Cottonwood canyons travel Resources //
Navigating Winter
Driving up the Cottonwood Canyons? Scroll down for an interactive map, public transit info, roadside and overnight parking, and other resources.
Milepost Landmarks & Roadside parking
The interactive map below highlights the locations of the points and landmarks in each canyon that are often referred to in road status updates and alerts. The blue dots provide the name and a link to the Google Street View.
Transportation
All visitors, especially those who do not have a vehicle that is equipped with proper traction devices or are uncomfortable driving in severe winter weather conditions, are encouraged to utilize public transit and shuttle services, delay travel, or carpool in a properly equipped vehicle.
UTA SKI BUS
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) ski service begins on Friday, November 29, and will continue through Saturday, April 12, 2025 for the winter 2024-25 season.
Ski bus fare is $5.00, and some student and employee passes may not be applicable for use on ski buses. Ski bus fare is free with your season pass to Snowbird, Brighton, Alta and Solitude, as well as the IKON Pass. You can pay for your ride using the Transit app (show your mobile ticket to the bus driver when you board), or your Pass (IKON or season pass) by tapping your card on the card reader when you board the bus.
The Park & Ride lots closest to the canyons are full by 8:30 a.m. on most days – including week days.
Best Days of the Week to Avoid Crowds: Tuesday – Thursday
Best Times of Days to Avoid Crowds: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
NEW FOR THE 2024/25 SEASON: Canyon Service (CS1 & CS2)!
Due to increasing demand for Ski Bus service, UTA is offering additional service to Alta and Snowbird this year: the Canyon Service, CS1 and CS2, will operate every day from December 8, 2024, through April 12, 2025.
CS1
- Service starts at Midvale Fort Union TRAX Station at 6 a.m. and ends at Alta at Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge.
- Schedule: Runs only during the morning hours of 6-8:30 a.m. and again in the evening from 5-7:30 p.m.
CS2
- Service starts at 6200 South Wasatch Park and Ride lot at 6:20 a.m. and ends at Alta at Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge.
- Schedule: Runs continuous 30-minute service throughout the day from 6:20 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Best Park and Ride Lots:
- Route 972 – Midvale to Solitude/Brighton
- Midvale Fort Union Station, 7250 South 180 West
- 6200 S. Wasatch Blvd
- Route 994 – Sandy to Snowbird/Alta
- Historic Sandy Station, 9000 South 165 East
- 9400 South Highland Drive
To locate a bus, use the vehicle locator tool here. Visit the Ride UTA website and follow @RideUTA on Twitter for real-time updates on public transit.
Backcountry Shuttle
Shuttle service provided by Wasatch Backcountry Alliance weekly on Saturdays for drop off in the upper canyons.
- Reservations are required and accepted until 5:00 PM Friday evening.
- Cost is $10 for non-members and $5 for WBA members
- Parking and Pick Up: Butler Elementary School (7000 S 2700 E, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121)
- Drop off:
- Little Cottonwood: White Pine, Alta Lodge
- Big Cottonwood: Cardiff, Spruces, Solitude & Brighton
UTAH MOUNTAIN SHUTTLE
Utah Mountain Shuttle offers service to/from the airport to/from the ski resorts as well as transportation between all the ski resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons (and beyond).
ALTA SHUTTLE
Alta Shuttle has been providing convenient, reliable transportation to Utah ski resorts for more than 35 years, with a team of experienced drivers and a fleet of 4×4 vehicles designed to navigate the snowy road conditions in Little Cottonwood Canyon (SR-210). If you’re looking for a safe ride to/from the airport to/from Snowbird or Alta, Alta shuttle has you covered.
CARPOOLING/VANPOOLING
Carpooling or ridesharing is a great way to reduce traffic congestion and help clear the air in the canyons. To find others that are headed up to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, check out these resources:
#TravelWise in the Cottonwood Canyons
TravelWise is a set of actions that encourage Utahns and visitors to reduce energy consumption, optimize mobility and improve air quality – ultimately improving quality of life. So what are the actions that apply to the Cottonwood Canyons to relieve the “red snake” and prevent unnecessary car emissions?
