Brighton Transfers

Getting from SLC airport to Brighton means driving the whole of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Brighton is the last resort on SR-190, past Solitude, so you get every mile of the canyon road and its winter rules. The other thing to know before you book anything is that Brighton's parking is strict for 2026-27, and the lot closes overnight.

Which ride fits your trip

The drive up Big Cottonwood

From the airport, take I-215 south to the 6200 South exit, then head to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and follow SR-190 all the way to the top. Solitude comes first. Brighton is at the end of the canyon, on Brighton Loop Road.

Big Cottonwood runs under the same UDOT traction law as Little Cottonwood. When it's active, AWD and 4WD vehicles need at least M+S tires on all wheels, and 2WD vehicles need 3PMSF snow tires or chains on two drive wheels. When the beacons at the canyon mouth flash, tires need at least 5/32 inch of tread, and Cottonwood Heights police check cars at the bottom. Since 2025 UDOT can switch these rules on up to 24 hours before a storm.

The Cottonwood Canyon road conditions guide shows where to check live status. If you're deciding on a rental, read do you need 4WD for a Utah ski trip first. Interlodge is a Little Cottonwood thing, not a Brighton one, but the interlodge guide is worth a look if your trip includes Alta or Snowbird.

Brighton's 2026-27 parking rules

Brighton has already posted its 2026/27 rates. If you plan to drive up on a weekend, these are the rules.

• Reservations required before noon every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday period.
• 1 to 3 people: $25 on those days. 4 or more: $10.
• Monday to Thursday and after 12 p.m.: free.
• Preferred parking: $30, not available after 11 a.m.
• No overnight parking. Cars must be out by midnight, and the lot is closed from midnight to 7 a.m. for grooming and operations.

Roadside parking along SR-190 near the top of the canyon is a separate system. The Town of Brighton requires reservations on select days for the stretch between the Willow Heights trailhead and Guardsman Pass Road, through parkbcc.com. Cars must have all four tires right of the white line or they can be towed.

The UTA ski bus

UTA's Route 972 runs between the valley and Solitude and Brighton all day, about every 30 minutes at peak times. Brighton says season passholders ride free, and UTA includes Ikon Passes too. Others paid $5 one way last season. UTA hadn't published 2026-27 dates on Oct. 16, 2026. From the airport you'd ride TRAX first and connect to the bus, which works for light packers but gets awkward with ski bags and a suitcase.

Opening day and timing your trip

Brighton hadn't announced a 2026-27 opening date when we checked. Last season it opened Dec. 2, 2025 after a delayed start across Utah, then ran late and closed May 10, 2026. If you're booking flights for early December, keep them flexible until Brighton names a date.

The snowboard reputation

Brighton is known as a snowboarder's mountain, and that reputation has a paper trail. KSL reported it was among the first Utah resorts to allow snowboarding, in the late 1980s, and USA Today readers named it the best US spot for snowboarding in 2025. For a mixed group, that makes Brighton an easy pick, especially compared with Alta, which doesn't allow snowboards.

Arriving and nearby resorts

The SLC airport ground transportation guide shows where shuttles and private drivers meet you at the terminal. Brighton is on the Ikon Pass (7 days), and Solitude, just down the canyon, has unlimited Ikon days, so many people split a trip between them. Park City is a long drive in winter because Guardsman Pass is closed. The Park City to Cottonwood Canyons guide explains the route around.