What to Do in Provo, Utah: Your Guide to Winter Fun

Provo canyon with the river and road at sunset

Wondering what to do in Provo, Utah this winter? As outdoor guides in the area since 2003, we have some recommendations we think you’ll enjoy. Whether you’re looking to take in the views of the nearby mountains, indulge in outdoor adventures, or cozy up for a winter getaway, Provo has something for everyone.

Provo might not always be top of mind when people think of Utah, but for those in the outdoor community, it’s tough to beat this mountain town. Provo, Utah was voted one of the four best towns in America in an Outside Magazine article. In the article, Voters Choice: The 4 Best Towns in America, Outside’s Executive Editor, Sam Moulton said,

“Provo might be the most underrated town in Utah. It’s laid-back and affordable and has incredible access to just about everything except surfing. There are literally hundreds of miles of singletrack in American Fork and Payson Canyons, world-class rock- and ice-climbing all over the place, and even whitewater kayaking on the lower Provo River. Plus, Sundance Ski Resort is just 20 minutes up the road and is home to one of the coolest bars in the state, the Owl Bar. It’s worth going up there just for a drink.” – Sam Moulton, Outside Magazine

In this guide, we’ll explore the best activities for anyone wondering what to do in Provo, Utah, with a special focus on making the most of the winter season!

Winter Outdoor Adventures in Provo

A man ice climbing next to a frozen sheet of ice

 

1) Ice Climbing

For thrill-seekers, ice climbing is an unforgettable winter activity. Red River Adventures offers guided ice climbing tours in Utah that cater to all skill levels. You’ll experience the adrenaline of climbing frozen waterfalls, surrounded by the beauty of Provo Canyon. Our tours are designed to be highly customizable, making them perfect for all experience levels and ages. But don’t just take our word for it, our guides receive glowing reviews from our amazing customers! Here’s what a recent customer said:

“Spent a day ice climbing with Red River. Excellent instruction, fun guide (ask for Brian!), all in all a great time. Will go again for sure! Thanks Red River!”5-Star Google Review from Candice Bithell

 

2) Snowshoeing

One of the simplest ways to enjoy Provo’s winter beauty is by strapping on a pair of snowshoes. Trails like the Stewart Falls Trail and Big Springs Hollow offer breathtaking views of the Wasatch Mountains, making them perfect for a serene snowshoeing adventure.

3) Winter Hiking Trails

If hiking is your passion, Provo’s winter trails will not disappoint. Y Mountain Trail and Rock Canyon Trail are popular options that are accessible even in snowy conditions. Be sure to bring traction devices for a safer experience.

Family-Friendly Activities in Provo This Winter

two children sled down a hill in snow on colorful sleds

 

1) Sledding

Gather your family and head to Rock Canyon Park, one of the most popular sledding spots in Provo. The gentle slopes are perfect for kids, while the steeper hills provide thrills for older adventurers.

2) Midway Ice Castles

A short drive from Provo, the enchanting Midway Ice Castles feature towering ice structures, illuminated tunnels, and slides that will delight both kids and adults. It’s a magical experience you won’t want to miss.

3) Winter Walks and Light Shows

The Riverwoods in Provo transforms into a winter wonderland with twinkling lights and charming decor. Stroll through this outdoor mall for a festive evening, complete with hot cocoa from a local café.

Take a Break from the Cold

Downtown Provo, Utah on a blue sky day

 

1) Dining Spots

Provo’s food scene offers a warm reprieve from the winter chill. Local favorites include Black Sheep Café for its unique Navajo-inspired dishes and Communal for farm-to-table comfort food.

2) Museums and Art Galleries

Spend a cozy afternoon exploring the BYU Museum of Art or the Bean Life Science Museum. These cultural hubs provide fascinating exhibits for all ages. Bean Life Science Museum’s Google Reviews speak for themselves! Many visitors highlight that it’s free, fun for kids, and equally engaging for adults, with plenty of opportunities to learn something new. Here’s what one recent visitor had to say:

“Fun place to explore with my kids on a rainy day! Lots of cool, artfully displayed animal specimens with interesting info. We will have to come back for one of their animal shows another time.” – 5-Star Google Review from Brinn H.

3) Hot Springs

Just a short drive away, the Fifth Water Hot Springs offer a relaxing soak surrounded by snow-covered scenery. The warm, mineral-rich waters are the perfect way to unwind after the hike. This makes for a full day of adventure.

