Big Cottonwood Parking in 2026-27: Brighton and Solitude Reservations, Answered

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Big Cottonwood Canyon has two resorts and two different parking clocks for 2026-27. Brighton starts requiring reservations earlier, keeps its morning window open later, and discounts a full car instead of making it free. Solitude starts later, ends its morning window earlier, and makes a full car free. This Q and A puts both sets of rules in one place so you can plan a weekend morning without guessing.

If you are still choosing between the resorts themselves, start with our comparison of Brighton vs. Solitude for 2026-27 and which Big Cottonwood resort fits your ski style. Parking is only one part of that choice, but on a busy Saturday it is often the part that decides your day.

Do I need a reservation at Brighton?

Yes, on the busiest mornings. Brighton requires parking reservations from December 4, 2026 through April 18, 2027, for all vehicles arriving before 12 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday periods. The rule covers the main and secondary lots, including the snow ramps, and the reservation window runs from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. December 25 is excluded.

Outside that window, the answer changes fast. Parking is free and no reservation is required Monday through Thursday outside holiday periods, and parking is free for everyone after 12 p.m. Arrive for afternoon laps or night skiing and you skip the reservation system. The lots are closed from 12 a.m. to 7 a.m. for snow clearing.

Qualifying Brighton season passholders park free, but free does not mean walk up. Passholders still need a reservation on gated mornings and use a parking code to bring the cost to zero. Passholders can hold a limited number of free reservations at a time, and a code becomes reusable after the booked day has passed.

Do I need a reservation at Solitude?

Yes, but Solitude starts later and finishes earlier in the morning. Reserve N Ski parking at Solitude runs from December 18, 2026 through March 28, 2027. Reservations are required in the Moonbeam lot on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. At the Nordic Center, reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the same 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. window.

The big change for 2026-27 is simple and useful. After 11 a.m., parking at Solitude is free every day and no reservation is required. That is one hour earlier than Brighton opens up, and it makes Solitude the easier choice for a late morning start. Monday through Thursday outside holidays, parking is also free with no reservation required.

If you want a full Solitude ski day once you are parked, pair this with our guide to Solitude in 2026-27 and how locals get more skiing from first chair to last. A later arrival can still be a good day there if you ski through the afternoon.

What does each lot cost, and how do carpools change it?

At Brighton, a car with 1 to 3 people costs $25 on a reservation morning. A verified carpool with 4 or more people costs $10. The discount helps, but it is not free, and Brighton checks the carpool on arrival. Oversized vehicles are handled differently, so check the resort parking page before bringing a van, a camper, or a large truck on a gated day.

At Solitude Moonbeam, a car with 1 to 3 people costs $35 before 11 a.m. on a reservation day. A car with 4 or more people parks free, but the free carpool still needs a reservation. That last point is the one people miss. Free at Solitude means no payment, not no booking. Show up with four people and no reservation on a Saturday morning and you can still be turned away.

Put side by side, the math rewards different habits. A solo driver pays less at Brighton. A full car pays nothing at Solitude and $10 at Brighton. A late start pays nothing at either resort, at 11 a.m. at Solitude and at 12 p.m. at Brighton.

When do spots open, and what if the day I want is sold out?

Brighton releases parking in waves. A limited season wide batch opened in August. For a normal weekend, a limited number of spots for the upcoming weekend open on Monday at 6 p.m. More inventory is released the day before arrival at 8 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. If Monday does not work, set a reminder for the day before instead of giving up.

Solitude opened its first batch for the season on October 15. More spots for the following weekend are released on Sundays at 6 p.m., and a small number can appear on the day at 6 a.m. from cancellations and snow removal. That release is worth checking if plans change late, but do not rely on it for a powder Saturday.

If both resorts are sold out for the morning you want, you have three honest options. Arrive after the free window opens and ski a shorter day. Switch to the other canyon resort if its rules fit your timing better. Or leave the car in the valley and ride the bus. Our guide to skiing the Wasatch without a car, with UTA Ski Bus and canyon timing for 2026-27, covers that backup plan in detail.

What is the simplest plan for a weekend powder morning?

Pick the resort first, then work backward from its cutoff hour. For Solitude, book the Moonbeam reservation, fill the car to four people if you can, and aim to arrive well before 11 a.m. with your reservation ready. For Brighton, book earlier in the release cycle, remember that a full car still costs $10, and do not plan on a free arrival until noon.

Check the canyon traction rules the night before, not at the mouth of the canyon. A parking reservation does not excuse a car that does not meet winter traction requirements, and a storm morning is the worst time to learn that. If your vehicle is not set up for the canyon, the bus is the calmer choice. Ski bus rides are free for qualifying resort season passholders and Ikon passholders, which removes both the parking fee and the reservation hunt.

Finally, cancel a reservation you will not use. A no show takes a spot another skier could have used, so release it as soon as you know.

FAQ

When do Brighton parking reservations start in 2026-27?

Brighton parking reservations start December 4, 2026 and run through April 18, 2027. They are required before 12 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday periods, and parking is free after 12 p.m.

When do Solitude parking reservations start in 2026-27?

Solitude parking reservations start December 18, 2026 and run through March 28, 2027. They are required in the Moonbeam lot before 11 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and parking is free after 11 a.m.

Is a carpool free at Brighton and Solitude?

A carpool with 4 or more people is free at Solitude but still needs a reservation. At Brighton, a verified carpool with 4 or more people costs $10 on a reservation morning.

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