Best Places to Snowmobile in Utah

Utah has vast opportunities for snowmobiling. From deep backcountry explorations to groomed trails near the city, there’s a little bit of something for everyone. 

I’m Chaz, a snowmobile enthusiast living in the Rocky Mountain region. I’ve spent most of my life riding around Colorado and the surrounding states. A trip or two to Utah usually happens every winter. 

In this post, I’ll list out some of the best places to snowmobile in Utah. There’s no way I’ll be able to list everywhere, so be sure to do some exploring on your own. 

Time to head to the West and get after it!

1. Uinta Mountains

The Uinta Mountains are a special destination for anyone who lives for backcountry snowmobiling. I’ve had many memorable trips here over the years, and there is a unique feel and flow to this area of northeastern Utah. 

This is the highest mountain range in Utah, which means you’ll see a lot of snow and be able to venture deep into the wilderness away from any crowds. That makes for a very long winter and the opportunity to ride good snow from November into April or May. 

If you are an experienced rider and want to dive right in, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest is a good place to start exploring. You can access nearly 500,000 acres specifically designated for snowmobiling. 

That is an impressive amount of land to ride on but can be intimidating for beginners. If that’s you, don’t worry. There are still 220 miles of groomed trails here and several high-quality guide services. 

The Uinta Basin Snowmobile Complex is another good launching point for riding in the area. 

2. Bear Lake/Logan Canyon

For powder lovers and trail riders, the Bear Lake/Logan Canyon area of northern Utah is the place to be. Bear Lake is wonderful in the winter, but if you can visit in the summer, you’ll get a chance to see why it’s often called The Caribbean of the Rockies. 

There are a few different mountain ranges in the Bear Lake valley, opening up access to many backcountry lines and 350 miles of groomed trails. These stretch from Utah into southeastern Idaho, and there is an almost endless amount of area to ride here. 

I like Bear Lake and Logan Canyon because you rarely run into that many riders, especially in the backcountry. That creates a serene wilderness experience that is one of my favorites parts of snowmobiling.

This region is part of Trail Complex 1 in Utah, one of the nine designated complexes. Here’s a good map of the trails in Logan Canyon.  

3. Park City

Park City makes this list because of its easy access to the Salt Lake City metro area and the number of good amenities it has. It’s known for being a popular ski resort, but there are some fantastic snowmobiling opportunities here as well. 

First off, the Park City area is stunningly beautiful. Getting away from the main town center opens up the vast wilderness, sprawling mountain ranges, and immense blue skies you can expect during the winter. 

This is a good area to ride if you are looking for a guided tour or didn’t bring your sled. There are many guide services and private locations to take advantage of. 

Park City Peaks is a guide service that has been around for years and is located on a private 60,000-acre ranch. Their service is top-notch, and the location is phenomenal. 

For an incredible backcountry experience, check out Backcountry Snowmobiling. The guides with this company are highly skilled in backcountry riding and can teach you new skills or take you to unseen places. 

The nightlife and accommodations in Park City are great too. It’s a popular winter vacation destination for a good reason.  

4. Ephraim/Manti/Mayfield

This is another one of the snowmobile complexes in Utah, Trail Complex #6, to be exact. It is on a plateau above the towns of Ephraim, Manti, and Mayfield in the central part of the state. 

The Skyline Drive trail is a popular route for snowmobilers here and will get you to elevations above 10,000 feet. Many other trails within the complex are worth exploring, so take a look at this map and go for it.  

I like this region because it is away from Salt Lake City, and there is rarely a crowd. If you want to ride fresh tracks in wide-open terrain, I would highly recommend the area. It doesn’t get as much snow as other spots on the list but still has good riding. 

Getting on top of the Wasatch plateau via any of the trails is also recommended. The views are amazing, and you can really let it rip once you reach the top. The Manti Canyon Trail is probably my favorite way to access the plateau. 

5. Cedar Mountains 

If you have ever been to southern Utah, you know that its beauty is unique and unmatched. The colors and formations of the rocks here can make you feel like you are on a different planet. And while it’s part desert, there still are some great places to snowmobile here. 

The High Mountain Trail will give you amazing views of Cedar Breaks National Monument, which is nothing short of stunning. If you catch it on a bluebird snow day, the contrast between the sky, snow, and red rock is unreal. 

The Cedar Breaks Trail goes right through the monument if you want to explore it further. Strawberry Point is another spot I would highly recommend around the Cedar Mountain area. 

You can open up the throttle on the first section and then have a steep ascent to get to the top, where you’ll be rewarded with another mind-boggling lookout point. It’s more of a technical trail because of windblown snow and other obstacles, but worth doing if you have the skills. 

Final Thoughts

I’m partial to the western US because that’s where I grew up. I think that Utah is one of the best places in the world to go snowmobiling, and the list here barely scratches the surface of all the trails, ranges, and unique locations here. 

If you get the chance, I would highly recommend visiting and riding at any of these locations. Just be sure to be well-prepared and play it safe if you venture into the Utah backcountry. 

Do you have a favorite snowmobiling location in Utah not mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below!

I’m a snowmobile fanatic. I live for riding and am out on the trails or backcountry as often as possible during the winter months. I was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains and have snowmobiled in dozens of North American locations. When the snow is falling, you’ll find me on a sled.