Provo, Utah, transforms into a winter wonderland, offering a blend of adventure and relaxation. Whether you’re hiking through snowy trails, ice climbing in Provo Canyon, or soaking in natural hot springs, there’s no shortage of ways to make your visit unforgettable. Next time you’re wondering what to do in Provo, Utah, let this guide inspire your winter plans. Pack your bags and get ready for an adventure like no other!

The River People
Post Author
We strive to ensure that time spent with us is time that you will always look back on fondly. We want to leave you with a memories that bring a smile to your face no matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, and no matter how much time has passed. In addition to a deep reservoir of personal experience, our rafting guides are licensed by the state of Utah, have Wilderness First Responder and/or First Aid/CPR certifications, and are insured. Many guides also have swiftwater rescue training. Our climbing and canyoneering guides are AMGA-certified for the terrain in which they operate. Our skiing guides are certified for the terrain, and some are world-renowned for their experience. All of our guides are intimately acquainted with not only the river, rock and snow, but also with the incredible surroundings of the areas we guide.

River Rafting Reviews and Red River Adventure Testimonials!

Kyle Almeida
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Kyle Almeida
December 19, 2024

Had a fantastic two days in the Wasatch for AIARE 1! John and Vic are awesome guides and very knowledgeable about avalanche education and their tour routes. Highly recommend.

Matthew McHugh
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Matthew McHugh
December 19, 2024

The guides/instructors at Red River are best in class. John and Victoria went above and beyond to answer our questions, share in between the lines knowledge, and encourage lifelong learning.

Emma Braun
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Emma Braun
December 18, 2024

Took an all-women AIARE 1 course and it was fantastic!! Highly recommend. Victoria was an awesome instructor and had a lot of great experience and advice to share for women who are interested in getting more involved in this male-dominated sport. Thank you Vic and Red River for advocating for women in the backcountry!!

David Smith
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David Smith
December 16, 2024

I highly recommend using Red River Adventures for all your AIARE course. Extremely professional instructors that take the time to focus on everyone.

Ashley Jenson
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Ashley Jenson
December 7, 2024

I’ve taken my Aiare 1 and a rescue course with red river adventures and both classes were amazing. The instructors do a fantastic job. I felt heard and every question I had was answered. I highly recommend taking a course with these guys, you’ll really walk away with a lot.

Gracee Dalton
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Gracee Dalton
December 6, 2024

Amazing guides who are very well educated and informative. Great learning experience.

Mike Schirf
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Mike Schirf
November 26, 2024

My wife and I had the pleasure of joining Carl and his amazing team of guides last year in Japan. On top of being extremely knowledgeable of the area and where to find the best snow they are all amazing humans which made the trip that much more special. It was a dream trip and we would do it again in a heartbeat.

Megan Caravello
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Megan Caravello
November 11, 2024

We did rock climbing just outside salt lake City, at big cottonwood canyon. Carl was a super guide. We had never rock climbed, and Carl have us great intro instructions then we climbed up two rocks, that were challenging and fun. Would highly recommend

Cynthia Svendsen
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Cynthia Svendsen
October 20, 2024

We had an amazing trip to Greece for rock climbing with these folks. Carl, Tonya, Mary, and Sam did a wonderful job being well organized, providing thoughtfully executed guiding, and good vibes all around. Couldn't have asked for a better week with this crew.

Timour Kamran
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Timour Kamran
October 14, 2024

Fantastic day out with Jon!

Andy Ballard
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Andy Ballard
October 3, 2024

John was a consummate professional. He got my boys up their first multi-pitch climb in Big Cottonwood Canyon on an ultra classic line. I really appreciated his ability to make this memorable experience happen. Super friendly and I would not hesitate to use him again and recommend to my friends.

Clinton Woods
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Clinton Woods
September 7, 2024

Did the full day fisher towers trip. It was very well ran and enjoyable. Took some younger kids and overall was a great experience thanks to red river.

Amber Striegel
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Amber Striegel
August 29, 2024

The trip was beautiful. The scenery is breathtaking. But if you are looking for rapids, this may not be the tour for you, at least not this time of year. The water was quiet and at times it felt like we weren’t moving. Definitely more of a float than rafting. It’s perfect for those who want to relax and not have a workout.

Jan Moore
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Jan Moore
August 29, 2024

We enjoyed our rafting trip down the Colorado River. Our guide, Jake was very personable and informative. We would recommend Red River Adventures for anyone seeking a fun and enjoyable time.

