The 5 Coldest Places in Utah Will Chill You to Your Core

Utah experiences four seasons, including cold and snowy winters, with December and January as the coldest months of the year. However, Utah is expansive, and some areas can get quite a bit chillier than others. Discover the five coldest places in Utah that will chill you to your core. 

5. Ephraim

• Average annual low temperature: 31.9 degrees Fahrenheit
• Average yearly mean temperature: 45 degrees Fahrenheit
• Coldest recorded temperature: -34 degrees Fahrenheit on December 23, 1990 

Located in the central part of the state and about two hours south of Salt Lake City is the town of Ephraim. Ephraim has a population of 5,719 and is the largest city in Sanpete County. Ephraim experiences cold winters with an average yearly low of just below freezing at 31.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

A highlight of Ephraim is the city’s Scandinavian Festival, which occurs every year in May. Visitors also enjoy the drive along the scenic Ephraim Canyon Road, Utah Highway 29. This beautiful drive climbs into the Manti-La Sal National Forest. In the winter, the road is at risk for avalanches and landslides, so check ahead for road closings.

4. Bryce Canyon National Park

• Average annual low temperature: 29.9 degrees Fahrenheit
• Average yearly mean temperature: 44.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Coldest recorded temperature: -26 degrees Fahrenheit on February 6, 1989 

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southern Utah, about four hours south of Salt Lake City. The park is known for its unique topography of reddish-colored hoodoos. Hoodoos are tall and skinny spire-shaped rock formations formed by erosion.

The canyon’s rim reaches 9,100 above sea level, keeping it cooler than the surrounding areas most of the year. It rarely gets above 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, and snow lasts until April. The coldest it’s ever been was negative 26 degrees Fahrenheit, which occurred on February 6, 1989.

3. Roosevelt

• Average annual low temperature: 29.8 degrees Fahrenheit
• Average yearly mean temperature: 46.2 degrees Fahrenheit
• Coldest recorded temperature: -47 degrees Fahrenheit on February 6, 1989 

The city of Roosevelt is located in the northeast corner of the state, with a population of 6,881. Coming in third on our list of Utah’s coldest places, Roosevelt experiences frigid winters with an average annual low temperature of just 29.8 degrees Fahrenheit. Roosevelt’s coldest months are December and January; the area gets about 19 inches of snow yearly.

Roosevelt is near a mysterious location in Utah where rumors of UFOs, alien encounters, and other paranormal sightings have been reported. The Uinta Basin is a hotbed of paranormal research, and the nearby Skinwalker Ranch is the mystery’s center. Although it’s on private property, paranormal enthusiasts can camp at the nearby UFO Valley Campground or take a UFO-themed ATV tour to see if they can spot unusual lights in the sky for themselves.

2. Alta

• Average annual low temperature: 29.7 degrees Fahrenheit
• Average yearly mean temperature: 48.6 degrees Fahrenheit
• Coldest recorded temperature: -35 degrees Fahrenheit on January 1, 1979

Alta is a snowy, little mountain town with a population of around 216. Located at the head of a canyon in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, it’s at a high elevation ranging from 7,500 feet to 9,500 feet above sea level. Alta also has bitterly cold winters, with an average low temperature of 29.7 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Alta began as a silver mining town in the 1800s, but today is known for the Alta Ski Area, which opened in 1938. The area gets an average of around 500 inches of snow per year. During heavy snow, officials may issue an inter-lodge warning, which means everyone must stay indoors while avalanche control is being done.

1. Peter Sinks

• Average annual low temperature: 14.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Average yearly mean temperature: 30.9 degrees Fahrenheit
• Coldest recorded temperature: -69 degrees Fahrenheit on February 1, 1985

High up in the Bear River Range Mountains, near Bear Lake, is the coldest spot in Utah. It’s also the coldest place in the U.S. during the winter. Peter Sinks is a natural sinkhole located in the northern part of the state, near the Idaho border. During winter, it’s a hard area to get to. The only way to reach Peter Sinks when snow is on the ground is via snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile. 

Two connected depressions of multiple sinkholes create Peter Sinks. These depressions create a bowl-shaped basin surrounded by ridges. This unique topography creates a microclimate for Peter Sinks. Even summer temperatures can get frigid. One day in June 2001, a low of 3 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded. Also, the temperature in the basin can change rapidly. 80-degree swings within a few hours are not unheard of. Peter Sinks also holds the record for the second lowest temperature in the country, at negative 69 degrees Fahrenheit, set on February 1, 1985. 

Summary of the 5 Coldest Places in Utah