The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Duck Creek, Utah in the Winter
Southern Utah is traditionally known for its towering red rocks, stunning desert landscape, and mild winter temps. But what if I told you Southern Utah is also the home of snowy mountain towns and popular winter activities like skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling?
The higher elevation zones in Southern Utah give way to mountain towns like Cedar City, Brian Head, and one of my favorite winter escapes, Duck Creek Village.
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Sitting at the edge of a large mountain meadow at an elevation of 8,400 feet, Duck Creek Village is a quaint mountain village with countless ways to play and adventure in summer and winter. It also serves as a gateway to several National Parks, monuments, and state parks.
Once a favorite spot for local sheepherders, Duck Creek Village is now a thriving community with shops and restaurants, lodges, inns, cabin rentals, adventure outfitters, and a campground (open in the summer).
Duck Creek, Utah, is a place I know well. Growing up in Southern Utah, my grandparents had a cabin in Duck Creek and my dad has built many cabins there as well. I have fond memories as a kid of making forts and exploring with my cousins in the summer and sitting by the crackling fire and playing in the snow in the winter.
WHERE IS DUCK CREEK LOCATED
Duck Creek is located in the Dixie National Forest, off of Scenic Hwy 14, at an elevation of approximately 8,400 feet. It is in the heart of Southern Utah and surrounded by three National Parks, five National Monuments, a renowned National Recreational Area, two State Parks, two National Forests, and endless outdoor adventures.
DRIVING DISTANCES
Duck Creek Village is within easy driving distance of so much. Even though you will probably get to your cozy cabin and never want to leave, it's still nice to know how much potential there is if you want to get out and explore.
Lake Powell - 2 hours
Kanab - 1 hour
Coral Pink Sand Dunes - 1 hr
North Rim of Grand Canyon (closed in the winter) - 2 hours 30 minutes
Cedar Breaks National Monument (closed in winter) - 20 minutes
Snow Canyon State Park - 1 hour 35 minutes
Valley Of Fire State Park - 2 hours 45 minutes
Zion National Park East Entrance - 55 minutes
Zion National Park West Entrance - 1 hr 20 minutes
Bryce Canyon National Park - 55 minutes
Las Vegas - 3 hours
Cedar City - 40 minutes
Saint George - 1 hr 25 minutes minutes
Brian Head - 1 hour 30 minutes
Hurricane - 1 hour 15 minutes
WHERE TO STAY IN DUCK CREEK VILLAGE, UTAH
Duck Creek in the winter is all about the cabin experience. Don't even think of staying in Duck Creek if you don't have accesses to a wood burning fire place!
Duck Creek has a bustling Airbnb/Vrbo cabin rental community, so finding a cozy little cabin to rent shouldn't be too hard.
I may be a little partial but my favorite cabin rental in Duck Creek is this Modern and Cozy Cabin (this cabin belongs to my parents). This adorable cabin has been built and decorated with so much love and is great for families and couples wanting to escape to the mountains in style.
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I have spent many weekends away from the hustle and bustle of life at this cozy cabin, and it is my absolute favorite. CLICK HERE FOR RENTAL INFORMATION
8 THINGS TO DO IN DUCK CREEK IN THE WINTER
Snow Tubing or sledding
Snowshoeing
Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Rest & Relaxation
Rent a snowmobile
Visit Zion National Park
Winter Sports in Brian Head
Visit Cedar City
***The Zion Adventure Photog Team tubing at Woods Ranch
1 - Snow Tubing/Sledding
Snow tubing/sledding is a fun activity for the whole family and is perfect for some winter fun on the mountain. Check out our two
favorite spots in and around Duck Creek to take your family.
Take Hwy 14 and turn onto Strawberry Point Rd. At the turn, there is plenty of parking. East of the parking is a hill that is just a short walk to go sledding and perfect for hours of tubing or sledding fun.
The other option is Woods Ranch, 20 minutes down the mountain towards Cedar City. Woods Ranch has a covered pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms, and a fireplace. With a large steep hill, this is a popular local spot for snow tubing and sledding and has a fun family atmosphere.