Taylor Davis
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Taylor Davis
August 28, 2024

Incredible experience with an even better canyoneering guide, Cage! This excursion had some of everything, the hiking, petroglyphs, 4 separate rappels. Cage made the trip very memorable for each of us and made us feel safe and comfortable during the challenging rappels. We highly recommend this tour guide and company!

Maile Christensen
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Maile Christensen
August 25, 2024

Great trip down the river. Fun guides and beautiful scenery!

Keith Grim Sleeper
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Keith Grim Sleeper
August 25, 2024

Jordan was awesome

Elodie ROSENCHER
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Elodie ROSENCHER
August 21, 2024

Superbe expérience de rafting. Toute l équipe a été très réactive et a fait de son mieux pour que notre excursion soit la plus réussie et confortable possible (modification de réservation, bateau personnel pour notre famille)! Notre guide était à l a fois très professionnel et sympathique. Toute la famille a passé un très bon moment. Merci!

jonathan otis
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jonathan otis
August 20, 2024

Such a wonderful experience for my family. John was very friendly and professional. Would recommend 100%. We can’t wait for another opportunity to climb with John again.

Amber Thompson
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Amber Thompson
August 19, 2024

Our guides were friendly, knowledgeable and so patient. We had a 12 year old and 73 year old in our group and our guides were awesome with them. We had a great time!!

Sal Sapien
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Sal Sapien
August 18, 2024

I was unsure about rafting down the colorado river. Jake was our guide and I could not have asked for a nicer guide. Jake told us some history of the area, and told us about the rapids before we came to them. We had so much fun that my wife and I are talking about doing another rafting trip down the Colorado River. Thank You Jake.

Evan Stuart
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Evan Stuart
August 18, 2024

Knowledgeable and kind guide, Cage, made it a really fun experience

Laura Greenwald DDS
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Laura Greenwald DDS
August 15, 2024

This was a great half day trip on the Colorado river. Communication was awesome and our guide, Liz, was great! She was full of info about the river, the area and rafting! Thanks for the awesome experience.

Andre Reas
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Andre Reas
August 14, 2024

What we liked: Well organised, entertaining guides (especially during the bus drive) and friendly atmosphere. Not much white water during our 1/2 day tour (class 1/2) in July 2024. Still fun for beginners though, we got to jump in the water two times :-)

Roy Blair
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Roy Blair
August 14, 2024

First off 5 ⭐'s for Maggie, our river tour guide. She was very sweet and knowledgeable at her job. Red River Adventures made our rafting experience easy and very memorable. I would definitely recommend them for your rafting while in Moab Utah!

Jaimee Kennedy
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Jaimee Kennedy
August 13, 2024

Went rafting on the Colorado river and it was incredible. The guides were very knowledgeable and personable. Shoutout to Keira and Will for being the best guides ever.

Maria Velasquez
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Maria Velasquez
August 13, 2024

We had Maggie as our raft guide, she made our experiences one to remember. She was kind and genuine. She made the tour very interesting, she had a lot of knowledge. You can tell she loves her job. Red River made it very easy to book and had very clear and easy instructions. Thier staff was friendly and made out experience fun.

Hayley Daye
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Hayley Daye
August 13, 2024

My father and I booked a last-minute half-day rafting excursion as we were passing through Moab this past weekend, and were so happy with our decision! Even though we were not in season for optimal rapids (only Class I-II in early August), we had an amazing time out on the river. The calmer water even allowed us to take a swim in the Colorado during our excursion. Our guide, Charbo, was extremely knowledgeable about the area and kept our group entertained the entire ride. All the guides were professional and fun, and we loved the entertainment provided by them on the bus ride to and from the boat launch. We could have easily done the full-day trip if our schedules had permitted! Highly recommend going with them for all rafting or otherwise outdoorsy excursions in Moab. We will definitely book again next time we are in town.

G B (Dionysos)
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G B (Dionysos)
August 13, 2024

Very nice experience with three amazing guys (Jack, Grace and.. sorry I forget her name). Smooth rafting and swimming in the Colorado ended the day 🫶🏻

Melissa Oppenheim
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Melissa Oppenheim
August 12, 2024

What a great way to spend a hot morning in Moab! Red River made everything seamless without a lot of wait time to get setup. The location of rafting was magnificent and the guides were awesome, keeping things lively and interesting, from the bus ride to safety. Emily was a lot of fun guiding our particular raft. Can’t wait to ski some pow in Japan with Red River in January !!!

Tracy Field
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Tracy Field
August 11, 2024

August river rafting is fun and chill with the class 1 & 2 rapids. Our guide, Jake, was awesome. We want to come back in June for class 3 rapids. The guides are knowledgeable and funny. Super fun.

