Skiing Several Utah Resorts in One Trip

The easiest way to ski several Utah resorts in one trip is to base yourself in Park City, ski Park City Mountain and Deer Valley on the free town buses, and add Cottonwood Canyon days by road. The catch is that in winter there's no direct road over the mountains, so every trip between Park City and the Cottonwoods goes around via I-80 and the Salt Lake Valley.

This guide covers where to stay, how to move between resorts without a rental car, and which pass covers the most mountains. For the distances behind it, see Utah ski resorts by distance from SLC airport.

Where to base for a multi-resort week

Each base puts some resorts on your doorstep and others a long drive away.

Park City suits most groups because two big resorts are on free buses and you don't need a car between them. If the trip is mainly about Snowbird and Alta, staying in Little Cottonwood saves the canyon commute, but it also means you're stuck when SR-210 closes for avalanche control. Read what Interlodge means before you book up there.

Moving between resorts without a rental car

Park City Transit

Park City's buses have been fare-free since 1975. In 2025-26 the Red, Green and Blue routes served Park City Mountain and Deer Valley every 15 to 30 minutes, and the winter schedule usually runs early December to mid-April. Route names for 2026-27 weren't confirmed when we checked. Our guide on whether you need a car in Park City has more.

UTA ski buses

UTA runs ski buses to Solitude and Brighton, Snowbird and Alta, Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Sundance. A one-way ride is $5, and it's included with resort season passes, Ikon passes and Super Passes bought through Visit Salt Lake. In 2025-26 the Cottonwood routes were 972 (Midvale Fort Union Station to Solitude and Brighton) and 994 (Snowbird and Alta). UTA says service typically starts in late November or early December, and the 2026-27 schedule wasn't out when we checked.

Two things to know. The buses leave from stops in the Salt Lake Valley, not from Park City. And they run about every 30 minutes, which UDOT doesn't expect to change before its own canyon bus plan starts, targeted for fall 2028.

High Valley Transit 107

High Valley Transit's free Route 107 runs between Kimball Junction and Salt Lake Central Station. It connects the Park City side with Salt Lake, but reaching a Cottonwood ski bus from there means more transfers with your gear. Our public transit guide explains the route.

Private rides between resorts

If you're staying in Park City, our partner Elite Transportation runs private one-way rides from town to Snowbird and Alta, Solitude and Brighton, Snowbasin, Sundance and Powder Mountain. Bookings need at least 24 hours' notice, and skis or snowboards can mean a second vehicle is needed, so mention your gear when you book. See Park City to the Cottonwood Canyons for that trip.

Rideshare is another option, but read up on canyon rules and return trips first. Our Uber and Lyft guide covers the trade-offs.

Guardsman Pass is closed all winter

On a map, Guardsman Pass looks like the obvious shortcut between Park City and Big Cottonwood Canyon. In summer and fall it is. In winter it's always closed, typically from about Nov. 1 to May 25, and the closure can last longer depending on conditions.

So a Park City to Solitude day means I-80 down Parleys Canyon, around the Salt Lake Valley on I-215, and up SR-190. Plan that as a full day out, not a quick hop, and check the Cottonwood Canyon road conditions the night before. The Cottonwoods have stricter traction rules than I-80, and UDOT can require compliance up to 24 hours before a storm.

Passes for a multi-resort week

For a week split between Park City and the Cottonwoods, an Ikon Pass covers Deer Valley and the Cottonwood resorts but not Park City Mountain. An Epic Pass covers Park City Mountain and nothing else in the state, so Cottonwood days mean buying lift tickets. Powder Mountain and Sundance aren't on Epic, Ikon or the Mountain Collective. The full comparison is in Ikon vs Epic for Utah resorts.

Planning tips

Keep your Cottonwood days flexible. A storm that's great for skiing can also close SR-210 or slow SR-190, so it helps to have a Park City day you can swap in.

If you do drive, check parking rules for each resort this season. Alta requires parking reservations on Friday to Sunday and holidays from Dec. 11, Brighton and Solitude require them on weekend and holiday mornings, and Park City Mountain's Canyons Village garage costs $29 a day with a reservation. Carpools of four or more park free at Solitude and in the Canyons Village garage.

Finally, don't put a canyon day on the day you fly home. If you want one last run before the airport, choose a resort on the I-80 side, and leave plenty of time. Our guide on how early to leave Park City for SLC airport has the details.