You can rent snow tubes or sleds at Utah Off Road Outfitters or A Plus Outfitters, located in Duck Creek Village. You can also purchase tubes or sleds and bring them with you up the mountain. I purchased these ones off Amazon and they have been great.
***The Zion Adventure Photog Team snowshoeing at the Navajo Lake turn off hwy 14
2 - Snowshoeing
When the snow get's super deep in Duck Creek, snowshoeing is the best way to hike and explore off the main roads. Our favorite spot to go snowshoeing is at the Navajo Lake exit, just 5 miles from Duck Creek. This is a popular spot for people to park and ride their snowmobiles from, so the area is always cleared out with plenty of parking.
You can hike west from the parking lot and go down towards Navajo Lake or you can hike from the east side of the parking lot. On the east side, the trees are a little denser than on the west side. We have snowshoed each side and both areas are beautiful and fun to explore.
You can rent snowshoes in Cedar City at Cedar Sports for $10 a day or you can rent snowshoes on the mountain from Utah Offroad Outfitters for $20 a day.
3 - Visit Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon in the winter is a sight to behold. At just 55 minutes from Duck Creek, if you are planning on going on a day trip anywhere, it needs to be to Bryce Canyon.
Your hiking options may be a little limited because of ice and snow, especially if you are visiting with kids, but it is still 100% worth it. The great thing about Bryce is it doesn't take much to get the big hoodoo views.
4 - Rest & Relaxing
I know this may be a silly thing to include, but if you are headed to the mountain I highly recommend spending a day sitting by the fire, watching a movie, and looking out the window at the beautiful snowy landscape. That is one of my favorite things to do on the mountain in the winter.
There is something about the quiet of Duck Creek in the winter that makes you want to slow down and just be, and that is something we all need in this crazy busy world we live in.
5 - Rent a Snowmobile
Snowmobiling is a great winter activity if you want to get off the beaten path, and it is such a fun way to add some high adventure to your winter getaway.
My partner Eric and I recently rented a two-person snowmobile for 2 hours from Utah Off Road Outfitters in Duck Creek Village. The snowmobile was super quick and easy to rent. The staff was very friendly and gave us a quick lesson on the ins and outs of snowmobiles, showed us some ideas of routes to take, gave us a map of the area, and we were off.
We knew that Strawberry Point had great views, so that is where we headed. The ride was so much fun, and the views at Strawberry Point were absolutely stunning.
Snowmobile Rental pricing for Utah OffRoad Outfitters in Duck Creek Village
2 hrs $175
4 hrs $595
8 hrs $895
6 - Visit Zion National Park
Zion National Park in the winter is the least busy time of year to visit. Zion is a magical park year round, and in the winter you’ll have an opportunity to experience the beauty with more calm and quiet.
If you are visiting Zion during December or January, chances are the shuttles won't be running. If the shuttles are running, jump on and ride it to the last stop, Temple of Sinawava and hike the Riverside Walk trail.
PRO TIP
If the shuttles aren't running, make sure to get an extra early start so that you will find parking. Parking is very limited in the canyon.
7 - Winter sports in Brian Head
Brian Head is located just 1 hr 20 minutes from Duck Creek and is a great destination for winter sports in Southern Utah. With great snow, great prices and uncrowded slopes Brian Head is great for a fun action packed day. Try skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, or snow tubing.
8- Visit Cedar City
Cedar City is just 40 minutes down the mountain. This small and quaint mountain college town has great coffee shops(there are no coffee shops in Duck Creek), tons of excellent places to eat, grocery stores, shopping, and anything else you might need.
Cedar is a great stop on your way up the mountain for groceries or a bite to eat. It is also a fun place to spend the day. We love the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the weekend farmers market, held every Saturday from 10am-1pm downtown.
Favorite Places to eat
Don Miguels for authentic Mexican cuizine
Centro Pizza for fantastic pizza
Park Place for sandwiches and pastries
Bristlecone for the best coffee in town
Take some time away from the hustle and bustle of life and head to the mountains in Southern Utah. Relax by the fire in a cozy cabin, or head out on an adventure. Duck Creek Village has everything you need for the perfect winter getaway.
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
