Salt Lake City

Salt Lake combines the amenities of a major metropolitan area with the friendliness of a small, western city. Hosting the Olympic Winter Games of 2002 enhanced the community's profile as a world-class travel destination, while showcasing Salt Lake as an unspoiled, family-friendly destination. Whether you visit for a convention, skiing, shopping, or sightseeing, you will find that Salt Lake is the right place in any season.

Salt Lake is nestled in a valley at the foot of two mountain ranges—the Wasatch to the east and the Oquirrhs to the west. In spring, the canyons are adorned with wild flowers and impromptu waterfalls. During summer, hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking are just minutes away. A blaze of brilliant foliage erupts on canyon walls in autumn. When the snow flies, it graces the slopes at ten world-class ski resorts including Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude. Daily sunshine, low humidity, and refreshing mountain breezes combine for a comfortable year-round climate.

Salt Lake offers first class accommodations, fine dining, noted attractions, historic sites, and great shopping. The city is a thriving cultural center—home to one of the nation's finest regional symphony orchestras, world-class opera, dance, and theater companies, an illustrious choir, and myriad art galleries. Salt Lake is also the gateway to ten national parks within a day's drive.

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Activities

Balloon Flights - One of the best ways to see the beautiful Salt Lake area is aloft in a hot air balloon. Drifting above the valley across open spaces and mountain, you'll get a bird's-eye view of the snowcapped peaks, ski resorts, and the city below.

Biking - The Salt Lake area offers a wide variety of world class mountain biking trails ranging in difficulty from Beginner to Expert.

Boating - Mountain lakes, reservoirs and the famous Great Salt Lake provide excellent boating opportunities in the Salt Lake area.

Fishing - Some of the Salt Lake area's best-kept secrets are the streams, reservoirs, and rivers that provide superb fishing. Enjoy spectacular views while landing browns, cutthroats, and rainbows.

Golfing - Salt Lake offers some of the highest rated, best maintained, and most affordable public golf courses in the country. Salt Lake maintains nine incredible full-service golf courses.

Hiking - Both the Salt Lake Valley and the surrounding mountains provide an abundance of hiking trails for the outdoor enthusiast.

Horseback Riding - Panoramic alpine views, aspens rustling in the mountain breeze, and abundant wildlife are just a few of the memorable sights and sounds waiting for you, as you ride through some of the most breathtaking countryside in the US

Raft, Kayak & Canoe - The rivers slicing through the red rock lands of Utah appear to have been designed for rafters. With six incredible rivers all within easy driving distance of Salt Lake, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Snowmobiling - See Utah's beautiful back country in a safe, scenic, and thrilling way that can only be achieved on a snowmobile.

X-Country Skiing - The canyons surrounding the Salt Lake Valley offer a wide variety of groomed and ungroomed cross-country skiing trails through gorgeous mountain scenery.

Sightseeing

Attractions - Salt Lake offers more than 50 attractions, from amusement parks, arboretums, museums, planetariums, sports and recreation, and much more.

Temple Square - Temple Square is the most popular attraction in the state with several million annual visitors.

Photos - Click here to view photos from in and around Salt Lake.

Scenic Drives - There are several possible scenic drives through the Wasatch Mountains surrounding Salt Lake. Each of the drives are particularly good in fall when the leaves change color.

Practical Info

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Salt Lake Ski Resorts

Alta Ski Resort 801-742-3333 2,200 acres 2,020' drop 40+ runs 2T/6D/5 Tows $18-$33 Alta Ski Area is a 60 year Utah tradition and a favorite with many locals. Nothing fancy, just terrific, consistent snow and outstanding terrain. Alta is situated at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon amidst stunningly beautiful granite peaks. Brighton Ski Resort 800-873-5512 850 acres 1,750' drop 64 runs 7 lifts $8-$39 Brighton is a mid-sized ski area that is a favorite with families with kids. Brighton has been around since 1936, and while it is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country, it is also one of the most diverse and modern. It is very popular with snowboarders. Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort 800-358-2002 2,500 acres 3,250' drop 85 runs 1Q/7D/1 Tram $11 - $64 With a vertical drop of 3,250 feet and more than 2,500 skiable acres, Snowbird is one of Utah's largest resorts. Located next to Alta Ski Area, it receives tons of great snow each year. Solitude Mountain Resort 801-534-1400 1,200 acres 2,050' drop 63 runs 7 lifts: 1Q/2T/4D $32 - $39 Solitude is a midsize resort set near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon east of Salt Lake City. It features a nice variety of terrain and the pleasant "Village at Solitude" with dining, shopping and ski-in/ski-out hotel and condo accommodations. Snow is consistently good and the scenery near the summit is outstanding.