Sitting equidistant between two world-renowned resorts, the pristine Heber Valley beckons travelers to explore the extraordinary terrain and extend their days of play in this mountain town. Heber Valley offers a tranquil setting amid stunning mountain vistas, along with more adventurous outdoor play, sustainable local dining, world-class spas, and luxury lodging nestled in the foothills of the majestic mountain range. What sets this alpine valley apart is the variety of daytime to nighttime activities one can do that are unlike anywhere else in the world.

Midway Ice Castles:

A visit to the other worldly Ice Castles in Midway will leave you awe-struck and inspired. Every January and February, thousands of visitors pay a visit to explore the frozen creation, walk through icy tunnels, glide down solid ice slides, and take pictures on frozen thrones. The Midway Ice Castles contains hundreds of thousands of icicles sprawled across one acre (0.41 hectare) of open space. Visit at dusk to catch the sunset and watch the castle come alive beneath the starry night sky. Once inside, grab a hot cocoa and warm cookie, then hop on the horse drawn sleigh and ride through the lights.

Utah Crater:

Sore bodies and tired legs or simply jet lagged visitors find reprieve in the restorative natural waters of the Utah Crater. This 10,000-year-old geothermal hot spring is the only warm-water scuba certification in the lower 48 states. Guests can swim, snorkel, or scuba in 95-degree water (35° C). They even offer standup paddle board yoga classes. There’s no better way to end a day on the slopes than with a therapeutic soak.

Dog Sledding:

Float atop the snow as you meander through the wintry hillside while wrapped in a cozy sleigh as happy pups pull you along. The professional musher ensures you are warm and comfortable as you set out on a guided ride, soaking up the sun and taking in the breathtaking views. It is a very peaceful way to explore the stunning natural beauty and spend a non-ski day resting while still playing outdoors.

Olympic Venue Skiing:

And if you’re looking to trade in a day of downhill for some cross-country skiing, you’ve come to the right place. Soldier Hollow Nordic Center is the original venue from the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. This vast location provides remarkable terrain for Nordic skiing, as well as a year-round biathlon course and training facility. Athletes from around the world travel to Midway, Utah all year long to train and perfect their sport at this venue. Visitors are invited to ski on the very same trails and try their hand at biathlon while here. Soldier Hollow also boasts the longest snow tubing lanes in all of Utah-at over 1,200 feet (366m) in length! The magic carpet pulls riders and their tubes back to the top for hours of tubing fun.

Heber Valley Is The Edge Of Luxury:

Located only 50 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, a trip to Heber Valley is easy and direct. No stop lights from airport to mountain town. And, once you’ve arrived, everything is within 25 minutes or less. Park City is 20 minutes and Provo/Orem is 25 minutes. Deer Valley Resort and Sundance Mountain Resort are even shorter distances. At the Valley’s Edge, find the world-class quality amenities you expect from Utah’s ski slopes alongside space to stretch out and more to explore. The Valley’s Edge offers exceptional dining, spa, lodging, and tailored adventures to create special moments and lifelong memories that you will talk about for years to come. That’s what to expect in Heber Valley, Utah.

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Our three national parks are unlike any others. At Bandelier National Monument, one of the National Park Service’s oldest sites (1916), you will find Ancestral Pueblo dwellings scattered across a landscape of broad mesas and steep-walled canyons that provide habitat for a diversity of plant and animal life. The main loop trail (1.2 mile loop) in Frijoles Canyon provides easy access (partially handicapped accessible) to the remains of these ancient homes. Like past inhabitants, you can climb ladders into several of the small carved rooms (caveats). A more challenging climb can be found at Alcove House where Ancestral Pueblo people built homes in a natural recess in the cliff face. Four ladders and a number of stone stairs are required to make the 140-foot ascent. Although best known for archeological sites, Bandelier also includes 23,000 acres of designated wilderness. Over 70 miles of trails vary in difficulty from easy footpaths good for the whole family to more challenging ones best for experienced hikers. Permits for overnight stays in Bandelier’s backcountry are available at the Bandelier Visitor Center. There are 57 camp sites at Juniper campground (can accommodate RVs, but not hookups).

Among the newest additions to the National Park System, the 89,000-acre Valles Caldera National Preserve encompasses a dormant volcano that possesses exceptional value in illustrating and interpreting massive explosive volcanic eruptions, caldera formation, and the functioning of active geothermal systems. Its distinct topographic mosaic of expansive valley meadows, or valles (va-yes) in Spanish, lush forested volcanic domes, meandering valley streams, and old growth Ponderosa pine groves are in striking contrast to the arid New Mexico landscape at lower elevations.

Recreational activities include hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, scenic drives, as well as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. Valles Caldera National Preserve enchants visitors with its stunning natural beauty and rich human history. At this time Valles Caldera does not have any established campgrounds or backcountry camping permits available. Visitor services are limited. Please come prepared with food, water and other essentials.

Manhattan Project National Historical Park tells the story about the people, events, science, and engineering that led to the creation of the atomic bomb, which helped end World War II. For over a decade, the Department of Energy and National Park Service, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, state and local governments, and other stakeholders, pursued the possibility of including the Department’s most significant Manhattan Project properties within a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. After numerous studies and several draft bills, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015, which included provisions authorizing the Park to be located at three sites: Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

It’s easy to get to Los Alamos. By air, visitors can fly to Santa Fe or Albuquerque and make the short drive to Los Alamos. We are approximately 40 minutes from Santa Fe and 1 ½ hours from Albuquerque. It is a great place to base your visit to north central New Mexico.  For more information, and to book your trip, go to VisitLosAlamos.org

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