Heber Valley, nestled in the stunning Wasatch Mountains of Utah, transforms into a winter wonderland when the snow starts falling. It’s packed full of fantastic enter activities, and it’s where we call home. Here, you’ll get a local inside scoop helping you find the absolute BEST winter activities in Heber Valley. Whether you’re looking for a fun family day out, or an adrenaline rush in fresh powder, you can find it on a trip to Heber Valley this winter.
We love living in Heber Valley and especially love helping other people see how amazing our little home valley is as well. Come along and we’ll share with you some of our favorite things to do as well as the best places to eat in the valley. With an average snowfall of over 100″ per year, this is the perfect winter getaway.
Where is Heber Valley Located?
Heber Valley is located to the southeast of Park City. It is 50 minutes from Salt Lake City, 20 minutes from Park City and just 25 minutes from Utah Valley. While it’s close to all of these major Utah cities, it’s packed with small town charm that will make you feel like you’ve escaped all of the hustle of city life.
Best Places to Stay in Heber Valley
If you’re planning a few activities in Heber this winter, you’ll love some of the unique properties available in the valley. Here are some of our favorites:
Heber Senator – Charming bed and breakfast just outside of downtown Heber
Zermatt Resort– Full resort featuring golf, mini golf, spa, and pool
Homestead Resort – Home to the geothermal crater, charming coffee and ice cream shop, golf, and family rooms
Best Winter Activities in Heber Valley Utah
Snow covered mountains and charming small towns are at the heart of Heber Valley’s winter activities. Most of these activities here are on our list of favorites that we try to do every single winter.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing at Wasatch Mountain State Park
With tons of local trails, there are a few really great options for cross-country skiing in Heber Valley.
If you’re looking for more structure to your cross-country skiing, head over to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. Soldier Hollow was home to the 2002 Olympic Nordic events and the venue is spectacular. They have a full rental shop, nordic ski lessons, and regularly have races and community events. If you’re local, the kids Kickers and Gliders nordic ski program is one of the best outdoor programs in the valley.
For getting some solitude while cross-country skiing, the best trails are around the Wasatch Mountain State Park golf course. These trails are well-maintained and offer skiers the chance to glide through some of Utah’s most picturesque landscapes, without the crowds of the major Nordic centers in Park City and the Cottonwood canyons. Rentals are available at the park visitor center.
Visiting the Ice Castles in Midway
The Utah Ice Castles are a hand-crafted winter wonderland located at Soldier Hollow in Midway, offering visitors a magical frozen experience. Constructed using hundreds of thousands of icicles, these ice castles create a maze of glacial caverns, archways, and tunnels to explore. At night, the castles are illuminated with vibrant LED lights, casting a fun glow that enhances the atmosphere. This unique attraction is perfect for families, couples, and anyone looking to experience a real-life winter fairy tale. While you’re there, make sure to check out the sides, throne rooms, and ice sculptures all throughout the castles. The Ice Castles in Midway regularly sell out, so bug your tickets in advance.
Tubing at Soldier Hollow
The Soldier Hollow tubing hill has the longest tubing lanes in Utah at 1,200 feet long. It’s an absolute BLAST! Perfect for families, groups, or solo adventurers, the hill caters to all ages (3 and up), making it a great winter activity for everyone. Evening tubing under the stars is actually our favorite since the snow typically gets a little bit more firm and the tubes go faster at night. The tubing hill is located at Soldier Hollow so you can easily combine tubing with a cross country ski day or a visit to the ice castles.
Ice Skating at the Midway Ice Skating Rink
Boasting the largest outdoor ice skating rink in Utah, the Midway rink is such a fun place for skating. Tucked right into the town square, you’ll hear the Swiss themed glockenspiel chiming the time as you skate around the rink. Offering skating lessons, a hockey night, and group discounts, the Midway ice rink is a great place to hang out with friends and family. We usually get the punch pass to get the best rates on skating and rentals, especially since our kids love to skate here with their friends. Opening hours are usually just in the afternoons, and it’s helpful to call before you visit since the rink occasionally closes for bad weather.
While the rink does offer basic concessions, we recommend waiting just a bit and going across the street to the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for the best hot cocoa in the valley.
