Winter Activities
Snow Covered Adventure
The fun doesn’t end with the warm weather. Winter is a magical time of year here in Sweetwater County. Here are some of the top things to do in winter:
Ice Fishing
Without a doubt, the best place to ice fish in these parts is Lake Flaming Gorge. Ice fishing here can be very good for burbot and rainbows, beginning in mid-December. Anglers also target lake trout through the ice. Smaller lake trout range freely and are often caught by anglers fishing for rainbows.
In general, smaller fish are caught on the north end of the reservoir and the fish become larger as the ice progresses southward. Firehole on the Green River arm, Halfway Hollow on the Black's Fork arm, and the Confluence area are all popular with ice fishermen after lake trout. Fish between 18 and 21 inches long are commonly caught.
Most of the burbot in Flaming Gorge are in the upper end of the reservoir, in both the Blacks Fork and Green River arms. The best areas to start fishing are near the Firehole boat ramp, the Lost Dog area, any rocky points in the Blacks Fork River arm, and points in the confluence area.
It is becoming very popular to fish through the ice at nighttime. In the dead of winter, in the middle of the night, Lake Flaming Gorge can look like many small towns lit up by lanterns and headlamps. Whichever way you like to fish come to Lake Flaming Gorge and enjoy world-class ice fishing.
Access to Ice Fishing at Lake Flaming Gorge: Off Squaw Hollow Rd McKinnon, WY 82938 Lat/Long - 41° 9′ 41″ N, 109° 33′ 4″ W
Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Sweetwater County depends on the conditions. After a good snowstorm, any local trail and even area parks in Green River and Rock Springs are good places to explore. But the most concentrated area is the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area to the south.
Flaming Gorge Country transforms into a winter wonderland when the snow falls with more than 200 miles of trails to explore on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Make sure to check out some of the diverse cross-county skiing trails and locations to ice fish in Flaming Gorge Country on FlamingGorgeCountry.com
Visit Red Canyon Lodge for abundant cross-country skiing. The Red Canyon Lodge maintains their roads all winter long, so the trip will be easy and well worth it. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are excellent ways to get intimate views of our abundant winter wildlife. From the herds of wintering elk to solitary Bull Moose, large mammals are common companions along the snowy trail.
Access Point to Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area: (Red Canyon Lodge) 2450 West Red Canyon Lodge, Dutch John, Utah 84023
BMX Racing at Sweetwater Events Complex & Speedway
Mount up and tear it up at a BMX race at the Sweetwater Events Complex. The complex transforms to a BMX track complete with jumps, bumps and more. BMX enthusiasts can begin racing at age 5 and the races are a fun way to get your dose of thrills in a family-friendly environment. The Sweetwater Events Complex has several races scheduled throughout the season for you to participate in or just watch all the action. Get ready for some fast-paced fun. Visit www.SweetwaterEvents.com for a full BMX schedule.
Access to Sweetwater Events Complex & Speedway: 3320 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, WY 82901
Family Recreation Centers
Take a break from winter and swim, rock climb, play sports and more at one of our fully equipped recreation centers: Rock Springs Civic Center, Green River Recreation Center or Rock Springs Family Recreation Center.