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Parking will look a little different this season at Snowbird. The famous Utah resort recently announced its 2026-27 parking program, offering a new hybrid system with multiple ways to park at the mountain. As it has in previous years, Snowbird will offer multiple lots with free parking, as well as reserved parking, carpool-only spots, and preferred parking pass spots. New for the 2026-27 season, Snowbird Season Passholders will receive 1 free rolling parking reservation for the Upper Gad Valley Lot.
Snowbird hopes the new passholder reservation system will help its most dedicated skiers and snowboarders secure spots on busy days. “We’re testing parking reservations to see what works for our parking lots and passholders,” the resort wrote in an Instagram post.
The new free rolling parking reservation for passholders is the biggest change to Snowbird’s parking system. With the new reservation option, season passholders have one active parking reservation at a time. After using that reservation, the passholder can make a reservation for another day. Additional reservations will become available on a rolling basis as space allows. The rolling system allows passholders to make multiple reservations throughout the season, whereas single reservations are only available once.
The new parking system will apply to the resort’s Upper Gad lot, making it a key spot for season passholders who want to guarantee parking before getting to the mountain.
Similar to previous years, the majority of parking at Snowbird will be free this season. Excluding select reservations, lodging-specific lots, and valet lots, parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free parking will be available at:
- Entry 1 (west of Creekside)
- Wilbere Hill
- Main Lot
- Chickadee Hill & Superior Lot (when conditions permit)
- The Bypass Road (excluding the Preferred Parking area)
- ADA-accessible parking is available at the Snowbird Center, Creekside, The Cliff Lodge, The Lodge at Snowbird, The Inn, and Iron Blosam.
Snowbird is also continuing its encouragement of carpooling. Carpool-only parking spots will be available in the Main Lot, Upper Gad Valley Lot (South Side as Posted), Entry 1 Lot, Lower Chickadee Hill, and select spaces in the Superior Lot. These spots will be marked by signs and cannot be reserved in advance. To further incentivize carpooling, Snowbird will be doing surprise giveaways on select peak traffic days throughout the season as part of the Canyon Carpool Club program.
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Snowbird also offers daily paid parking reservations for visitors. Guests who prefer the guarantee of paid reservations can reserve a spot in the Lower Gad Valley (paid), Upper Gad Valley Lot (free for Passholders), Pond Lot (paid), or Chickadee Lot (paid), or at the Snowbird Center Valet (paid). Spots are available for purchase online in advance. Missed reservations are non-refundable.
Guests with electric vehicles can charge up at one of 15 complimentary electric vehicle charging stations throughout the resort. Chargers can be found at the north side of the Pond Lot, Outside The Inn, or In The Cliff Lodge Parking Structure. Valet parking will also be available at the Snowbird Center and The Cliff Lodge.
Despite coming off one of its worst seasons in history in terms of snowfall, Snowbird is prepared for a busy season with its new parking system. And so far, things look to be right on cue. The preferred parking pass — which gives guests access to the Lower Gad Valley, Pond and Bypass Road Preferred Parking Lots for the season — has already sold out. The new rolling reservation system also looks to benefit the resort’s season passholders by giving them reservation options to secure spots on crowded days.
With Snowbird’s opening day scheduled for November 26, 2026, the resort is putting on its final offseason preparations ahead of opening its slopes. And with the parking system officially in place, skiers and snowboarders can begin to make accommodations for when they plan to head to the mountain for their first turns of the year.
