Four Easy Tips for Southern Utah Winter Trips

When most people think of southern Utah, they imagine high temperatures, blistering sunshine, red rocks, and dry shrubs. While this may be true for the summertime, the wintertime could not be more different. It’s a pleasant wonderland mostly void of the crowds that amass during the summer months. If you come properly prepared, wintertime in Utah’s southwest and southeast can be a solace of wonderment and relaxation. Here are our top five tips to remember when planning a trip heading south to any of our five national parks. 

1. Watch the weather closely. Winter weather in southern Utah can change very quickly, and quite drastically. Make sure you are prepared for unexpected rain or snowfall. While you may be exploring Zion in the warm delight of the sun at one moment, you could be scrambling for your rain jacket the next. Pay attention to the changing weather and make sure you are prepared. 

2. Plan your food and water accordingly. While most small towns and outposts are open during the summer months when visitation is the heaviest, some of these stores and town centers shut down during the winter months. Make sure you are packing enough food and water to sustain your trip to any of Utah’s national parks. 

3. Pack for your activities. If you’re headed to Bryce Canyon National Park, pack your snowshoes. Bryce has the highest elevation out of the five parks and regularly gets a good amount of snow. This can create some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable with the contrast between red rocks and pearly white snow creating a beautiful winter scene. There are also opportunities for cross-country skiing and other winter activities.

4. Bring layers to stay comfortable. If you’re staying under the stars, pack very warm clothes. Although the days are mostly pleasant in the 60’s and 50’s, the winter months consistently provide temperatures below freezing during the nighttime. Layers, warm sleeping bags, hats, and gloves are an absolute must. The last thing you want to do is not pack enough warm clothes and spend your nights miserably cold.  

Follow these four tips to make sure your winter trip to southern Utah is the absolute best it can be! If you need a new ride to get you to our beautiful national parks, look no further than Larry H. Miller Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Sandy. We have hundreds of great vehicles to get you safe and sound to the majestic red rocks of our state’s southern paradise. We also have the biggest and baddest lift kits to get your Jeep ready to tackle any Moab-sized adventure. Give us a call at (855) 520-3131 to schedule your test drive or ask us about getting your Jeep lifted today.