Avalanche
Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon was closed Saturday while Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) teams performed avalanche mitigation work, resulting in the massive avalanche in the video above.
Up to 22 inches of fresh had fallen during the previous 24 hours, reaching five inches an hour at its heaviest, reports TownLift.
The road remained closed for three hours as crews cleared the avalanche from the highway. It closed again Sunday morning for further mitigation work.
Nearby Big Cottonwood Canyon received 16 inches of snow through Saturday night.
UDOT urges travelers to check its Instagram (@udotcottonwoods) for current updates.
Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 25 miles from Salt Lake City, is home to Alta and Snowbird ski resorts, known for world-class powder and challenging terrain. Its backcountry areas, like Grizzly Gulch, offer access to pristine bowls and ridgelines, making it a top spot for resort and wilderness skiing in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains.
The proposed and controversial Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola offers a potential solution to bypass avalanche-prone roads. Operating above slide paths, it would remain functional after avalanche control and during road closures, allowing skiers and riders to access Alta and Snowbird still. Built to withstand powder clouds, it would ensure safer, uninterrupted access, except during active mitigation or extreme weather. Advocates highlight its potential to reduce traffic and emissions while improving canyon access.
