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Canyon closures and interlodge
Avalanche closures on the Cottonwood canyon roads are routine. Plan for them.
Road closures
UDOT closes SR-210 (Little Cottonwood) and SR-190 (Big Cottonwood) for avalanche control, usually early in the morning after heavy snow. Closures can last from an hour to most of a day. When the road is closed, nothing goes up or down, buses and shuttles included.
Interlodge
In Alta and Snowbird, when avalanche danger is extreme, the Town of Alta can order everyone indoors. That’s interlodge. Leaving a building, even to sit in your car, is a Class B misdemeanor. It usually lasts hours, mostly overnight; the record is 52 hours, in February 2020.
Planning around closures
- Don’t book a flight home for the morning after a big storm if you’re staying in Little Cottonwood.
- On storm days the line of cars up the canyon (the “red snake”) can add hours. Start early or take the bus.
- Guardsman Pass between Big Cottonwood and Park City is closed all winter; the only road between them is I-80.
Where to check
Future changes
UDOT plans enhanced buses and tolling in both canyons, targeted for 2028. Nothing changes for 2026–27.
Common questions
What is interlodge at Alta?
An order from the Town of Alta requiring everyone to stay indoors during extreme avalanche danger. It usually lasts hours; leaving a building is a Class B misdemeanor.
How do I check if Little Cottonwood Canyon is open?
Check UDOT’s Cottonwood Canyons page, the UDOT Traffic app, or UDOT’s Cottonwood Canyons social channels.
Checked 28 Oct 2026 against UDOT, UTA, resort and operator sources.