Solitude Mountain Resort, in an effort to solve the parking problem in Big Cottonwood Canyon, threw down the gauntlet by announcing that skiers will have to pay up to $20 to park during ski season. The idea is to encourage carpooling and to get skiers to ride the UTA bus.
So starting this year, Solitude will charge $20 for vehicles carrying 1-2 passengers, $10 for 3 passengers, and $5 for 4 passengers and up. Kiosks will be set up next to the resort lodge to collect payment.
Season pass and Ikon pass holders can purchase season parking passes for $150. Holders of both passes can now ride the UTA bus up the canyon for free.
In a press release, Solitude says parking fees are an experiment and is one of many initiatives they will use to reduce congestion in the canyon and to address worsening air quality.
“We are using every tool at our disposal to encourage our staff and guests to use public transportation and to develop carpooling habits,” says Solitude’s President & COO Kim Mayhew. “We are committed to reducing congestion in Big Cottonwood Canyon in order to preserve our canyon’s delicate environment.”
“Last winter was one for the record books, but there was some frustration around the number of cars on the road. We can leverage technology to cultivate a habit of carpooling and make public transportation more feasible. Our goal is to maximize the space we have and get everyone to the slopes safely and without delay.”
A portion of parking proceeds will be donated to Breathe Utah, a clean air advocacy organization.
In addition, Solitude will add 200 new parking spaces at the west end of the Moonbeam lot, and provide shuttles up the canyon for resort employees. New lockers are being installed in the Moonbeam Lodge for bus riders to use, and they are investing in a ride-share app with incentives to carpool.
Here’s a breakdown of all the changes at Solitude:
- Parking fees at Solitude lots ranging from $5 – $20 per day. $150 season parking passes will be available for Ikon and season pass holders, and $225 for non-pass holders.
- Ikon pass holders can now ride canyon UTA buses for free
- 200 new parking spaces at the west end of the Moonbeam Lot.
- Ride-share app is being developed to encourage carpooling.
- 100 new lockers to be installed at Moonbeam Lodge.
- Passenger vans will be used to shuttle employees up canyon, taking around 60 vehicles off the road per day.
The new parking fees will be in effect 7 days a week for the entirety of ski season. This year ski season runs from November 22, 2019 to April 19, 2020.
For more information and to plan ahead for how you can travel to Solitude this winter, visit https://www.solitudemountain.com/transportation