Cooler weather and shorter days mean only one thing: ski season is nearly upon us! If you’re as jazzed as we are for the 25/26 season, you’re likely marking your calendar and planning your perfect day back on the slopes. (If you’re making one of those paper chains in addition to marking your calendar, we understand.) To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of opening days for top resorts in our area. We’ve also included details on parking at these popular Utah resorts. So what are you waiting for? Read on, and let the stoke begin!
The Run Down
Here’s an overview of the opening dates for Utah resorts near us!
- Alta Ski Area – Fri, December 5th
- Brighton Resort- TBA
- Cherry Peak Resort- TBA
- Deer Valley Resort – Previously December 1st, but conditions have necessitated postponement. New opening date TBA.
- Nordic Valley- Fri, December 12th
- Park City Mountain – Previously November 21st, but conditions have necessitated postponement. New opening date TBA.
- Powder Mountain – Fri, December 12th (Opening night. Daytime operations begin on Dec 13th.)
- Snowbasin Resort – Fri, November 28th
- Snowbird – Thu, November 27th
- Solitude Mountain Resort – Thu, November 27th
- Sundance Mountain Resort – Fri, December 5th
- Woodward Park City – Fri, November 28th
Please note: these opening dates are conditions permitting and may be subject to change.
Resort Parking
You’re headed up the canyon, looking forward to a great day on the mountain- but where do you park? Find info on parking at major resorts below!
Alta
Reservations will not be required until December 12th, 2025. From opening day till then, you are good to go! From December 12th on, parking reservations are required between 8 am and 1 pm on weekends (Friday - Sunday) and holidays. Ambitious and looking to park earlier than 8 am? You’ll need a special Early Morning Parking Reservation.
Reservations are not needed (i.e. it’s first-come, first-serve parking):
- Monday through Thursday from 8 am on (excluding holidays)
- Holidays and weekends from 1 pm on
Alta also offers free parking for passholders and discounted parking with the purchase of a lift ticket. For more information visit altaparking.com/parkingbasics (parking basics) and altaearlyparking.com (early parking).
Brighton
Parking reservations are required between 7 am and 12 pm on weekends (Friday - Sunday) and holidays. There is no parking available before 7 am. If you bring some friends to ski/board with you, parking is cheaper! Vehicles with 4+ passengers get a discount (this does not apply to oversized vehicles).
Parking without a reservation is an option:
- Monday through Thursday from 7 am on (excluding holidays)
- Holidays and weekends after 12 pm
You can also make a Preferred Parking Reservation if you want a guaranteed spot and are looking to come Monday - Thursday between 7 and 11am.
Lastly, Brighton passholders park for free and ski school students receive a discount on parking. For more information, see brightonresort.com/getting-here.
Cherry Peak
No reservations, no fees. Cherry Peak has an ample amount of free parking, all within walking distance of the main lodge. For directions, visit skicpr.com/directions.
Deer Valley
No reservations required. There are also no parking fees at the Snow Park Lodge and Deer Valley East Village lots. However, this winter Deer Valley is introducing a premium paid parking program for the first time. The premium lot will be located at the Jordanelle Gondola base area and is complimentary for all Deer Valley Season Pass holders and carpools (vehicles with 3+ passengers). Check out deervalley.com/explore-the-mountain/guest-services for more details.
Nordic Valley
No parking fees, no reservations. Just you and the mountain (and hopefully your car- that would be a long walk). For a map of the resort that includes parking, visit nordicvalley.ski/nordic-valley-trail-map.
Park City
There are two base areas at Park City Resort: Mountain Village and Canyons Village.
Mountain Village generally requires reservations, while Canyons Village does not.
Mountain Village:
- A parking reservation is required 7 days a week for all arrivals before 12 pm
- Most lots (Main, First Time, and the parking garage) are paid, but carpools of 4+ passengers park free (reservations still required)
- After 12 pm, all lots become free and reservations aren’t needed
- Note: from Nov 21st- Dec 4th (early season) all parking is free, but you still need a reservation.
Canyons Village:
- Parking is primarily free, with no reservations required.
- Free spots include the Cabriolet Lot, Surface Lots 1-3, and the first two levels of the new parking garage (opening mid-Dec).
- Parking in surface Lot 4 is paid from 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (though vehicles with 4+ passengers park there for free).
For more information, visit parkcitymountain.com/explore-the-resort/about-the-resort/getting-here.
Powder Mountain
Paid parking will be in effect on weekends (Saturday – Sunday) and holidays until 1pm. After 1pm, parking is free. Vehicles with 3+ passengers can also park anytime at no cost. There are no online reservations, and payment can only be made on the mountain once you’ve parked. For more information, visit powdermountain.com/parking.
Snowbasin
No reservations required! There are also no parking fees. However, on weekends and holidays up until 11am, the Earl parking lots A through E are only for vehicles with 3+ passengers (after 11am, they are open to anyone). On weekdays, section A is reserved for 3+ passenger vehicles as well. Lastly, this season Snowbasin will be using a new traffic pattern on weekends and holidays to improve vehicle flow. For details, visit snowbasin.com/about/getting-here.
Snowbird
Snowbird offers a variety of free parking with no reservations required. There is also day-of paid parking, valet paid parking, and reserved paid parking, if that’s your preference. In addition, there are special carpool spots reserved for vehicles with 3+ passengers (with even more premium spots added for the 25/26 season). Snowbird’s website has a detailed map that outlines their different parking options. Go to snowbird.com/the-mountain/parking/parking-overview for more info.
Solitude
From Dec 5th through Apr 11th, parking reservations are required on weekends (Friday - Sunday) and holidays until 11am. From 11 am to 1pm on these days, parking is first-come, first-serve with a fee (unless your vehicle has 4+ passengers- then it’s free.) After 1pm, parking is free for all vehicles. On weekdays there are no reservations required and no fees (holidays being the exception). Visit solitudemountain.com/discover-solitude/getting-here-parking for details.
Woodward Park City
Parking is free, with no reservations required. A designated parking lot is located at the base of the resort, with off-site parking and a corresponding shuttle service offered during peak season weekends and holidays. Parking on Kilby Road is strictly prohibited. For additional information, visit woodwardparkcity.com/plan-a-visit/visitor-info.
Updated 11/19/2025
