Wasatch Mountains
The Wasatch Mountains offer powder skiing in winter and canyon trails and alpine lakes in summer, with the Cottonwood canyons within 24 miles of downtown Salt Lake City.
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The Wasatch Mountains are a long range in northern and central Utah, about 160 miles from the Idaho border to the middle of the state. Most Utahns live within 15 miles of the range, in the valleys along its western side, so most trips start in Salt Lake City, Ogden or Park City. Snow is the draw in winter. Some places get more than 500 inches a year, and the dry, powdery snow is marketed as the Greatest Snow on Earth. The Cottonwood canyons sit within 24 miles of downtown Salt Lake City, so a ski day can start from the city.
In summer, hundreds of miles of trails suit hiking and mountain biking, and alpine lakes and streams offer fishing. Late-summer wildflowers fill Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Interstate 80 through Parley's Canyon and Interstate 84 through Weber Canyon are the main highways over the range. Little Cottonwood Canyon is heavily used, so check road conditions with UDOT before you drive it.
Wasatch Mountains in five
- Check UDOT before you drive a canyonLittle Cottonwood Canyon is very busy. On 25 September 2005, 1,200 cars entered it in one hour. Check road conditions with UDOT before you set off.
- Ride the UTA ski bus in winterUTA runs ski buses from Salt Lake City up the canyons to the resorts in winter. You do not need to drive the canyon road yourself.Getting around
- Stick to roads a passenger car can takeDirt roads from Park City, Heber and Big Cottonwood Canyon climb to about 10,000 feet (3,000 m). A passenger car with moderate clearance can drive them, so check conditions before you go.
- Download offline maps before the canyonsDownload maps before you leave the city. The range has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, so an offline map helps on the route.Phones and eSIM
- Buy a Utah fishing license before you fishAlpine lakes and streams in the range offer fishing, and anglers need a Utah fishing license. Ask the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources about the current rules.
Things to do in Wasatch Mountains
See all attractions in Wasatch Mountains
Need to know
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Entry
- ESTA for visa waiver countries; visa for other passports Read more
- Emergency
- 911 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Expected: 15 to 20% in restaurants
- Time
- UTC-7 (MST); UTC-6 in daylight saving, March to November
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCold, deep snow
- FebruaryDeep powder
- MarchSpring skiing
- AprilMelt, mud
- MayTrails opening
- JuneWildflowers start
- JulyAlpine hikes
- AugustAlbion wildflowers
- SeptemberAutumn color
- OctoberQuiet, first snow
- NovemberEarly snow
- DecemberSki season starts
Right now in Wasatch Mountains
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
8
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 68%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 49%
Wasatch Mountains
02:56 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today3°-1°49%Monday: Snow. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Tue6°0°1%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Wed5°-1°46%Wednesday: Snow. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 46%.
- Thu6°-2°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri7°-2°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 7°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat9°-1°3%Saturday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun11°1°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 02:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Park CityBy car from Salt Lake CityTwo ski resorts, Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley, on the eastern slopes.Read the guide
- OgdenBy car from Salt Lake CityA city under Ben Lomond and Mount Ogden, with the Ogden Valley ski areas nearby.Read the guide
- Cache Valley and LoganBy car via Logan Canyon on US-89 and US-91A valley shaped by the Bear River, with Logan Canyon and the ski areas of the Bear River Mountains.Read the guide
Before you go to Wasatch Mountains
Rules for Wasatch Mountains, checked
- Visitors from visa waiver countries need an ESTA before flying to the US. Apply only on the official CBP site and check the rules there.Source
- Dial 911 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in the US.
- Check the Utah Avalanche Center forecast before any backcountry ski or snowshoe trip in the range.Source
- Buy a Utah fishing license from the Division of Wildlife Resources before you fish.Source
Plan around Wasatch Mountains
Regions, entry, transport and money for a Utah trip
Read the guideGetting around the rangeCanyon roads, ski buses and car hire along the Wasatch Front
Read the guideWhere to staySalt Lake City, Park City and Ogden as bases for the range
Read the guideMoney and costsTypical prices for beds, meals, transit and sights
Read the guideVisas and entryESTA, visa rules and what to check before you fly
Read the guidePhones and eSIMOffline maps for the canyons and trails
Read the guideWasatch Mountains FAQ
Where are the Wasatch Mountains?
The range stretches about 160 miles, from the Utah-Idaho line down to central Utah. Most Utahns live within 15 miles of it, along the Wasatch Front.
How high are the Wasatch Mountains?
Mount Nebo, above Nephi at the range's southern end, reaches 11,928 feet and is the highest peak. Timpanogos, Olympus and Ben Lomond are other well-known peaks.
When is the best time to visit the Wasatch Mountains?
Winter suits skiing, when the heavy snow arrives. July to September suits alpine hikes, and late summer brings wildflowers to Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Can you visit the Wasatch Mountains from Salt Lake City?
Yes. The Cottonwood canyons sit within 24 miles of downtown Salt Lake City, and paved roads climb up to 5,000 feet above the city.
Is it true the snow is the greatest on earth?
The snow is dry and powdery, and some places get more than 500 inches a year. It is marketed as 'the Greatest Snow on Earth'.
Is Park City or Ogden a better base?
Park City suits a stay built around two ski resorts on the eastern slopes. Ogden suits a base near Powder Mountain and the Ogden Valley.