Swimming in the Homestead Resort Geothermal Crater
The Homestead Crater is a natural geothermal hot spring, hidden within a beehive-shaped limestone rock. Visitors can swim, scuba dive, or simply soak in the warm, mineral-rich waters. While you can swim here year-round, it’s a unique and relaxing experience that’s perfect for unwinding after a day of winter adventures in Heber.
Skiing at Sundance Resort
To continue the small town charm of Heber Valley, skip the Park City ski resorts and head down the canyon to Sundance Resort. This small ski resort nestled up against Mount Timpanogos rarely has crowds and has great skiing. The front side of the mountain is geared towards beginner and intermediate skiers and the back side has fantastic expert terrain. The thing that we love the most about it is that the resort is pretty small so it has a really intimate feeling to it. It’s perfect for a low key ski day or skiing with kids.
Riding the Heber Valley Railroads North Pole Express
If you’ve got kids, don’t miss a chance to take a ride on the North Pole Express. This holiday themed train is one of the best Christmas activities in Utah and is absolutely magical. We take our kids every year and it’s one of their most anticipated traditions of the year. As you step onboard, you’ll be greeted by elves who are there to make your trip extra special. Just like on the Polar Express, chefs will come out to serve cocoa and cookies and there’s no shortage of Christmas music, singing, and performances. The highlight of course is a stop at the North Pole where Santa hops on board to chat with all of the kids. This is one Christmas event in Heber that you absolutely cannot miss!
If you are in Heber Valley after the Christmas holiday, a train visit is still fantastic. The train runs year round and there’s always some sort of entertainment on board. Our kids absolutely love it and it’s where we celebrate all of their major milestones when they’re younger.
Fat Biking in the Snow
Heber has an incredible number of bike trails for summer riders and a few great places for fat biking in the winter. The most popular place for bike lovers to bike is up at the Cutthroat trailhead. This trail is on the north end of the valley overlooking Jordanelle Reservoir. The trails up here get regularly groomed, though after a big storm, it often takes a couple of days for them to be ridable. You’ll get access to a good system of fat bike trails at Cutthroat and some challenging terrain as well.
If you’re new to fat biking head to Wasatch Mountain State Park. Here you can rent bikes and take them out on the groomed trails through the state park. This was where I learned to fat bike and I loved that the trails were wide and not steep so I could focus on riding in the snow instead of having to worry about the terrain ahead.
Eat in Cafe Galleria’s Alpenglobes
Only open in winter, the Alpenglobes at Cafe Galleria are absolutely amazing. These real life snowglobes are set up outside and are simply dreamy for dining in on a winter evening. We love all of their pizzas and pastas but their hot cocoa is absolutely AMAZING. While the globes are heated and they do provide blankets, it can still be chilly inside, so dress warm.
Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
For a fun mix of winter and the valley’s western heritage, take a a horse-drawn sleigh ride. You can take a sleigh ride around the ice castles and it’s just the perfect way to spend an evening totally embracing winter!
Read Next: Visit Park City’s FREE Museums
Other Winter Activities to Do in Heber Valley
Snowmobiling up at Daniels Summit
Winter Hiking
Fly Fishing on the Blue Ribbon Provo River
Check out the Christmas lights at Jordanelle on a horsedrawn wagon tour or here are our favorite things to do in winter in Park City
Best Places to Eat in Heber Valley
Considering the small size of Heber Valley, there are some really great and fun places to eat here. Here are some of our favorites:
Back 40 – unique menu as well as great comfort food
Midway Mercantile – a nicer sit-down restaurant, everything here is AMAZING!
Little India – Indian food
Z’s – Steakhouse at Zermatt Resort
Blue Boar – Our favorite for brunch
The Junction – casual dining, fantastic salads pizzas and sandwiches
The Pizza Yard – gourmet wood-fired pizza
Dairy Keen – Home of the train, known for its burgers and fries
Grannies – Iconic Main Street shop, famous for it’s shakes, but the burgers are equally good
Lolas – casual dining, the parmesan fries are incredible
Suus Cookies – Local cookie shop known for their soft oversized cookies
Judy’s Donuts – gourmet donuts in fun flavors
Heber Valley truly offers something special for everyone in the winter. Whether you’re seeking adrenaline-filled adventures or peaceful moments in nature, this beautiful valley that I call home is sure to provide an unforgettable winter getaway.