Solitude From Provo: The Quiet One and the Ikon Question

Things to Do September 30, 2026 6 min read ✓ Updated September 30, 2026

Abigail Giordano Senior Writer, Provo.com How we make Provo.com

Solitude is the middle mountain of Big Cottonwood Canyon, 13 miles up from the valley and just below Brighton. Its name promises quiet, and midweek, when parking is free and needs no reservation, is the time to test it: a small village at the base, runs through the trees and Honeycomb Canyon on the far side of the mountain. For Utah County skiers it carries one distinction that shapes the whole decision of which pass to buy: it is the only mountain in Utah with unlimited days on both the Ikon Pass and the cheaper Ikon Base Pass.

The drive

OpenStreetMap routing puts Solitude Village about 55 miles and 76 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic: about 50 minutes to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, then 13 miles up the canyon road, State Route 190. On storm days the canyon's traction rules can require four-wheel or all-wheel drive with proper winter tires, or chains. Check the road report before you leave Utah County.

The Ikon question

Solitude is owned by Alterra Mountain Company, which runs the Ikon Pass, and it calls itself Utah's only unlimited Ikon Pass destination. That matters because it is also unlimited on the Ikon Base Pass, which costs several hundred dollars less than the full pass.

For 2026-27, the adult full Ikon Pass started at $1,449 and the Ikon Base Pass at $1,019 when this was written, after opening at $949 in March. The Base Pass gives unlimited days at Solitude, five days each at Brighton and Snowbird with blackout dates, and no days at Alta, Deer Valley or Snowbasin. The full pass adds seven days at Brighton, Deer Valley and Snowbasin and seven shared days at Alta and Snowbird.

So the question for a Utah County skier is simple: if most of your days will be at Solitude, with a handful at Brighton and Snowbird, the Base Pass covers it at the lower price. If you want Alta, Deer Valley or Snowbasin, or more Brighton and Snowbird days without blackout dates, the full pass is the one. For the complete comparison, including family pricing, see Ski Passes for Utah Valley Families.

There is also an Ikon Session Pass, for two, three or four days at participating mountains, from $319.

Parking

Solitude charges for parking and requires reservations on busy days. Its 2025-26 system worked like this, and it had not posted 2026-27 rules when this was written:

Reservations: required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until 11 a.m., from early December to mid-April.
Cost on those days: $35 for a car with one to three people; free for four or more, though carpools still needed a weekend reservation through the Solitude Carpool app.
Free parking: Monday through Thursday outside holidays, in the early and late season, and every day after 1 p.m.
Tip: Solitude releases additional parking inventory at 6 p.m.

The bus

UTA's Big Cottonwood ski bus, Route 972, serves Solitude and Brighton, and it is free for Solitude and Ikon Pass holders. It is the simplest way to avoid a weekend parking reservation.

Beyond the lifts

Solitude has no night skiing; for that, Brighton, just up the road, is the only resort in the Salt Lake area that offers it. Between the two resorts, the Solitude Nordic Center grooms trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; for more, see Cross-Country Skiing Near Provo.

Solitude has a habit of opening early. For 2025-26 it targeted November 14, and it had opened in the first half of November in the years before. Check its site for the 2026-27 date.

Practical notes

Do the Ikon math first. Solitude's unlimited days are the reason the Base Pass can be the right pass.
Carpool on weekends. Four or more park free, with a reservation.
Take the bus with a pass. It is free for Solitude and Ikon holders.
Check the 2026-27 parking rules. Last season's are above.

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Solitude from Provo?

OpenStreetMap routing puts Solitude Village about 55 miles and 76 minutes from downtown Provo without traffic: about 50 minutes to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, then 13 miles up the canyon.

Is Solitude unlimited on the Ikon Pass?

Yes. Solitude calls itself Utah's only unlimited Ikon Pass destination: both the full Ikon Pass and the cheaper Ikon Base Pass include unlimited days there.

How much is the Ikon Pass for 2026-27?

For adults, the full Ikon Pass started at $1,449 and the Ikon Base Pass at $1,019 when this was written; the Base Pass had opened at $949 in March. There is also an Ikon Session Pass for two to four days, from $319.

Do I need a parking reservation at Solitude?

In 2025-26, reservations were required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until 11 a.m., when parking cost $35 for a car with one to three people and was free for four or more. Midweek, early and late season, and every afternoon after 1 p.m., parking was free. Solitude had not posted its 2026-27 rules when this was written, so check before you go.

Does Solitude have night skiing?

No. For night skiing, Brighton, just up the road, is the only resort in the Salt Lake area that offers it.

Can I take a bus to Solitude?

Yes. UTA's Big Cottonwood ski bus, Route 972, serves Solitude and Brighton, and it is free for Solitude and Ikon Pass holders.

Can I cross-country ski near Solitude?

Yes. The Solitude Nordic Center, between Solitude and Brighton, grooms trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Do carpools park free at Solitude?

In 2025-26 cars with four or more people parked free on reservation days, though they still needed a reservation through the Solitude Carpool app. Check the 2026-27 rules before you go.

Abigail Giordano

Senior Writer

Abigail Giordano is a senior writer at Provo.com covering student life, family resources, and community events across Utah Valley. Her writing focuses on making Provo more accessible and navigable for newcomers, students, and families — the practical guides that help people feel at home faster.

Solitude From Utah Valley: The Quiet Mountain in Big Cottonwood and the Ikon Question