Words by Melissa Fields
Anyone who’s backcountry skied or ridden in the Central Wasatch knows how amazing it is. Deep, powder snow; vast tracks of undeveloped glades, bowls and mellow meadows; and spitting-distance proximity to Wasatch Front cities are just a few of the reasons why this 52-mile-long and 41-mile-wide slice of Utah is coveted by those who prefer to venture outside the reach of chairlifts. But getting to this backcountry Shangri-La often requires sharing parking infrastructure with resort skiers and riders, particularly in the busy Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and in Park City. What’s more, the rules for parking change based on where you decide to leave your vehicle.
As such, below we’ve compiled all the info you need to know about parking before heading into the backcountry during the 2024-25 winter season.
Get a Sticker
The Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) Sticker program—an effort to pre-inspect vehicle preparedness to keep canyon traffic flowing in snowy conditions—is back and has been beefed up for the 2024–25 season. Visitors to Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons can expect law enforcement to be stationed at the mouth of each canyon during heavy traffic periods whenever the Traction Law is in effect (when the Utah Department of Transportation determines that snow or ice require additional traction devices). Vehicles with a UDOT sticker will be waved through these checkpoints rather than being asked to pull over for an onsite tire/traction device inspection. You can get your FREE UDOT Sticker at the dozens of local tire shops across the Wasatch Front offering free tire inspections now through February 28, 2025. UDOT has also partnered with rental car companies at the Salt Lake City International Airport to help out-of-state visitors be prepared when driving into the canyons, too. Visit cottonwoodcanyons.udot.utah.gov for tire requirements, inspection locations and list of local car rental agencies offering UDOT sticker qualified vehicles.
General Guidelines for Roadside Canyon Parking
Parking is allowed, conditions permitting, along Big Cottonwood Canyon Road, S.R. 190, and Little Cottonwood Road, S.R. 210 outside of avalanche paths, which are clearly marked with No Parking Zone signs. When parking along the road, be sure your vehicle is within the white line and is facing in the same direction as traffic. The Salt Lake County Sheriff enforces parking rules in both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon where tickets for parking violations range from $75 to $150. Local's Tip: Stash a shovel in your veicle in case you need to move snow around to create space to park on the right side of the white line. 
Little Cottonwood Canyon Specifics
Early-morning backcountry skiers and riders launching from Alta Ski Area and the Town of Alta may park in the South Flagstaff lot (located between the Alta Lodge and Rustler Lodge on the south side of Hightway 210) with a reservation beginning at 6 a.m., daily, from Friday, December 13, 2024 through Sunday, April 6, 2025. Midweek reservations (Monday-Thursday) are $15 per vehicle and are not required after 8 a.m. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and during holiday periods, early-morning reservations cost $25 per vehicle and are required until 1 p.m. Those with an early-morning reservation may occupy that spot for the day. Fines for parking at Alta Ski Area or within the Town of Alta without a reservation or for illegal parking are $250 per violation. For more details and to book an early-morning reservation, visit altaearlyparking.com.
Parking at Snowbird is a hybrid system of free, first-come, first-served parking; paid on-demand parking; and paid pre-reserved parking. New for the 2024-25 season is an expanded and improved Canyon Carpool Club. The number of free parking spaces for carpoolers arriving at Snowbird has been more than doubled, and the required number of passengers per carpool vehicle has been reduced from 4+ to 3+. Snowbird also awards carpoolers with surprise giveaways on select peak traffic days. Free parking on the south side of Little Cottonwood Canyon Road, SR-210, between Entry 1 and 4 is determined on a day-of basis and is communicated on Snowbird’s Mountain Report. Advanced parking reservations and day-of paid parking (located in Snowbird's Lower Gad Valley and Pond lots) starts at $10 per day and can be made for visits beginning December 13 through most of the 2024-25 winter season beginning in mid-November at snowbird.com/parking. Valet parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Snowbird Center valet station and at The Cliff Lodge. Vehicles parked in no-parking zones and/or illegally will be ticketed and required to pay a $75-$150 fee.
Another option is to leave your car at home or in a valley park and ride lot and take public transit into Little Cottonwood Canyon. The UTA Ski Bus services Alta and Snowbird and several points in the Salt Lake valley at 30-minute intervals during peak hours. UTA has added additional service routes to Little Cottonwood Canyon for the 2024-25 season called Canyon Service 1 and Canyon Service 2. The UTA Ski Bus is free to Snowbird, Alta-Bird, Alta, Solitude and Brighton season passholders and Ikon passholders and is $5 per ride for all other riders.
Starting December 1, 2024, a U.S. Forest Service Recreation Pass is required for all vehicles parking at the White Pine/Red Pine Trailhead, located 5.5 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Qualifying passes include the America the Beautiful annual recreation pass and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache recreation passes, available in 3-day, 7-day, or annual increments. National and UWC Recreation passes can be purchased through recreation.gov, at the UWC Salt Lake Ranger District Offices (6914 S. 3000 East, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and at the Salt Lake City REI (3285 E. 3300 South). 
Parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Parking reservations, costing $10 per vehicle, are required within the Town of Brighton along the Big Cottonwood Canyon Road/S.R.190 from the Willow Heights trailhead, located west of Solitude, to the Guardsman Pass Road, on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and during holiday periods (December 22 to January 1, January 20 and February 17) from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. A limited number of reservations are available for backcountry skiers and riders to park along S.R. 190 nearby Silver Fork and USA Bowl starting at 6 a.m. On weekdays (Monday through Thursday), all parking along S.R. 190 (outside of avalanche slide paths, marked with No Parking Zone signage) is free, no reservations required, conditions permitting. Roadside parking in Big Cottonwood Canyon must always be to the right of the white line with the vehicle facing the same direction as traffic flow. For more details and to make a reservation, visit parkbcc.com.
Brighton Resort's parking reservation policy covers its main lot, along with all snow ramps, and any additional parking around the loop from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday-Sunday and holiday periods (December 21 to January 5; January 20; and February 17). Monday through Thursday and after noon on weekends and holidays, all parking at Brighton Resort is free, no reservations required. Reservations are free for qualified Brighton Season Passholders and cost $25 per car, per day for day skier/riders and Ikon passholders. Carpoolers with four or more passengers can make a reservation for $10 per vehicle. Reservations for Preferred Parking spots, located near near the base of Brighton's Explorer Lift and available Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., are $30 per vehicle, per day. Please note that Brighton's parking lots are closed every day, 12 a.m. - 7 a.m., for snow clearing/grooming.
Parking reservations are required at Solitude Mountain Resort in all lots prior to 11 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and two holiday Mondays (January 20 and February 17) from December 21, 2024 through March 30, 2025. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on reservation days, parking transitions to a space-available basis, no reservations required. Vehicles arriving with four or more passengers any time before 1 p.m. get to park for free, but still need to make a reservation. After 1 p.m., all parking at Solitude is free, no reservations required. More details about parking at Solitude can be found here. Looking to carpool? Download the Solitude Carpool app. You’ll get to meet some new friends, save on parking at Solitude and do your part to reduce traffic congestion in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Big Cottonwood’s Mill D/Cardiff Fork and Spruces Campground parking lots, located about 9 miles up the canyon, are open and maintained through the winter, both of which have restrooms open year-round. (Year-round restrooms are also located at the Guardsman Winter Gate.) Starting December 1, 2024, a U.S. Forest Service Recreation Pass is required for all vehicles parking at the Mill D/Cardiff Fork and Spruces Campground parking lots. Qualifying passes include the America the Beautiful national annual recreation pass and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache recreation passes, available in 3-day, 7-day, or annual increments. National and UWC Recreation passes can be purchased through recreation.gov, at the UWC Salt Lake Ranger District Offices (6914 S. 3000 East, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and at the Salt Lake City REI (3285 E. 3300 South).
Park City
Over on the Wasatch Back, Park City Mountain allows uphill travel on its Homerun trail daily, 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., conditions permitting, from mid-December to the end of the season. (No dogs, please.) Early morning uphill skiers may park for free, no reservation required, along the far eastern edge of the First Time parking lot from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Text "uphill" to 435-244-1769 before accessing the mountain to receive important information including route changes or closures.
In the early season, typically Thanksgiving to late-December, and in the late season, early-April to whenever the snow melts out, backcountry skiers and riders, snowshoers and cross-country skiers can make a reservation to take the free Transit to Trails shuttle from Park City up to the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area, operating Thursday to Sunday.
Catching a Ride
Wasatch Backcountry Alliance runs a Backcountry Shuttle in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon on Saturdays beginning mid-December, depending on snowpack. Reservations are required and are accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday evenings. Parking and pickups begin at 7:30 a.m. at Butler Elementary (7000 S. 2700 East, Cottonwood Heights). Down-canyon return shuttle leave drop-off locations beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The UTA Ski Bus, services Alta and Snowbird on the 994 Line and Brighton and Solitude on 972 line at 30-minute intervals during peak periods, from he end of November 2024 to mid-April 2025. UTA has also added additional service routes to Little Cottonwood Canyon for the 2024-25 season called Canyon Service 1 and Canyon Service 2. The UTA Ski Bus is free passholders at the following resorts: Snowbird, Alta, Brighton and Solitude as well as IKON season passholders; the rate for all other riders is $5 one way.
Resort Parking
If you'd like to learn more about parking at Utah's 15 ski resorts, please visit skiutah.com/parking.
Before heading into the backcountry it is important to have the correct gear, knowledge and education. Please visit Utah Avalanche Center for forecasts, education and more.
