The parking reservation has become part of a Utah ski day, and the easiest way to avoid it is not to bring a car at all. From Utah Valley that is more practical than it sounds: FrontRunner and TRAX connect to UTA's canyon ski buses, a bus runs up Provo Canyon to Sundance, and even Snowbasin is reachable by train and bus. Where transit does not reach, several resorts give carpools a break on parking. This guide covers every way to ski from here without fighting for a space.
Little Cottonwood: Snowbird and Alta
UTA's service up Little Cottonwood in 2025-26 was three routes:
- Route 994: from Historic Sandy Station to Snowbird and Alta, every 30 minutes from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Canyon Service CS1: from Midvale Fort Union TRAX station, mornings from 6 to 8:30 a.m. and evenings from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
- Canyon Service CS2: from the 6200 South Wasatch park-and-ride, every 30 minutes from 6:20 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The buses stop at Snowbird Entry 1, the Snowbird Center and Alta's Wildcat base. The old Midvale bus up Little Cottonwood, Route 953, has been gone since its 2022 suspension.
Big Cottonwood: Solitude and Brighton
Route 972 runs from Midvale Fort Union Station up Big Cottonwood to Solitude and Brighton, every 30 minutes from 6:15 a.m., with a stop at the Big Cottonwood Canyon park-and-ride at the canyon mouth. In 2025-26 UTA added a Canyon Service trip, CS3, in each direction.
Getting there from Utah Valley
The connection from Utah County is a train and a train: FrontRunner north from Provo, Orem, Vineyard, American Fork or Lehi to Murray Central, about 50 minutes from Provo, then TRAX's Blue Line south. Get off at Midvale Fort Union for Route 972 and CS1, or ride to Historic Sandy for Route 994. Driving to a canyon-mouth park-and-ride, such as the 6200 South Wasatch lot or the Big Cottonwood Canyon lot, is the other choice, and those lots fill early on powder days.
For the step-by-step version with Sundance, see Sundance and the Ski Resorts Without a Car.
Sundance
UTA's seasonal Route 880 runs from the University Place transit hub in Orem up Provo Canyon to Sundance, free with a Sundance season pass. The Sundance guide above has the details.
Snowbasin and Powder Mountain
UTA's Weber and Davis County ski service has run Route 675 to Snowbasin, Route 677 to Snowbasin from Layton Station, and Route 674 to Powder Mountain. From Utah Valley, FrontRunner north to Layton connects with Route 677, which stops at park-and-ride lots on its way up. A Snowbasin season pass also includes a free UTA bus pass for 2026-27.
Park City and Deer Valley
There is no practical transit link from Utah Valley to Park City or Deer Valley; the transit route runs through Salt Lake City and takes hours each way. For the Wasatch Back, the answer is a carpool, or Deer Valley's East Village base, which is about 51 minutes from Provo by car up Provo Canyon.
The fare, and who rides free
The ski-bus fare has been $5, and it is free with a season pass to Alta, Snowbird, Brighton or Solitude, the Alta-Bird pass or an Ikon Pass. Alta said its 2025-26 season pass, the Ikon Pass and the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass also covered TRAX. The Canyon Service buses do not take cash, so ride with a qualifying pass or a prepaid UTA fare.
Carpool deals, resort by resort
- Brighton: on reservation days, a car with four or more people pays $10 instead of $25.
- Solitude: in 2025-26, cars with four or more people parked free, though they still needed a weekend reservation through the Solitude Carpool app.
- Snowbird: free carpool parking for cars with three or more, first come, first served; it cannot be reserved.
- Alta and Park City Mountain: reservations apply to every car on their required days, so check each resort's current rules.
The season, and what is coming
UTA publishes each season's ski-bus dates in the fall. In 2025-26, Route 994 began in late November and the Canyon Service buses ran from December 7 to April 12.
UDOT's first phase for the Cottonwood canyons is targeted to begin operating in the fall of 2028, with buses every 10 to 20 minutes, a transit center, a parking structure and winter tolls on the upper canyons for people who drive.
Practical notes
- Use your pass as a bus ticket. The major season passes and the Ikon Pass ride free.
- Carry no cash for Canyon Service. CS buses do not take it.
- Take TRAX to the right stop. Midvale Fort Union for Big Cottonwood, Historic Sandy for Route 994.
- Carpool for Park City. Transit from Utah Valley is not practical.
Related Guides
- Sundance and the Ski Resorts Without a Car
- Skiing Near Provo
- Snowbird From Utah Valley
- Alta From Utah Valley
- Brighton From Utah Valley
- Solitude From Utah Valley
- Snowbasin From Utah Valley
- Northern Utah's Small Ski Hills From Utah Valley
- Eagle Point and Brian Head From Provo
- Sledding and Tubing Across the Wasatch Front
- Ice Skating in Utah Valley and Along the Wasatch Front
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UTA ski buses serve the Cottonwood canyons?
How do I get to the ski bus from Utah Valley without a car?
How much does the UTA ski bus cost?
Is there a bus to Snowbasin or Powder Mountain?
Which resorts reward carpools?
When does the 2026-27 ski bus season start?
Do the UTA Canyon Service buses take cash?
Is there a bus from Utah Valley to Sundance?
