This winter, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and local police are cracking down with new traction checks aimed at cutting down canyon chaos. Powder days are calling, but if you want to hit Utah’s Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons—home to Brighton, Solitude, Alta and Snowbird—you better make sure your vehicle is ready to rip (and grip).
Here’s the deal: this winter UDOT has rolled out a $400,000 plan to keep the cars moving and the roads clear in the Cottonwood Canyons. That means traction checks at the mouth of each canyon, more tickets for illegal parking and fewer cars spinning out during snowy mornings.
How It Works
The system is simple; when you cruise into the mouth of either canyon when Traction Laws are in effect, local police will have a checkpoint setup—at Gate A in Little Cottonwood or near the mouth of Big Cottonwood—to inspect vehicles and their tires. If you’ve been pre-approved and have the official sticker on your windshield to prove it, you’ll be waved through and on your way to powder paradise. No sticker? Get ready to pull over for inspection. Fail the check? You’ll be turned around.
Why Now?
The last couple seasons, which have seen an uptick in skier visits coupled with massive amounts of snow, have resulted in plenty of face shots, but also an overabundance of traffic. The new checks are designed to prevent spinouts and accidents that bottleneck the canyons, sometimes for hours at a time, on storm days.
“Since its implementation in 2019, participation in the Sticker Program has expanded from 812 cars to nearly 16,500 vehicles, and growing. We are thrilled to see Utah locals and partnered rental car companies committing to the program,” said Lexi Dowdall Communications Manager at Alta Ski Area.
The Nitty Gritty
Between now and February 28, 2025, roll through one of UDOT’s approved tire check spots (tire shops, auto mechanics, etc.) around the Salt Lake Valley for a free inspection and sticker. Four-wheel drives need mud and snow (M+S) or 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake tires and two-wheel drive vehicles need all four tires rated for snow, or tire chains. All tires must have a minimum of 5/32nds of an inch of tread. Sorry folks, no bologna skins allowed!
Renting a car? Most rental agencies at SLC Airport are joining the program, but double-check before driving off the lot. You don’t want to find out at the base of the canyon.
The Bottom Line
“More awareness around the hazardous driving conditions that can exist within Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons will always be a positive thing. This season, UDOT’s Traction Law enforcement has helped us keep more unprepared drivers from traveling up Little Cottonwood Canyon and this makes everyone safer and decreases travel times,” said Dowdall.
So skip the stress, get the sticker and we’ll see you on the mountain!
