Midway Ice Castles | A Must Do Utah Winter Activity

HUGE UPDATE: NO Ice Castles in 2026 in Utah. They hope to be back in the future. Will update if they do.

We love visiting the Midway Ice Castles every single winter. It has become one of our favorite traditions during these cold months, and it is so fun to see the different designs each year. The ice castles are a huge ice structure with tunnels, slides, fountains, and more to explore. They even light up at night. If you have never visited the Midway Ice Castles, make this year the one.

Locations

The Utah location is near Midway. The Midway Ice Castles are located at Soldier Hollow. There is a large parking area, and once you enter during your reserved ticket time, you can stay as long as you’d like. We have a discount code, “natalie15”, that will save you 15% off tickets any day and time. There are other locations throughout the US if you happen to be visiting in any of these areas: Eagle and Cripple Creek, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Hampshire.

Visiting the Ice Castles

We always have a wonderful time at the Ice Castles. The grounds are large and can accommodate a lot of people walking through. We do try to go during non-busy times, meaning we avoid the weekends if possible. Visiting during the day also cuts down on the traffic because most people want to come when the ice castles are all lit up. Our favorite time to visit is arriving in the late afternoon so we can explore in the light, but also be there when the lights start to come on.

There is always a lot to see and do at the Midway Ice Castles. Every year they design different slides. This is definitely the highlight for the kids, but we love the slides, too. There are mats to sit on, and you zip down the ice. They always build a few small ones so even little toddlers can enjoy the ride.

We love exploring all of the different tunnels. Some years they have small ones that you have to crawl through, but there are always big ones to walk through, too. They have added fountains over the years and it is fun to see the water leaping around surround by ice. In 2025, there was even a fire show. There are tons of archways and places to sit for pictures. We loved looking at all the icicles and admiring the work that it takes to create such a magical place.

Visiting at Night

Once the lights kick on, the place has an entirely different feel. There is also music playing inside the castle, and the lights seem to shift with the music. We love seeing the different colors, and watching how the ice castles change when the sun goes down. Seeing the ice castles during the day is definitely different than after dark.

Extras

There are a few extra things that happen at the ice castles. First of all, there are always treats to be enjoyed. We love to buy a hot chocolate and sip on it while we walk through. This helps to keep us a little bit warm. Some years they also sell food and other snacks.

There are sleigh rides at the Midway Ice Castles. These rides are run by an outside company, but they take you on a wagon ride through some lights. We loved this part of our visit, but it does cost extra to take a ride.

We definitely recommend visiting the Midway Ice Castles. It is so much fun and families of all ages will love it. Don’t forget to use our code “natalie15” too save money on your tickets. And check out our tips below for how to have the best time.

Family Tips for the Midway Ice Castles

• Wear Boots! This is a must. There is a lot of snow and ice to tromp through, so everyone will be happier in boots. On occasion, your foot goes into a soft spot and you sink ankle deep, so be prepared.
• Wear Gloves! I also think this is a must. Mostly because you want to touch the ice, right? Well, your kids will definitely touch it, so to keep them from freezing hands, wear gloves.
• Wear other snow gear–we had our boys wear their snow pants and coats, hats and scarves. I do not think these are a necessity, especially during the day, but we were all much happier with this gear on, especially when the night came.
• Use a sled for small children. We saw many people pulling little kids around in sleds. This is such a smart idea since strollers won’t work through the ice chunks, and then you don’t have to haul them around the whole time.
• Bring dry socks. Whenever we participate in snow activities with our boys, I throw an extra pair of socks in the car. Sometimes we don’t use them, but a lot of times after playing in the snow, their socks ended up soaking wet (even with boots on), and once you put that dry pair of socks on, everyone is a lot more pleasant.
• Plan to spend 1 1/2 – 2 hours in the Ice Castles, so make sure everyone has gone to the bathroom and eaten a snack before you head in (There . Then afterward, go get lunch, dinner, or hot chocolate!
• Make a day of it and stop for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Heber City, Dairy Keen. There are lots of great restaurants in Midway, too!
• DISCOUNT CODE: Use “Natalie15″to save 15% off any day and any time!SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave