Industry News
As Utah’s winter season has been anything but normal, Solitude Mountain is scaling back its parking reservations. On Fridays, you no longer need a reservation, and parking on those days is now free until the end of the season. Importantly, while paid parking and reservations are no longer required on Friday, they are still required for Saturday and Sunday. If you plan to hit Solitude over the weekends, you should still plan ahead to reserve a spot.
- Related: Solitude Mountain Resort, UT, Announces Anticipated November 14 Opening Date for 2025-26 Season
Solitude is located 13 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. During storm cycles, the drive can get slow due to heavy traffic. Dubbed the famous “red snake” for the taillights on the backs of cars heading up or down the canyon, drivers are frequently held up by car accidents or road closures during storm days. Weekend parking reservations began in December 2023. The hope was to combat traffic congestion, encourage carpooling, and avoid cars being turned away when lots are full. If you want to avoid the “red snake,” go up Big Cottonwood Canyon during the week or at non-peak times.
Solitude Mountain in Big Cottonwood Canyon has reported 131 inches of snowfall as of February 5. The resort averages 500 inches of snowfall per season. The current snowpack is roughly 60% of normal for this far into the season. Although there is still time for significant storms to deliver and pump up the snow total, it’s unlikely the resort will reach its average this season. The parking change reflects a region-wide skier visitation decline due to prolonged heat waves, and over 3 weeks of little to no snow for much of the western U.S.
- Related: Utah Snowpack Hits Record Lows as Nearly Half of Measurement Sites Fall Into Uncharted Territory
Over the next couple of weeks, forecasts are calling for the stubborn high-pressure ridge to break, creating the potential for significant snowfall for the first time since early January. If forecasts hold, Solitude is projected to receive 21 inches in the next 10 days, which would significantly boost the snowpack. Besides skiing, snowpack accounts for 95% of Utah’s water supply, which is needed for filling reservoirs and other water storage areas. Let’s hope the forecast is right and more snow is on the horizon.
