 9. We decided our last Zion hike would be the Watchman Trail, the perfect hike to end our Zion adventure. We parked at the visitor’s center and hopped on the trailhead right next to the creek. This trail was quick only took us 1- 1/2 hours, given its moderate nature and difficulty. The views were stunning and undisturbed by other tourists, we were only two of five people on the trail. When we finished, we acquired some souvenirs, filled up our water bottles, and headed east on the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.

Bryce Canyon National Park Day 1:

It took us about 2- 2 1/2 hours to get to Bryce Canyon National Park from Zion and we arrived around 1 pm. About 3/4 of Bryce Canyon National Park trails were closed due to snow and ice. We were still able to do some hiking and making the most of our trip. We parked right next to the general store, given the majority of the parking is street parking with only a few actual parking spaces.

Starting at Sunrise Point, we took the Queen’s Garden Trail to the Navajo Loop Trail. This first hike showed me just how beautiful mother nature looks with a coat of snow. Stunning geological structures weaved throughout the trail’s switchbacks give remarkable views, worthy of both a postcard or your social media. The trail took us approximately 2 hours round trip to complete. After a long day of hiking and traveling, we hopped over to our hotel the Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn. This hotel is centrally located, has a restaurant where we ate a delicious dinner. We learned that in Utah, under state law if you order an alcoholic drink you, you only get a 1.5 oz serving of liquor and you must order food with your drink. Something interesting to keep in mind that you may encounter when visiting this gorgeous sate!

Utah Day 5:

Bryce Canyon National Park Day 2:

After a complimentary breakfast at the hotel (and acquiring snacks for the day too), we headed to our longest trail. This 7.4-mile roundtrip trail from Sunrise Point to Tower Bridge Trail to the Fairly Land Loop Trail and across the Rim Trail was remarkable. We only saw 6 people on the trail in the roughly 3 hours required to complete. Even though this trail is classified as hard, it was more moderate due to the multiple switchbacks. Every time you hit a tough hill, a nice flat area awaits you at the top for a quick recovery break.

After this long trail, we decided to hop in the car and explore the other side of the park. We drove about 15 minutes to the Mossy Cave Trailhead. Mossy Cave was a perfect last trail for us to complete before we headed back to Salt Lake City. The trail took us approximately 30-45 minutes to complete and was very easy to finish. The trail had a beautiful spring with frozen waterfalls. Also, some great information about the original inhabitants that lived in the area.

Post-hike and a 4-hour drive back to Salt Lake City, we decided to grab dinner and do some sightseeing. We went to Temple Square where a famous Mormon church is located. It had a quick informative tour to learn about the historical significance of the site. We grabbed a late dinner at J Wong’s Thai and Chinese Bistro before heading to the airport.

Overall Trip Thoughts:

This trip to Utah made me fall even more in love with our National Parks, hiking and nature in the winter. Experiencing this trip with my dad made it even more special. This trip is very affordable and you can easily make it cheaper by making all your own food or even camping out. I know I am itching to go back to Utah for another winter adventure. Comment below if you enjoyed the post, or have any other questions about our itinerary or favorite spots in Utah!

Utah Winter Adventure Trip Costs: