UPDATED NOVEMBER 1, 2024
Parking at ski areas, especially on peak holidays or weekends, can be challenging. Ditch the driving with a ride on one of Utah's many public transit ski buses.
Resorts in Park City and along the Wasatch Front are serviced by public transit that take the headache out of scary snow driving and hairy parking headaches. Whether you are a visitor or a seasoned local, riding the bus is a cinch with the helpful info below.
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) provides ski service to Snowbasin Resort and Powder Mountain in Weber County, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton, Snowbird and Alta Ski Area in Salt Lake County, and Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah County. Many of the Ski Bus routes sync with routes on TRAX or FrontRunner trains. UTA also offers a number of free parking at Park & Ride lots near major Ski Bus stops.
A couple of different transit systems service the Wasatch Back where Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain are located.
Quick Updates for 2024-25:
• The Cottonwood Connect reservation shuttle service is no longer running.
• UTA has supplemented transit in Little Cottonwood Canyon with new Canyon Services routes CS1 and CS2 to Snowbird and Alta.
• UTA is no longer using the Albion base area stop at Alta. As a result, the Town of Alta has stepped up its free transit/shuttle system to provide FREE and frequent transit between the Goldminer's Daughter bus stop at the Wildcat base area on up to the Albion base area at the end of Highway 210.
UTA SKI BUS TIPS
• Before catching a ride, download the Transit App. This app allows you to pay your fare, plan your trip, investigate bus routes, check on crowds and canyon alerts, view road closures and more. Click Here to download the app.
• You can always visit the UTA website to find service changes, updates, and additional information.
• A one-way fare for the Ski Bus is $5. If you are transferring from a local bus to the Ski Bus it will just be an additional $2.50 in fare to be paid once you board the Ski Bus.
• Ski Bus routes can be integrated with FrontRunner and TRAX or other UTA bus routes. Check the UTA website and utilize their Transit App to plot your day. If you need to transfer to another bus or a TRAX line, get a transfer slip from the driver. This is your only proof of fare when transferring. Transfer slips are valid for two hours after your initial ride. If using a FAREPAY card, your transfer will display in the app.
• Ski Bus timetables shift every season. Always double-check route information on the UTA website or the Transit App to ensure your timetable is correct and that you have an updated schedule for the current season.
• If you are paying cash, bring exact change or purchase a UTA FAREPAY card. Bus drivers do not provide change, which means your ride could be more expensive if you only have bills.
• To ensure you're boarding the right bus, check the number displayed above the front windshield.
• UDOT Cottonwoods on Twitter or Instagram are excellent (and amusing) resources for weather and road conditions in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons. Conditions can change and deteriorate rapidly and all road users are responsible for obeying law enforcement and the implementation of traction laws during adverse weather. If you're unsure or not confident driving in wild winter conditions, RIDE THE BUS!
• If you're seeking alternate transportation options check out Ski Utah's recommended transit providers.
HOW TO PAY FOR THE SKI BUS: 4 WAYS
1. Season Pass Incentive
To incentivize responsible travel, many Utah resorts incorporate UTA Ski Bus passes directly into their season pass pricing and the ski pass itself. You'll simply scan your season pass on the card reader when boarding the bus. Both the IKON and Mountain Collective passes also offer this benefit.
Many resort employees are provided with free transit access but their perks may differ from those associated with season passes. Season passholders or employees should contact their resort rather than UTA for any transit-related questions.
2. Transit App
Skip the entire process of purchasing a ticket or using cash or credit on the Ski Bus by downloading the Transit App on your smart phone. This helpful application allows you to seamlessly pay your fare and it will also display routes, timetables, and the live location of UTA buses and trains.
3. Cash or Credit Card
If your ski pass does not include a Ski Bus benefit, a one-way fare on the Ski Bus costs $5. UTA requests that riders have exact change when paying with cash as drivers are not able to provide change. Riders should have their money ready prior to boarding and should board at the front of the bus. A contactless credit card may also be used to purchase the fare when boarding the bus. Fares purchased for TRAX, FrontRunner, or other bus routes will count toward your $5 fare on the Ski Bus. Be sure to get a transfer slip from the driver to cover your fare when moving from a train to the bus.
ATTN: The 2024-25 ski season Canyon Service buses (CS1 and CS2) do not accept cash.
