Summer is the most popular time to visit Southern Utah, and Zion National Park. June and July each see around 13 percent of Zion’s annual visitors, with more than 500,000 visitors making their way into the park each of these busy summer months. April, May, August, and September each see between 10 and 12 percent of the park’s annual visitors, welcoming more than 400,000 guests each month. But from late fall to early spring, we see far fewer guests at our Zion resort.
At Flanigan’s Resort, we know why so many guests choose to visit during the summer. Schools are on holiday break, and many families choose to plan vacations at this time. If you love the outdoors and want to experience Zion’s incredible hiking trails, you might think that the warm summer season is the best time to do so. Because this is such a popular time to visit Southern Utah, and the days are at their longest, most stores, restaurants, and other attractions have longer hours this time of year.
But this doesn’t mean that summer is the only great time to visit. In fact, if you love hitting the slopes, you’re missing out big time if you never visit your favorite Zion National Park hotels in the winter.
Did you know that you can take a day trip to a ski resort from your Zion resort? Keep reading to learn how, why, and why you need to plan a visit to Southern Utah this winter.
A Winter Wonderland Just an Hour From Zion
Utah is well-known for its winter sports. But what many visitors to Southern Utah don’t realize is that you don’t have to travel to Salt Lake City or Park City to enjoy some skiing, snowboarding, and other winter fun.
Just over an hour and a half from your favorite Zion National Park hotels is a beautiful ski resort. Brian Head Resort features more than 650 acres of terrain available for skiing and snowboarding. The base elevation of the resort is the highest in the entire state of Utah, at more than 9,600 feet. The resort has 71 runs, evenly divided between easy, more difficult, and most difficult. There are 8 chair lifts to get you to the many runs.
Brian Head Resort’s tagline is “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” The resort typically opens in early November each year. It’s open daily and on weekends. You can even enjoy night skiing on Fridays and Saturdays, and other nights during peak visitor periods.
Making a Day Trip to Brian Head Resort
Thanks to its close proximity, Brian Head Resort makes for a great day trip from your Zion resort. On most days, the skiing and snowboarding open between 9:30 and 10 a.m., and close by 4:30 p.m., except on days when the resort is open for night skiing, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m. This means that you can easily make the short drive to the resort, enjoy a day on the slopes, and return to Flanigan’s Resort in time for dinner at Spotted Dog!
Daily lift tickets are available. If you plan to visit multiple days or several times during a season, you can also purchase a multi-day pass or a season pass. Gear rentals are available, so you won’t need to worry about bringing your own.
Ski and snowboard lessons are available for kids and adults. You can also enjoy tubing or book a snowmobile tour during your visit!
Planning a Winter Visit to the Best Zion Resort
Summer might be the most popular season to visit Southern Utah. But if you love skiing and snowboarding, want to avoid the crowds, or simply want to get away this time of year, you can’t go wrong with a winter stay at our Zion resort.
At Flanigan’s Resort, we offer plenty to see and do all year long, no matter the weather! While a day trip to Brian Head or some sightseeing in Zion is a must, nothing beats a cozy spa day at Deep Canyon Spa or a delicious, hot meal at Spotted Dog on a chilly day. With shorter days, consider booking one of our larger room options, like the Michael Plyler King, Anton Rasmussen Suite, or Jim Jones Suite. These larger rooms offer plenty of space to enjoy an evening in. Host a family game night, enjoy a movie together, or simply relax and swap stories about each day’s winter adventures!
Another big benefit of visiting our Zion resort during the winter months is the chance to take advantage of our amazing seasonal specials! Right now, when you book a stay of three nights between now and January 31, you’ll get your fourth night free! Book your stay today to take advantage of these great savings!