PARKING IN THE COTTONWOOD CANYONS
ROADSIDE PARKING TIPS
Roadside parking in the canyons is permitted in designated areas, please check all posted signage before parking and leaving your vehicle unattended.
Salt Lake County has a fine structure in place to discourage illegal roadside parking in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. When roadside parking, all drivers are required to park to the right of the white line.
Each resort in the Cottonwood Canyons has individual visitor management policies and parking systems, please check before visiting.
SALT LAKE COUNTY ORDINANCE 11.20.050
This ordinance sets a penalty for parking violations in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.
- Does not expand current “no parking areas”
- Violation fines will range from $75 to $150 (up from $25)
- The person registered to the vehicle will be responsible for the parking violation
- Parking violations are now considered a civil penalty (under old ordinance, they were a criminal offense and more likely to be dismissed)
NO PARKING IN AVALANCHE SLIDE ZONES
A reminder that from Nov. 1 – May 15, there is NO parking allowed in designated avalanche zones. This applies to both sides of the road within the posted areas. Please avoid parking in these zones, it inhibits our crews from doing their job safely and effectively and puts your safety at risk.
Town of Brighton parking
Roadside parking reservations are required from Dec. 20 through March 31, 2025 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and during holiday periods from ¼ mile above Willow Heights Trailhead to the Guardsman Road intersection on SR-190 in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The Town of Brighton has designated areas where it is illegal to park on the SR-190 roadside. Parking is permitted in designated reservation zones only. The fine for parking in a restricted area is $150 and will be issued to the owner of the vehicle. Vehicle tires must be parked completely to the right of the white line. You will receive a violation if you are parked in the road’s drive lane, even with a valid parking reservation.
There is no overnight parking permitted roadside in Big Cottonwood Canyon from 12 a.m. – 7 a.m. (with exception to the 20 early morning parking reservations starting at 6 a.m.).
Visit the Town of Brighton website for more information on their parking regulations and visit parkbcc.com to make a roadside parking reservation.
Overnight parking
Before planning an extended stay in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, make sure you are familiar with overnight parking and what is and what is not allowed at your destination.
- Overnight parking DOES NOT = overnight camping (sleeping overnight in a vehicle).
- Overnight parking is when you leave your car parked overnight while you are in the backcountry (backpacking, peak scrambling, etc.) or inside a building (hotel/lodge).
Overnight camping/car camping/sleeping in your parked car overnight in a vehicle is prohibited within 1/2 mile of any road in the Cottonwood Canyons, with exception to designated campgrounds due to Salt Lake City Public Utilities watershed regulations. This order is effective 100% of the time. Avalanche danger is high in Little Cottonwood Canyon so there are locations where any parking is not allowed during the winter.
There are three designated overnight parking areas in the Town of Alta, Utah. Overnight parking in the town outside of these areas is prohibited.
There are seasons during which designated campgrounds in Big Cottonwood Canyon (Spruces, Jordan Pines, Redman) and Little Cottonwood Canyon (Tanners Flat and Albion Basin) are open and closed. Visit the Uinta Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWCNF) Salt Lake Ranger District website for campground status updates. The USDA Forest Service also has a specific order which prohibits camping alongside the roadway on Forest Land.
RESORT PARKING
Each of the four ski resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons has different parking policies and systems. For more information on resort parking in the Cottonwood Canyons, visit our Cottonwood Canyons Ski Resorts page.
WINTER WEATHER MAINTENANCE AND SNOW PLOW INFORMATION
UDOT strives to provide the public with safe and clear roads. There are a variety of factors that may impact the condition of a road, including:
- Rate of snowfall
- Type of snowfall
- Anti-icing strategies
- Weather forecasts
- Winter storm maintenance standards
Actual plow routes and equipment assignments are determined by UDOT’s District Engineers using the winter storm maintenance standards. Maintenance stations will provide normal services as soon as available resources permit during unusual or extreme winter conditions.