4. Farepay Card
Purchase a prepaid, reloadable FAREPAY Card to remove the need to carry exact change or purchase tickets beforehand. As an added bonus FAREPAY cardholders earn 20% off local bus, TRAX, S-Line, FrontRunner and Express Bus Fares (but not the Ski Bus). FAREPAY cards can be loaded with money and tapped on the Ski Bus’s card reader when boarding. Don’t forget to tap off when unloading the bus so the correct fare is charged. Click here to learn more or purchase a FAREPAY Card.
HOW TO CATCH A RIDE ON THE UTA SKI BUS
Skip ahead to the section of your choice to find details about specific Ski Bus routes. For complete details and the most up-to-date schedule, please visit the UTA Ski Bus webpage CLICK HERE.
We recommend arriving at your bus stop early. All bus stops are marked by a blue sign with a Stop ID Number and a list of all the routes that use this location. The Stop ID Number can also be used for the Ride Time system, which can help you find out when the next bus is coming. Just look for the number to the right of the word “LOCATION,” then text the Stop ID number to UTA-UTA (882-882) and hit send. Ride Time will reply with the next three bus stop departure times from that STOP ID Number. Alternatively, you can download the Transit App for more comprehensive info and a live feed of bus locations.
If the scrolling banner at the top end of the front of the bus reads "FULL" the bus is unable to accommodate any additional passengers and you'll have to wait for the next bus on the route. For this reason, we strongly recommend arriving early to your ski bus stop!
COTTONWOOD CANYONS SKI BUS SERVICE
Servicing Brighton & Solitude
Best Days of the Week to Avoid Crowds:
Best Times of Day to Avoid Crowds:
Route 972: Midvale Fort Union Station to Solitude/Brighton
CLICK HERE for bus schedule
Service begins at 6:15AM from the Midvale Fort Union Station and buses depart in 30 minute intervals. Note that the earliest stop at the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park and Ride does not begin until 8:10AM. To accommodate night skiing at Brighton, the last bus down Big Cottonwood Canyon will depart at 8:22PM with a stop at Solitude's Moonbeam Lodge at 8:32PM.
The stops and up-canyon route are as follows:
Midvale Fort Union Station
Servicing Alta & Snowbird
CLICK HERE for bus schedule and route
Service begins at 6:01AM at Historic Sandy Station and buses will leave in 30 minute intervals. The last route down leaves the Goldminer's Daughter at 6:09PM followed by the 2 Snowbird stops at 6:10 and 6:15PM. Note that the UTA Ski Bus no longer travels to the Albion Lodge at Alta at the end of Highway 210. Bus users who need to access the Albion base area can either ski along the Transfer Tow or catch one of the frequent, free shuttles run by the Town of Alta. The Alta Shuttles provide transit to both of Alta's base areas as well as Snowbird and a number of hotels, condos and homes along the way. CLICK HERE for info on the Alta shuttle.
Historic Sandy Station
NEW FOR 2024-25!
Canyon Services buses CS1 and CS2 commence: Dec 8, 2024
Canyon Service Routes CS1 & CS2
CLICK HERE for schedule and route
To accommodate high demands for public transit in Little Cottonwood, UTA is adding additional daily service to Alta and Snowbird, beginning Dec 8, 2024 in 30-minute intervals. Boarding and paying for the CS1 and CS2 buses will be identical to the procedure for the Ski Bus. Your eligible ski passes that earn free rides on the UTA Ski Bus are also valid for CS1 & CS2. NOTE that the Canyon Service buses (CS1 and CS2) do not accept cash.
The CS1 stops and the up-canyon route are as follows:
Midvale Fort Union Station
Fort Union & Highland Dr
6200 S & Wasatch Blvd Park-n-Ride
Big Cottonwood Canyon Park-n-Ride
8200 S & Wasatch Park-n-Ride
Snowbird Entry 1
Snowbird Center
Goldminer's Daughter (Alta)
The CS2 stops and the up-canyon route are as follows:
6200 S & Wasatch Blvd Park-n-Ride
Big Cottonwood Canyon Park-n-Ride
8200 S & Wasatch Park-n-Ride
Snowbird Entry 1
Snowbird Center
Goldminer's Daughter (Alta)
UTAH COUNTY SKI BUS SERVICE
Servicing Sundance
Best Days of the Week to Avoid Crowds:
Best Times of Day to Avoid Crowds:
Route 880: University Place Station to Sundance
CLICK HERE for bus schedule and route
The 880 route begins at 8:30 AM at the University Place Station in Provo and will stop at the Orem Palisade Park-n-Ride before heading up Provo Canyon to Sundance. There are 4 options throughout the day beginning at 8:30, 9:20, 10:30 and 3:30 PM. To accommodate night skiing at Sundance, the last bus will depart Sundance on Saturdays at 8:00 PM. The 880 route runs weekdays and Saturdays. Note that beginning in March, Ski Bus service will ONLY be offered on Saturdays.
