Photo Essay: The Serene Beauty of Winter Trail Running in Utah

Running on a ridgeline trail in Utah. The sound shoes make as they gently touch the surface without disrupting what hides beneath, the warmth of the sunshine in contrast to the cold air, and the slower pace that allows us to notice every detail create an experience unmatched by summertime trail running. All photos by Cezaryna Dzawala.

Imagine putting a treadmill in the sauna — trail running in the Utah summer is rough. Omnipresent, blinding sunshine makes every step unpleasant. Sunscreen will make your eyes sweat, then sting, then uncontrollably tear up. There’s no easy way to stay hydrated enough, and soon there are no more clothes to take off to cool down. In the winter, on the other hand, it’s easy to layer up and enjoy the fresh air. While some might worry about the cold and wet, Utah’s dry climate makes the cold quite tolerable. 

It’s a common practice to start cold; a lot of runners wear shorts even in the winter months. Once you get going, you warm up surprisingly quickly. However, weather in the mountains is unpredictable, so it is wise to prepare for any conditions. If you are always cold like I am, throw on extra layers and shed them en route.

Bring a running vest to stash extra clothing. You might need it at the top of a mountain where it’s suddenly windy. I can’t stress enough the importance of sunscreen on a sunny day — especially with snow on the ground. UV rays reflecting off the snow will quickly roast fragile facial skin.

Winter trail running brings magic to the snow-covered landscape. There is silence and solitude as you cruise your route in peace.

The solitude of trail running is more peaceful than going skiing or snowboarding in Utah. People flock to mountain resorts to wait in lift lines, and get eaten up by the Wasatch Front’s Red Snake, the line of endless brake lights stretching down the Cottonwood Canyons. For those who head off to popular backcountry spots instead, racing for secret powder stashes before they’re tracked out, it’s not much better — many are accessed from the Cottonwoods.

Sunsets in the winter here are an explosion of orange, pink, and red across the white canvas of the snow-cloaked mountains. Get above the city to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail; there are great spots for stunning sunset views all along the valley. The trail system covers just over 100 miles and stretches from Nephi all the way the state’s northern border with Idaho. The trail offers views west toward the Great Salt Lake and east toward the Wasatch Mountains, but snow on these trails doesn’t linger long. To experience even more winter magic, chase slightly higher elevations; one of the most popular spots is Millcreek Canyon. 

Bells Canyon is another beautiful place to immerse yourself in the wintery landscape. Located on the southern peripheries of Salt Lake City, the trail rises up to a reservoir — from there, sunsets are majestic. Further on, there is a huge waterfall that is spectacular in every season.

It’s important to be prepared for icy trails, but there’s nothing a pair of good old microspikes can’t fix. Throw them over your runners, and now you can go anywhere your heart desires.

Higher elevations in the Alpine Zone are not an option in the winter, and while in the summer trail runners are able to reach more technical terrain at higher elevations, they pay for it with more frequent twisted ankles and scraped knees. Running on the technical terrain of Wasatch Mountain’s sharp granite ridges is arduous; it is a skill requiring great focus and attention. In the winter, it’s easier to turn on autopilot and admire the sleepy vistas around every corner.

Trudging through unpacked snow usually means wet feet. Even the most bulletproof Gore-Tex shoes won’t keep your feet dry a longer run, and darkness comes quickly on short, gray winter days. It’s a combined challenge, and staying dry and warm can easily deter you from getting out the door. Yet, when you do, the payoff is exponential: scenic rewards abound on wintertime trail runs.