Have you heard? Vernal, Utah has an ice rink! The Western Park Ice Rink, at 302 E 200 S in downtown Vernal, runs public open skate from roughly October through March. It’s also the home of the Vernal Oilers, the back-to-back USPHL Premier national champions. Pair a skate session with snow tubing, ice fishing, dinosaur fossils, and backcountry snowmobiling, and you’ve got one of the most underrated winters in Utah.
The dinosaurs were cold-blooded. You don’t have to be. While summer crowds pack Dinosaurland’s rivers and trails, winter hands you the whole place with the volume turned down. Shorter lines. Red rock dusted white. Here’s how to enjoy the cold in Vernal this season, whether the snow shows up or not. For the full rundown on sports, trails, and other activities, see our guide to things to do in Vernal, Utah this winter.
Western Park Ice Rink: Vernal’s Home Ice
Right in the middle of town, just east of the main Western Park building, the rink is where Vernal locals go to glide, spin, wobble, and occasionally sit down harder than planned. It’s affordable, family-friendly, and five minutes from most hotels. No mountain pass. No lift line. No snow required.
Tips for Your First Vernal Skate Session
Check the schedule the day you go. Open skate works around hockey practices and games, and times can shift. Western Park’s social accounts post the latest.
Grab a skate buggy for little kids. At $3, it turns “I want to go home” into “one more lap.”
Plan a party. Birthday, team, youth group, family reunion? A private charter includes skates for everyone, and spots fill quickly, so book early.
Make it a Friday. Friday has two open skate windows, which makes it easy to skate after you roll into town and still grab dinner. Browse Vernal restaurants for a post-skate refuel.
Catch a Vernal Oilers Game
Here’s something most Utahns don’t know: one of the most dominant junior hockey programs in the country plays in Vernal. The Vernal Oilers won the USPHL Premier national championship in 2025, then did it again in 2026, beating the Fresno Monsters 6–4 in the title game. The town threw them a fire-truck parade that ended at, where else, the Western Park Ice Rink.
Oilers home games are loud, fast, and packed with locals, and the roster pulls players from across North America and Europe. It’s one of the best-value nights out in the Uintah Basin. Check the Vernal Oilers schedule and tickets and build your weekend around a home stand.
More Ways to Unearth the Chill in Vernal
Snow Tubing, Skiing, and Snowboarding at Buckskin Hills
When the snow cooperates, Buckskin Hills Recreation Complex runs a family-sized ski and snow tubing hill with a tow rope back to the top. No resort prices, no resort crowds. In the 2025–26 season, tickets were $10 per person or $25 for a family of four, with group rentals available on weeknights. The hill depends on natural snow and did not open last winter, so check Buckskin Hills’ status before you go.
Ice Fishing at Red Fleet, Steinaker, and Flaming Gorge
Hard-water season is serious business here. Steinaker State Park and Red Fleet State Park sit just minutes north of town, and Flaming Gorge is within reach for anglers chasing big lake trout. Always confirm ice thickness and conditions with Utah State Parks or Utah DWR before walking out. More in our Vernal fishing guide.
Snowmobiling in the Ashley National Forest
North of Vernal, US-191 climbs into the Ashley National Forest and a network of groomed snowmobile trails with big Uinta Mountain views. Don’t own a sled? Find rentals and guided rides through our guides and outfitters list. Trailhead details are on our winter activities page.
Snowshoe to Real Dinosaur Tracks
At Red Fleet State Park, you can snowshoe or hike to dinosaur trackways pressed into sandstone roughly 200 million years ago. Fresh snow outlines the red rock and makes the whole scene look staged. It isn’t. For more winter-friendly trails, see our guide to day hikes and family-friendly trails for every season.
See the Wall of Bones Without the Summer Crowds
The Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument is open year-round, and its famous Wall of Bones holds roughly 1,500 dinosaur fossils still embedded in the rock. In July you share it with a crowd. In January you might have it to yourself. Check NPS hours before you go, as the hall closes on some holidays.
Warm Up at Vernal’s Museums
The Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum is downtown, fully indoors, and a perfect cold-day stop. Step outside to the Dinosaur Garden, where life-sized dinosaurs wearing a layer of snow make one of the best winter photos in Utah. Round it out at the Museum of Uintah County.
Petroglyphs, Wildlife, and Quiet Scenic Drives
At McConkie Ranch, the snow makes Fremont rock art stand out against red sandstone. See our petroglyphs guide for more information. For a slower day, take one of Vernal’s scenic drives or head to Ouray National Wildlife Refuge along the Green River for wildlife viewing.
A Winter Weekend in Vernal: Sample Itinerary
Friday: Roll into town, check into your Vernal hotel, and hit the 6 p.m. open skate at Western Park. Dinner downtown.
Saturday morning: Fuel up at one of Vernal’s top local breakfast spots, then drive to Dinosaur National Monument for the Quarry Exhibit Hall.
Saturday afternoon: Utah Field House and the snowy Dinosaur Garden. If Buckskin Hills is open, squeeze in a few tubing runs.
Saturday night: Oilers home game, or the evening open skate if the team’s on the road.
Sunday: Ice fishing at Steinaker or snowshoeing to the Red Fleet dinosaur tracks before the drive home.
Vernal Winter Travel Tips
Getting here. Vernal is about three hours east of Salt Lake City on US-40 and an easy drive from western Colorado and southwest Wyoming. Check UDOT Traffic for road conditions before you leave.
Bring 4WD/AWD for the backcountry. Downtown streets are well maintained, but trailheads and higher-elevation roads can require winter tires and 4WD. Carry blankets, water, and a shovel.
Layer up. Basin mornings are cold and afternoons can be sunny. Layers beat one big coat.
Check local events. Find holiday happenings and winter events on the Vernal community calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vernal, Utah have an ice rink?
Yes. The Western Park Ice Rink offers public open skate, skate rentals, and private parties, roughly October through March. It’s also home to the Vernal Oilers junior hockey team.
What are the best things to do in Vernal, Utah in the winter?
Top winter activities include ice skating at Western Park, Vernal Oilers hockey games, snow tubing at Buckskin Hills (snow permitting), ice fishing at Steinaker and Red Fleet, snowmobiling in the Ashley National Forest, and visiting the Quarry Exhibit Hall at Dinosaur National Monument and the Utah Field House museum.
Is Dinosaur National Monument open in winter?
Yes. The Quarry Exhibit Hall and its Wall of Bones are open year-round, with closures on some federal holidays. Winter is one of the least crowded times to visit.
Is there snow tubing near Vernal?
Yes. Buckskin Hills Recreation Complex operates a ski and snow tubing hill with a tow rope when natural snow allows.
How far is Vernal from Salt Lake City?
Vernal is about 175 miles, or roughly three hours, east of Salt Lake City via US-40.
Dig Deeper This Winter
Snow or no snow, Vernal’s winter delivers: home ice downtown, national-champion hockey, and dinosaur bones you can have all to yourself. Grab our free Dinosaurland travel guide, lock in your lodging, and come unearth your wild side, one lap at a time.
Article By: The Dinosaurland Visitor Bureau team, your official source for trip planning in Uintah County
October 26, 2026