Ricardo J. FASANA
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Ricardo J. FASANA
August 10, 2024

Fantastic River Rafting for the whole Family

Dennis Lembeck
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Dennis Lembeck
August 10, 2024

Ontzettend leuke tour. Alles gaat heel relaxed. Eerst met de bus 40 minuten. Tijds de rit worden we geëntertaind door een van de gidsen. Raften niet heftig of zwaar. Wij hadden Savannah als gids. Heel vriendelijk. Top activiteit! We deden halve dag, achteraf hadden we misschien voor hele dag gekozen.

Heather Smith
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Heather Smith
August 10, 2024

We had so much fun on the river! Maggie and Liz and the rest were great guides and had so much information on Moab to tell us. They were fun and provided us plenty of opportunities to get in the water and float and we had a blast!

David Johansen
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David Johansen
August 9, 2024

Kids loved it! So much fun!

Gaige Redd
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Gaige Redd
August 9, 2024

Excellent guides, super friendly. We had a great time.

Colleen McGuire
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Colleen McGuire
August 9, 2024

Such a great experience with a wonderful crew of guides. We enjoyed the entertaining bus ride, the clear rafting direction , and the great stories from our guide.

Kendra Kormos
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Kendra Kormos
August 9, 2024

I took my boys white water rafting for their first time & they LOVED it. Our guide, Kiara, was very knowledgeable about the area, was funny, kind & made the trip so much more fun. We’d love to come back & do it again with her!

Debbie Hauser
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Debbie Hauser
August 8, 2024

We had so much fun. Husband and I in late 50s, average shape, with 18 year old son. Adam was the best guide. He took care that I was always ok and he was so positive. Would 100 percent recommend Bow and Arrow Canyoneering with Adam.

Gaëtan Martens
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Gaëtan Martens
August 7, 2024

Took a half day rafting trip. The camaraderie and banter between the guides made for a fun experience, whilst still being a professional outfit. Shoutout to Emily for being our amazing guide.

Dawn Wolf Spector
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Dawn Wolf Spector
August 6, 2024

Great service! Liz was an amazing tour guide. She knew so much about Moab, the river, and rafting in general. I highly recommend.

Frank Mitzschke
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Frank Mitzschke
August 5, 2024

Great tour, great guys, great day

Dina Love
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Dina Love
August 2, 2024

Liz was an amazing rafting guide. She was an awesome paddler. And as an extra bonus, she is super intelligent and is extremely knowledgeable about the land and ecology we passed as we floated the river. Our bus driver was an awesome driver!!! And the other guides gave us fun tour guide info on the way to the float and back to the office. We did the all day float. Lunch was provided. It was healthy and satisfying after a day on the river.

Trudy Troxell
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Trudy Troxell
August 2, 2024

Liz was just amazing we really enjoyed our trip. She educated us the whole trip down the river. Great people skills!

Thomas Nguyen
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Thomas Nguyen
August 2, 2024

Emily was a great guide. The whole process was seamless.

Christopher Kratovil
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Christopher Kratovil
August 1, 2024

Our family of six with limited rafting experience very much enjoyed the 1/2 day Fisher Towers tour with Red River Adventures. A wonderful all around experience. Red River is a very professional operation with courteous and knowledgeable guides. Even our ten year old frkt comfortsble enough to get out of the raft and swim.

Jenni Katzer
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Jenni Katzer
July 31, 2024

I had a wonderful multipitch climb in Little Cottonwood Canyon. John was informative and kept me safe. Fingercracks, slabs, amazing scenery and weather. I would do it again tomorrow if I had an opportunity. .

Julie Trembley
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Julie Trembley
July 29, 2024

Amazing experience at a great price! Staff is super knowledgeable and helpful. Definitely recommend!!

Kari Denning
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Kari Denning
July 28, 2024

We are here on vacation from Indiana and went on our guided half day tour this morning and we had the absolute best time! All your workers were great from person who met us to talk to us, our bus driver but our guide Sharbo (spelling?) was amazing! He was full of information and answered all our questions and was tons of fun! My son Brayden thought he was awesome and wanted to be by him on the raft all day! We have nothing negative to say and would recommend everyone to give you all a try!! And if you get Sharbo as a guide you are bound to have a fun, exciting and informative trip!! 😊

Alyssa Harvey
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Alyssa Harvey
July 27, 2024

Such a great experience! The entire staff was amazing. Our guide Savannah was the best. We love it. Highly recommend.