When to Visit Salt Lake City

Located along the Wasatch Mountain Range, Salt Lake City is a prime destination for outdoor sports and activities such as skiing, hiking, biking, and fishing. The most popular time to visit is summer, when the weather is warm and dry, and schools are on vacation.

Winter is a popular time for ski vacations, but fewer people overall come than in summer due to the chilly temperatures. Spring and fall see pleasant weather and colorful landscapes, with blooming flowers and changing leaves, respectively.

• high season: mid-November to mid-April, June to August
• low season: mid-April to May, September to mid-November

Winter is high season in the mountains, low season in the valleys, and summer is just the opposite.

Weather Information

Salt Lake City experiences a desert climate, with four distinct seasons. Summers can be fairly warm, with average high temperatures in the high 80s. Fall has mild weather, with changing leaves in the valleys and mountains. Winters can be chilly, with average high temperatures in the low 40s and heavy snowfall in the mountains. Snow in the valleys melts after only a few days. The spring has warm temperatures, with blooming flowers and cool breezes.

Crowd Information

The ski resorts tend to get busy between Christmas and New Year's Day, during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend, and over Presidents' Day weekend. The resorts see fewer crowds before Christmas, in early January, and from April through spring closure.

Closure Information

Most hotels, shops, and attractions are open year-round, but water parks are only open in the summer. Ski resorts also operate seasonally, but each one has a different schedule.

When to Save

Since business travel peaks midweek in the downtown area, visiting over the weekend is an ideal time to save money. The least expensive time to visit the mountain resorts is in the summer. Prices can also escalate over holidays, including Christmas through New Year's, Martin Luther King Day weekend, and Presidents' Day weekend.

Information provided by the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.