Winter in Utah Without Skiing: 7 Family Adventures in Midway and the Wasatch Mountains

If you have ever lived through a Midwest February, you know the kind of gray I am talking about. The sky and the ground blend into one color, the cold gets into your bones, and by the second week everybody in the house is a little bit grumpy. So this past February, we packed up the kids and flew to Utah. Blue skies, snow that actually sparkles, and mountains everywhere you look.

Here is the funny part. We went to Utah in the winter and never skied. We know the skiing there is amazing, and it is on our list for next time, but this trip was all about everything else. And there is SO much else. Over five days we went dog sledding, snowmobiling, snow tubing, horseback riding, soaked in a hot spring inside a crater, and ate our way through some of the best food we have had on a trip.

If you are planning a winter trip to Utah with kids, or you just want a winter getaway that is not built around a lift ticket, this one is for you.

A quick note: this post may contain affiliate links, but they are always with brands we personally use, love and trust. They cost you nothing extra, and they help support our family's adventures. Thank you for being here!

How we planned this trip

There is a lot packed into this itinerary, and an active winter trip like this can add up fast. If you are traveling on a budget, what has made the biggest difference for our family over the years is using points and miles to get our hotel stays and flights practically free, if not completely free. Knocking out the big travel expenses makes it so much easier to prioritize the bucket list adventures that actually make the memories.

We will be breaking down our exact strategy for doing that in our upcoming book, Seek Adventure Together, and you can hop on the waitlist there. Right now, we are actually in the middle of selling about 90% of what we own, including our home, to hit the road full time with our kids in early 2027. If you want to see how that wild leap came about, you can read why we are selling everything and leaving Illinois.

We rented a 4x4 SUV through Hertz at the Salt Lake City airport, and the drive up to Heber City and Midway is about an hour. Most of what we did was within 15 to 30 minutes of our hotel, which made it easy to stack a couple of things in one day.

Between the flight to Salt Lake City, the drive up canyon roads, and quiet time winding down at the hotel, having screen-free entertainment for Aniston (10) and Noah (6) was a lifesaver. For our family, that means packing our Yoto player and audio cards, travel scratch art pads, a sketch pad, a maze book for Noah, and a couple of chapter books. If you want to see our road trip and flight staples, you can check out our favorite kids travel items on Amazon.

A quick word on the weather. Utah cold feels different from Midwest cold. It is dry, the sun is out a lot more, and daytime highs in Heber and Midway in February usually land somewhere around the 30s, with nights dropping into the teens or even single digits. Up on the mountain it is colder and windier, and the sun bouncing off the snow is no joke, so pack sunscreen and sunglasses right along with your warm layers. Drink lots of water too, because the dry air and the elevation sneak up on you.

One more thing that saved us: we did not want to haul all of our winter gear on the plane, so we rented through Utah Ski Gear. You just show up with your basics and get everything you need once you land. Honestly, it made packing for four people so much easier.

1. Dog sledding with Bear Ridge Adventures

This was one of our kids' favorites, hands down. We could tell right away that Bear Ridge Adventures took safety seriously, both ours and the safety of their dogs. The mushers knew every dog by name, and those dogs were healthy, happy, and SO excited to run.

Aniston got to stand on the runners, and Noah rode bundled up in the front of the sled like a little burrito. Both of them thought they had the best spot.

My biggest tip? Bring goggles. The snow kicks up off the trail, and also, nobody warns you about this, the dogs poop while they run. They can't exactly raise a paw and say, "Excuse me sir, could we pull to the side for a moment?" Haha! Luckily we didn't have any poop hit us, but be prepared and wear goggles just in case.

Our day did not start where we expected. Utah was having a dry stretch, so there was not enough snow at the usual meeting spot, and the team drove us further up the mountain to where the snow actually was. A little adventure before the adventure. And right as we were getting ready to ride, it started snowing. Storybook stuff.

While you ride, the mushers share so much about the dogs: their personalities, how the team is set up (leaders up front, wheel dogs closest to the sled), and how they are trained, fed and rested. It is genuinely educational, not just a ride. Before the sled moves, the dogs are barking and jumping, and the second the brake comes off it goes quiet except for paws on snow.

As our family does more of these adventures, we only share places that treat their animals well. The dogs at Bear Ridge looked healthy, well fed, well loved, and thrilled to do their job. That mattered to us, and it is the only reason we would recommend it.

Dress in layers, because the wind off the sled makes it colder than the thermometer says: base layer, mid layer, waterproof shell, snow pants, thick socks, insulated boots, warm gloves, a neck gaiter and a beanie. Check bearridgeadventures.com for current tours and pricing, and confirm the meeting spot before you drive out since it can change with snow conditions.

