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Solitude Mountain Resort, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, proposed a plan to wipe out around 11.4 acres of forested land to create a new parking lot large enough to fit 593 cars. This proposal came with significant backlash, with many citing traffic issues, environmental concerns, and logistical problems as to why the proposal should not get approved. In an effort to stop people from parking on the roadside, Solitude came up with a proposed mega-lot across the highway from the current Solitude village. According to Solitude, the parking lot would be beneficial to the community as it would get rid of around 240 informal parking spots adjacent to highway SR-190, which currently pose a dangerous threat where there is increased foot traffic where drivers aren’t expecting it, and the creation of traffic as a result of the narrowing road. On the other hand, many locals are strongly against the proposal and have been voicing their opinions over social media and at town meetings.
Since 2022, Solitude President and Chief Operating Officer Amber Broadaway has hosted an annual town hall meeting to discuss the past ski season where she discusses what the resort sees that it did right and what went wrong, as well as upcoming proposals such as the new parking lot. This is meeting that allows the public to weigh in on the resort’s procedures and upcoming plans is something that is rather unique to Solitude. It is unclear yet if Solitude will charge for parking, require a permit, or keep the proposed lot free. Currently, parking on the side of SR-190 is $10 and is managed by the Town of Brighton.
The main highway that is used to get to Solitude Mountain is SR-190 which is a 19.93-mile snaky road through Big Cottonwood Canyon, with not only Solitude accessible, but also Brighton Mountain Resort as well as dozens of local trailheads for public recreation. The proposal could significantly increase already high levels of winter ski traffic and pose a dangerous threat during heavy snow storms with people turning in and out of the new lot onto a busy stretch of highway.
As evident from a meeting held by UDOT in November of 2024, Big Cottonwood Canyon is only able to hold 1,000-1,200 cars per hour with prime conditions, with that number significantly plummeting during dismal conditions such as snow squalls or icy roads. Adding an additional 593 cars per day could have detrimental consequences to an already tightly packed road, increasing traffic duration and lowering the morale of those stuck in traffic after a long ski day. It is important to note that this is still an ongoing proposal, and the Town of Brighton must approve it before any action is to be taken.
Many question whether, given the considerable doubt about the project’s logistics, it should continue to be considered or not. From an environmental standpoint, the land that would be demolished is currently home to thousands of aspen trees, which at first may not seem important. However, the aspens are significant line of defense to help prevent and contain the spread of wildfires during the summer due to their high moisture levels and fire-resistant bark. With deforestation becoming more and more popular across the Western United States, communities are losing out on their once vast wildlife habitats and are having to face increased risks of wildfires. Because Solitude and the highway are near significant watersheds, erosion as a result of construction and daily car traffic may also pose a threat to water quality, which is used as drinking water in Salt Lake City.
The area surrounding Solitude is already ranked as “very high” for risk of wildfire by the state of Utah, and with fewer aspen trees and more pollution from a large number of vehicles, locals argue that the proposed parking lot will only make things worse. Founded in 1972 by Gale Dick, Alexis Kelner, and Floyd Sweat, Save Our Canyons, a nonprofit group based in Utah has been working to preserve natural beauty, open land, and clean water. It is involved in policy-making, advocacy for or against certain projects, education, and protection and conservation of land and watersheds. According to the group, the project threatens “not only the canyon’s scenic character and ecological resilience, but also raises major safety concerns for canyon travelers.”
The project has been criticized by Save Our Canyons as Solitude trying to increase its skier influx per day, a notion that Solitude hasn’t yet commented on. A proposal by Save Our Canyons offers more public transportation instead of the large parking lot. Save Our Canyons is more critical of Solitude than others may be, saying “Solitude is proposing to bulldoze a healthy, resilient stand of quaking aspen, degrade a critical watershed, fragment wildlife habitat, and pave a new road across land they do not own.”
With all the differing viewpoints on this proposal, anything could happen. From the local community and nonprofits such as Save Our Canyons, to Solitude itself, everyone wants to have a say in how this plays out. Updates on this situation will be issued during Brighton town meetings, with the next one slated for July 8. Solitude is one of Salt Lake City’s premier ski areas, so no matter the final decision regarding the parking lot, the outcome will be impactful across the community on various levels.