** There is NO Ski Bus service on Route 880 on Sundays **
Sundance Ski Resort
WEBER/DAVIS COUNTY SKI BUS SERVICE
Servicing: Snowbasin
Routes 675 and 677 to Snowbasin commence: Dec 8, 2024Best Times of Day to Avoid Crowds:
Route 675: Ogden Station to Snowbasin
CLICK HERE for bus schedule and route
This route services a number of stops in Ogden before a stop at the Ogden Canyon Park-n-Ride and on up to Snowbasin. The first bus leaves Ogden Station at 5:45AM with a fluctuating schedule throughout the day that has been designed to meet ridership demands. Buses will begin the return trip from Snowbasin to Ogden at 12:40PM. On weekends and holidays, there are additional routes to Snowbasin Resort in the morning and additional buses for the route back to Ogden in the afternoon to accommodate a higher volume of riders.
Ogden Central Station
24th St & Lincoln Ave
26th St & Lincoln Ave
25th St &Washington Blvd
23rd St & Washington Blvd
12th St & Washington Blvd
Ogden Canyon Park-N-Ride
Snowbasin Ski Resort
The stops and the up-canyon route are as follows:
Layton Station
Layton Hills Mall
Davis Conference Center
Woodland Park Drive Hotels
Hwy 89 & Antelope Dr Park-n-Ride
S Weber Park-N-Ride
Mountain Green Ski Bus Stop
Snowbasin Ski Resort
WEBER/DAVIS COUNTY SKI BUS SERVICE
Servicing: Powder Mountain
Best Times of Day to Avoid Crowds:
Route 674: Ogden to Powder Mountain
CLICK HERE for bus schedule
UTA provides bus transportation from the Ogden & Eden areas to Powder Mountain daily beginning on Dec 6, 2024. Service begins at 6:11AM on Ogden's 21st Street. For day-skiers, the last bus departs Timberline Lodge at 5:35PM and the Sundown base area at 5:37PM. For night skiing, there is one final bus down from Powder Mountain's Sundown base area at 9:30PM when night skiing operations are running.
The stops and the up-canyon route are as follows:
Ogden 21st Street Hotels
Ogden Central Station
24th St & Lincoln Ave
26th St & Lincoln Ave
25th St & Washington Blvd
22nd St & Washington Blvd
12th St & Washington Blvd
Ogden Canyon Park-N-Ride
Eden Market
Moose Hollow Condominiums
Wolf Creek Drive / Moose Hollow
Powder Mountain Sundown Base Area
Powder Mountain Timberline Lodge
PARK CITY BUS SERVICE
Servicing: Park City Mountain Resort Village, Canyons Village and Deer Valley
PARK CITY & SUMMIT COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM
CLICK HERE for info and routes
Park City's public transit is AWESOME. The area offers a FARE-FREE transit system that greatly helps to reduce congestion and motivate riders with its convenience and affordability. Frequent buses run 7 days per week and serve key areas, hotels, Main Street, local neighborhoods and destinations across Park City and beyond. Parking during peak winter weekends and holiday periods in Park City can be especially challenging so using the bus makes logistics a cinch! The majority of bus routes serve stops at both of Park City's base areas as well as Deer Valley.
PARK CITY TRANSIT BUS TIPS
• Just like the UTA Ski Bus, the Transit App is also a useful tool for using the Park City transit system.• Plan to arrive at your bus stop at least 5 minutes early.
• Folks with adaptive needs who require a ramp should board through the front door.
High Valley Transit in Summit County is bridging a transit gap between Park City and Salt Lake City. Download the High Valley Transit App for Android or iPhone.
The 107 Commuter Line connects Salt Lake Central Station to the Kimball Junction Transit Center in Summit County and buses leave at 90 minute intervals, 7 days per week. Service between the two stations runs from 4:51AM to 10:15PM, but be sure to check timetables as buses favor the flow of commuter traffic.
From the Kimball Junction Transit Center, riders may utilize the FREE FARE Park City & Summit County Transit system (see above) to reach the resort of their choice. A bus leaves the Kimball Junction Transit Center for Main Street, Park City every 15-30 minutes. From the Main Park City stop, several buses will service the PCMR Village and Deer Valley.
If you still have questions, visit:
UTA's Website
Park City Transit's Website
High Valley Transit's Website
