Embarking on a backcountry ski adventure in Utah’s Cottonwood Canyons now demands strategic parking planning. Long gone are the days of making last-minute decisions based on avalanche conditions or powder mornings for a dawn patrol. We now live (and ski) in a new world where advance devising is required. And in certain high-traffic areas, your wallet will get a little lighter too. To make sense of it all, here’s an in-depth guide to securing your parking spot for both Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood Canyons.
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Historically, backcountry access in Little Cottonwood Canyon has mostly been dependent on parking at resorts, especially Alta. Recent changes have practically done away with the ability for dawn patrols in the upper canyon, with early-morning restrictions and paid parking now the norm. While the White Pine/Red Pine Trailhead has maintained the status quo, you’ll need to be educated on how and when to park for anything tours above that zone.
Alta Ski Area
If you want to make morning turns in the backcountry around Alta Ski Area, you’ll have to plan ahead and pay for parking access. Famous touring zones like Grizzly Gulch, Emma Ridge, or any of the canyons that spill to the north such as Days Fork, Cardiff Fork, or Silver Fork, are now victims of the parking vortex.
From December 15 to March 31, and Alta’s closing weekend in 2024, early birds must reserve paid spots from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., cost and times vary depending on day and time. Here’s a breakdown:
Monday-Thursday: Early morning parking reservations are required from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and cost $15 per vehicle. However, parking is free with no reservation required on those days after 8 a.m.
Friday-Sunday + Holiday Periods: Morning reservations are required from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. and cost $25 per vehicle.
Where to Park: Alta’s early morning parking area can be found on the south side of Highway 210 on either side of the Alta Lodge. All other lots are prohibited to parking until after 8 a.m.
If you are an Alta season pass holder, don’t think you’ll get special privileges. Your parking codes cannot be used for the early morning parking area. Plus, if you violate these parking rules, fines can run from $75 to $150. If you’re more of an afternoon backcountry skier, life is much easier because after 1 p.m., all parking at Alta Ski Area and the Town of Alta is free, with no reservations required.
To make parking reservations, you must go to altaearlyparking.com.
Snowbird
Snowbird generally isn’t a resort where backcountry skiers park. However, some intrepid boot-packers will leave their cars here to go straight up the south slopes of Mount Superior, or to ski Suicide Chute on Superior’s flank. However, with its mix of free and paid parking, Snowbird adds a layer of complexity.
Free Parking: Free parking is first-come, first-served at Entry 1 lot, Upper Gad Valley lot, Wilbere Hill parking, Main Lot, at the top of the Chickadee run, the Superior lot, the Batch Plant lot, on levels 2 and 3 of the Cliff Lodge parking garage and on the Bypass Road (excluding the parking pass area). Free parking is also available along Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, SR-210, between Entry 1 and 4 on a first-come, first-served basis when conditions allow. Check Snowbird’s Mountain Report before you arrive to check the availability of S.R. 210 parking.
Paid Parking: If you want to ensure a parking spot on busy days, advanced and day-of paid parking is located in the Lower Gad Valley and Pond lots, starting at $10 per day. Advance parking reservations can be made through most of the season at pass.snowbird.com.
White Pine/Red Pine Trailhead
One of the most popular backcountry trailheads is at White Pine/Red Pine. This parking lot accesses classic tours like Scotties Bowl, Red and White Baldy, and the Pfeifferhorn. Parking here is still free and first come/first-served every day, all winter long. But be forewarned—this lot fills up swiftly, so meticulous planning and a pre-dawn start are your allies.
Big Cottonwood Canyon
In the realm of Big Cottonwood Canyon, strategic parking has now become so expensive and complex, you’ll need a trust fund and a degree in astrobiology to access it. Over the years, paid parking reservations have been implemented at both Solitude and Brighton resorts. But starting in the 2023/24 season, the Town of Brighton has stepped in to muck up backcountry access along Highway 190 from Willow Fork up to Brighton.
Brighton Resort
Starting with the 2023/24 season, Brighton Resort has enacted a season-long parking reservation policy. Here’s the bullet points:
MIDWEEK PARKING: Effective Monday, December 18, midweek (Monday-Thursday) parking reservations are not required.
RESERVATION REQUIREMENTS: All vehicles must have a reservation on weekends and holidays. Parking reservations are required:
- All Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays, effective Friday, December 15 through closing day.
- Daily, Monday, December 25 through Tuesday, January 2
- Monday, January 15
- Monday, February 19
DAILY LOT CLOSURES: The parking lot is closed every day, 12am – 7am, for snow clearing/grooming. This work is crucial to maintaining a maximum number of spaces throughout the season.
To make parking reservations at Brighton, visit brightonresort.com/parking.
Solitude Mountain Resort
In the past, Solitude has been a good, free place to park for access in backcountry zones like USA Bowl, Willow Fork, The Monitors, and Silver Fork Canyon. But those days are over. A few years ago, Solitude Mountain Resort was the first to implement a paid parking system, and each year has become more restrictive and expensive. Here’s the breakdown:
Friday-Sunday + Holidays: $35 Reserve N Ski parking reservations are required Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and during holiday periods from December 15, 2023, through April 14, 2024. Carpoolers with four or more passengers catch a break—they park for free but still need reservations. After 1 p.m., Solitude opens its parking up without reservations and fees.
Monday-Thursday: On Mondays through Thursdays, excluding holidays, a $20 parking fee applies, and reservations aren’t obligatory. Cancel your reservation before 6 a.m. on the arrival day to dodge penalties.
Looking to carpool? Dive into the Solitude Carpool app, a camaraderie-building solution to save on parking fees and reduce Big Cottonwood Canyon traffic congestion.
Big Cottonwood Canyon Roadside Parking (Town of Brighton)
The biggest new change to parking is new paid, roadside reservations in Big Cottonwood Canyon near the resorts. This will affect backcountry skiers looking to access Willow Fork, USA Bowl, and Silver Fork Canyon. Reserved parking will cost $10 per vehicle Friday-Sunday and holidays until 1 p.m. Here’s the finer details broken down by Wasatch Backcountry Alliance:
- South side of the highway starting 1/4 mile east/up canyon of the Willow Lake trailhead and ending at Guardsman Pass road (between Willow Heights and the fire station in the Town of Brighton)
- No parking on the north side
- Roadside parking is prohibited prior to 6am. Early morning dawn patroller reservations can be booked for parking beginning at 6am in the early morning parking areas only
- After 7 am, reservations are available for parking anywhere alongside the valid roadside reservation zone. Reservations are not required after 1pm
- Early morning reservations are valid for the entire day and you do not need a second reservation for regular hours
- Reservations are only required Fri-Sundays and holidays for now, and they may revert to 7 days a week based off congestion
- Roadside parking is a separate program from the resort’s parking programs
- There will be no season pass discount for roadside parking.
- Cost is $10 per reservation
- Park to the right of the white line- get out that shovel and dig for the line if you must to avoid a pricey ticket
To reserve roadside parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon, visit parkbcc.com.
While parking areas below Willow Fork (Spruces, Cardiff, Butler Fork etc.) are unaffected, backcountry users are concerned that these trailheads will become more crowded due to the upper canyon trailheads costing money to park.
Final Thoughts
Parking restrictions in the Cottonwood Canyons are fluid and likely to change more in the near future. From price increases, to possible tolls and, yes, even the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon Gondola, change will be the rule rather than the exception. We will try to keep this page updated with the latest information. For now, be sure to plan ahead, read UDOT and the resort’s social media pages for daily updates, and if all else fails, take the bus.