Provo Canyon stays open all winter. US-189, the highway from Orem and Provo to Heber, is plowed and open year-round. What changes is everything that branches off it: the Alpine Loop gate closed Nov. 2, the Bridal Veil Falls trail and park are closed through the winter after an October rockslide, and Sundance plans to open for skiing Dec. 4. When a storm hits, UDOT can require snow-rated tires or chains on the canyon highway.
Details below are from UDOT, Utah County, the Heber Valley Railroad and NOAA's climate records, plus our earlier reporting on this fall's closures, as of Nov. 9, 2026.
Winter 2026-27 at a glance
| Place | Winter status |
|---|---|
| US-189, Provo Canyon | Open; traction law during storms |
| Alpine Loop (SR-92) past Sundance | Closed since 7 a.m. Nov. 2, 2026, until spring |
| Sundance Mountain Resort | Road open to the resort; ski season planned to start Dec. 4 |
| Bridal Veil Falls trail and park | Closed through winter after the Oct. 23 rockslide |
| Vivian Park and Nunns Park | Reachable from US-189; facilities limited in winter |
| Deer Creek Reservoir | Open; ice fishing once the ice is safe |
| Heber Valley Railroad | North Pole Express runs from the Heber depot |
| Stewart Falls, Cascade Springs | No access over the closed Alpine Loop |
The road: US-189
US-189 climbs from the mouth of the canyon at Orem and Provo, past Vivian Park and the Sundance turnoff, to Deer Creek Reservoir and Heber. UDOT plows it as a main highway, and it carries commuters to Heber all winter. Two things to know:
- The traction law. When UDOT puts it into effect during a storm, two-wheel-drive cars need three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) tires or chains on the drive tires, and four-wheel and all-wheel-drive vehicles need M+S or 3PMSF tires or traction devices. UDOT applies it to specific stretches. In one December 2022 storm, it restricted US-189 from milepost 8 near Canyon View Park in Provo to milepost 25 in Charleston, KJZZ reported. Our traction law and chains guide has the full rules, and our winter tires guide covers what to buy.
- The canyon is colder and snowier than the valley. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the Deer Creek Dam station, near the top of the canyon at about 5,270 feet, show about 74 inches of snow a year, against 44.9 at Provo BYU, and an average January low of 12.6°F. January alone averages 26.2 inches there. Ice forms on shaded curves well after the valley streets are dry. See how much snow Provo gets for the valley numbers.
Check UDOT's traffic app or the UDOT Traffic site before you drive, and see our canyon and commute conditions page.
What's closed this winter
The Alpine Loop
UDOT closed SR-92, the Alpine Loop, for the winter at 7 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. You can no longer drive between Provo Canyon and American Fork Canyon over the mountain, and that ends winter access to Cascade Springs and the Stewart Falls trailheads above Sundance. UDOT hasn't set a reopening date; last spring it reopened on May 22. Our Alpine Loop closure story has the details.
Bridal Veil Falls
A rockslide on Oct. 23, 2026, covered part of the Provo River Trail and the park at the base of the falls. Utah County closed the trail and park from the parking lot east for about a quarter mile, and says it will stay closed through the winter, with cleanup in the spring. The county had planned a winter closure anyway: the area is in the middle of a two-year, $7 million reconstruction. You can still see the falls from US-189. Bridal Veil is also one of the canyon's best-known ice-climbing spots in a cold winter; until the county reopens the area, treat the closure as covering it. See our rockslide story.
The canyon's avalanche risk is real: in 2023, an avalanche at Bridal Veil damaged the pond and the Provo River Parkway, and repairs took most of the year, as our Provo Canyon guide explains.
What you can still do
- Ski and eat at Sundance. The resort sits on the plowed lower section of SR-92. Its planned opening day is Dec. 4, conditions permitting, according to TownLift's Nov. 6 roundup of Utah resort openings, and a new high-speed quad and added terrain debut this season. Its restaurants are open to non-skiers. See our Sundance guide and eating in Provo Canyon and Sundance.
- Ride the North Pole Express. The Heber Valley Railroad's holiday train leaves from the Heber depot, at the top of the canyon, and the railroad has added first-class tickets this year. The railroad's site has dates and tickets; our Heber Valley Railroad guide has the background.
- Ice fish at Deer Creek once the ice is thick enough. Our ice fishing guide explains the four-inch rule, and our Deer Creek and Jordanelle guide covers winter access.
- Walk the lower canyon. Vivian Park and Nunns Park are reachable from the highway all winter; restrooms and pavilions are limited out of season. See Vivian Park and Nunns Park.
- Take the drive. The limestone walls under snow are the canyon's best-kept view. Our Provo Canyon photo spots guide lists safe pullouts.
Before you go
- Check the road. Look for traction-law notices on US-189 and closures on SR-92.
- Check the tires. If the traction law is in effect and your car doesn't qualify, you'll be turned around.
- Pack for colder weather. January lows average about 11 degrees colder at Deer Creek Dam than at Provo BYU, by NOAA's normals.
- Respect closures. The Bridal Veil closure is for falling rock, and deputies have been posted to keep people out.
- Expect patchy cell service off the highway, especially up South Fork.
Related guides
- Provo Canyon guide
- How much snow Provo gets
- Winter activities in Provo
- Utah's traction law and chains
- Sundance Resort guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Provo Canyon open in winter?
Do you need chains or snow tires for Provo Canyon?
Is Bridal Veil Falls open in winter 2026-27?
Can you drive to Sundance in winter?
How much snow does upper Provo Canyon get?
What is there to do in Provo Canyon in winter?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- UDOT Traffic: road conditions and closures, Utah Department of Transportation. Checked November 9, 2026.
- North Pole Express, Heber Valley Railroad. Checked November 9, 2026.
- Little Cottonwood Canyon reopened, traction law remains for U.S.-189 and Big Cottonwood, KJZZ. Checked November 9, 2026.
- When will Utah ski resorts open? Here is the 2026-27 schedule so far, TownLift. Checked November 9, 2026.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly: DEER CREEK DAM, UT (USC00422057), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Checked November 9, 2026.