2. Snowmobiling with Wasatch Excursions

Wasatch Excursions runs guided snowmobile tours in the Wasatch Mountains right outside Midway, and this was such a fun day. They provide all the gear, so you do not have to bring snowsuits, boots, helmets, or gloves if you do not want to. If you are flying in and trying to pack light, that is huge. Plus, a total game changer: the snowmobiles have heated seats and heated handlebars, which made it such a comfortable, warm ride even when the mountain air got chilly.

Our guide Lauren knows how to have some serious fun. All of the guides there are focused on keeping your family safe, but they also make sure you are having an awesome time. Lauren took plenty of photos for us during the tour, so we got to just enjoy it and still have pictures to look back on afterward.

Now, I had never driven a snowmobile before. So for the first little bit, I am pretty sure the kids felt like they were riding in a sedan on a Tuesday with Gram Gram. I just needed to warm up, that's all, haha! Lauren took the kids on a more thrilling ride while I found my groove.

Jake, on the other hand? You would have thought he had been riding for years. At one point I could not find him anywhere, and then I looked over at a hill and there he was, jumping it. This was really, really fun, and it is one we would do again in a heartbeat.

Good to know: drivers need a valid driver's license, and kids ride with an adult or the guide. Even with their gear, wear warm base layers underneath, because it gets cold fast on the mountain.

3. Snow tubing and SoHo Saunas

Snow tubing at Soldier Hollow was SO fun. Of course, the day we went, the conveyor belt that takes you to the top stopped working, so we had to walk and pull our tubes up the hill. At elevation. For this Midwest mom's lungs, that was very humbling, to say the least.

But don't worry, Jake always comes in to save the day. He truly is like Superman. I will never forget a past trip to Utah when my body gave out from heat exhaustion and a little elevation sickness, and he picked me up like a bag of sand and hiked right up that mountain. I am so grateful for his strength, because I am not sure where I would be. Probably still laying on a mountain somewhere.

Once you get to the top, they let you connect up to three tubes, so we just kept taking turns.

At one point we got on our stomachs, and that is when the fun really began. They actually switched us to slower tubes because we were tearing that park up!

When you are done, walk across the parking lot to SoHo Saunas. We relaxed in the barrel saunas, went back and forth between the hot and cold tubs, and just soaked in that beautiful view. It was the perfect way to end a cold, active day. Just know both the tubing and the saunas book up, so grab your times before you go.

4. Horseback riding with Rocky Mountain Outfitters

This one was just Aniston and me, because Noah was not old enough to ride yet. Check Rocky Mountain Outfitters for their current age requirements before you book. The boys were not left out though. Jake and Noah were on drone duty, getting some really neat clips from above at a safe distance from everyone.

The ride is about 45 minutes to an hour, and it is GORGEOUS. You wind through the snowy foothills with Deer Creek Reservoir below you and the mountains all around. We have ridden with Rocky Mountain Outfitters twice now, once in the summer and once in the winter, and both were beautiful experiences.

The horses were calm, and the guides helped where needed and kept an eye on everyone the whole time. If you have a horse lover in your family, do not skip this one.

What to wear: warm boots, thick socks, good gloves, and layers. We tucked hand warmers into our gloves, because holding the reins in February gets chilly.

5. Homestead Crater hot springs

The Homestead Crater in Midway is a geothermal hot spring hidden inside a 55 foot tall limestone dome. There is a hole at the top that lets in sunlight, and the water stays warm all year long. There is truly nothing like it in the country, which makes it such a cool learning experience for the kids. We talked about how it formed over thousands of years, and they thought it was the coolest thing ever.

We have been twice, once in the summer and once in the winter, and both times were worth it. You can even scuba dive in the crater, which is booked separately. That is on our someday list.

A few tips so you are not caught off guard:

- You must make reservations in advance.

- Bring your own towel.

- Do not walk into the crater until your exact time slot. You will be asked to wait outside. It is a small area, and people are trying to leave and change, so it really does make things easier when everyone waits. We felt like they had it organized well.

- The changing rooms are very small, so be prepared for that. There are cubbies to put your things in, and everything felt very safe.

- Everyone has to wear a life jacket, no matter how well you swim.

- If you can, book a weekday. There are fewer people in the crater with you, and we loved that.

6. Fireside Dining at Empire Canyon Lodge

This felt like the fanciest night of our trip. Fireside Dining at Empire Canyon Lodge in Deer Valley is a European style dinner served around big stone fireplaces. Think melted raclette cheese scraped over potatoes and bread, warm stews, roasted meats, and chocolate fondue at the end. It is set up so you can keep going back, and we kept going up for seconds, thirds, fourths. The food was amazing.

You definitely need reservations in advance for this one. As you know, we are a family on a budget, so this one is a splurge. For our family of four, dinner came to about $430 plus tip. Wowza! Special holiday nights run even higher, around $175 to $225 per adult. Prices change every season, so check when you book. But for us it was one of those nights the kids still talk about, and if it works for your family, add it to your list.

7. A sleigh ride with Broken Arrow

After dinner we went on a sleigh ride with Broken Arrow Sleigh Rides, and this one deserves its own spot on the list. The kids could not stop staring at the size of that horse. We snuggled under the plaid blankets and glided through the snowy aspens in the dark, and it truly felt like we were in a Christmas movie. We even rode right past Mark Wahlberg's home!

It was such a peaceful ride. No phones, no rushing, just the sound of the sleigh and the snow all around us. If you get the chance, do it.

Good to know: the sleigh ride is booked separately from dinner. You reserve it by calling Fireside Dining directly, so ask about it when you book your meal. Last we checked it was about $50 for a group of up to six, which felt like a steal for how magical it was.

Where we ate in Midway

Midway Bakery has cinnamon rolls almost the size of our kids' heads. Not kidding. Go hungry, and maybe share.

Café Galleria is known for their Alpenglobe dinners, and this was how we celebrated Aniston turning 10. You eat inside your own heated clear globe, the food was delicious, and the whole thing felt like something out of a magical Hallmark movie. It would be perfect for celebrating anything special. These book quickly, so keep an eye on reservations months in advance. Approximate cost: the globe itself runs about $35 to $50 depending on the day, on top of your meal, and the food prices are pretty reasonable. Each globe fits up to eight people, which makes it an easy splurge for a family celebration.

For everyday meals, our hotel had breakfast included, which honestly saved us a lot. For quick, casual lunches, we did not keep track of where we stopped, so here are a few local, family owned spots with great reviews that we would try next time:

- Granny's Drive In in Heber City, a burger and shake spot that has been around since 1982. The shakes are famous.

- Lola's Street Kitchen on Main Street in Midway for melts, burgers, and garlic parmesan fries.

- Heber Valley Artisan Cheese in Midway, a family dairy farm where you can grab a grilled cheese and tomato soup in the farm store.

- The Bagel Den in Heber City for an easy breakfast sandwich before an adventure.

We have not eaten at these ourselves yet, so check current hours before you go.

Free and cheap things to do nearby

Not every day has to be a big booked adventure. A few easy, low cost ideas around Midway and Heber:

- Wander Midway's Swiss style Main Street and Town Square.

- Drive the scenic loop around Deer Creek Reservoir and pull over for the mountain views.

- Visit Soldier Hollow when there is no event going on and walk around the 2002 Olympic venue grounds.

- Train lovers, this one is for you. The Heber Valley Railroad runs scenic and holiday themed train rides. We did not get to do it this trip, so I cannot speak to it firsthand, but it is on our list.

Hours, prices, and seasons change, so check before you go.

How long you really need

This was a five day trip, and we really packed it in. The kids did great, but if you have a little more time, I would make this more like seven days if you want to do it all. Leave some room for nothing planned. Some of our favorite moments on any trip happen on the slow days.

A little about us

If you are new here, hi! We are Jake, Brittany, Aniston, and Noah, a homeschooling family from Illinois who would pick an adventure over a fancy hotel every single time. We share the trips, the tips, and the honest moments so other families feel confident to get out there too. You can read how we became The Venture Seekers if you want the whole story.

FAQ

Is Utah worth visiting in winter if you don't ski?

Absolutely. We did not ski once and our days were completely full. Between dog sledding, snowmobiling, tubing, hot springs, horseback riding and sleigh rides, there is more than enough to fill a week.

Where should you stay for winter activities near Midway?

We stayed in Heber City, which is right next to Midway and about 20 to 30 minutes from Park City and Deer Valley. It was a great central spot and usually more affordable than staying right at the resorts.

Do you need to rent a car?

Yes, we would recommend it. Everything is spread out a bit, and having our own car made it easy to get from one adventure to the next. If you are heading up into the mountains, we recommend a 4x4 or AWD. Winter weather moves in fast, and four wheel drive gave us peace of mind on the snowy roads.

Do you need to book things ahead of time?

Yes, every single thing we did on this trip needed to be booked in advance: dog sledding, snowmobiling, horseback riding, snow tubing, SoHo Saunas, the Homestead Crater, Fireside Dining and the Café Galleria Alpenglobes. The dinners book up months ahead, so lock those in as soon as you know your dates.

What should kids wear?

Layers, always. A base layer, mid layer, waterproof jacket and snow pants, warm socks, waterproof boots, gloves, a neck gaiter and a beanie. Goggles for dog sledding. If you do not want to pack it all, rent it when you land.

More adventures

Utah is truly one of our most favorite states so far. If you loved this one, you might also enjoy:

- Hiking The Narrows in Zion with kids

- Meadow Hot Springs, a Utah hidden gem

- Sunset ATV tours at Coral Pink Sand Dunes

- Ouray, Colorado via ferrata and canyoning

We are about to embark on a journey to see so much more of this country and the world. If you feel like following along, sign up for our monthly newsletter or come find us on Instagram @the.ventureseekers, where we share so much more than just travel!

Seek adventure together,

Brittany

-Brittany, The Venture Seekers