Salt Lake City To Ski Resorts – Public Transportation
If you plan to utilize the bus system to travel from Salt Lake City to ski resorts, you are in the right place.
We have done all the research for you, and complied all the info in one convenient article.
Using public transportation to get from Salt Lake City to ski resorts is a great option for budget travelers. It can save a ton of money and create opportunities to meet locals and gain valuable knowledge along the way.
Using public transportation as a primary means for traveling is not for everyone, however it is widely used as a supplemental transportation option to alleviate driving in winter weather conditions.
UTA Trax Trains
The UTA Trax/Train system runs across the Salt Lake City area.
Below are 4 main trains you can use to travel to ski buses, that will ultimately transport you from Salt Lake City to ski resorts.
Trax Green Line (Airport Line) Travels from the Salt Lake City Airport to connect to all other Trax Lines to get you where you need to be.
Trax Blue Line (Central Salt Lake – Draper) connects to buses that travel routes 972 Solitude/Brighton, 994 Alta/Snowbird and 901 or 902 Park City.
Trax FrontRunner Purple Line (Ogden – Provo) connects to buses that get you to routes 675 Snow Basin and 674 Powder Mountain.
Trax Red Line (University Medical Center- Daybreak Parkway) Connects to bus route (901 or 902) to Park City at University Medical Center Station.
Please see the Trax Map for full details and a visual on the area.
Airport to Alta/Snowbird
Take the Green Trax Line from SLC Airport – Exit at Arena, Transfer to Blue Trax Line towards Draper – Exit at Historic Sandy Station- Connect with route 994 Alta/Snowbird Bus.
This bus gets busy on weekends and snow days, make sure to board route 994 from Historic Sandy Station in order to insure a seat on the bus. If you try to catch this bus at another stop, you risk it being full and passing you by.
We recommend finding lodging near Sandy Station or the Blue Trax Line when staying in Salt Lake City and taking the 994 route to Alta/Snowbird.
The Alta/Snowbird bus is a convenient option when traveling from Salt Lake City to ski resorts.
Airport to Solitude/Brighton
Take the Green Trax Line from SLC Airport – Exit at Arena, Transfer to Blue Trax Line towards Draper– Exit at Midvale Fort Union Station – Connect with route 972 Solitude/Brighton Bus.
This bus gets busy on weekends and snow days, make sure to board route 972 from Midvale Fort Union Station in order to insure a seat on the bus. If you try to catch this bus at another stop, you risk it being full and passing you by.
We recommend finding lodging in Salt Lake City near Midvale Fort Union Station when planning to take the 972 route to Solitude or Brighton.
The Solitude/Brighton bus is a convenient option when traveling from Salt Lake City to ski resorts.
Airport to Park City
Take the Green Trax Line from SLC Airport – Exit at North Temple, Transfer to Front Runner Purple Trax Line Towards Provo – Exit Central Salt Lake Station- Connect with route 901 or 902 Bus to Park City.
You can also catch route (901 or 902) Bus to Park City from the Trax Red Line at University Medical Center Station.
We recommend finding accommodations in Park City when planning to ski Park City Ski Resort.
Airport to Snow Basin
Take the Green Trax Line from SLC Airport – Exit at North Temple, Transfer to Front Runner Purple Trax Line towards Ogden – Exit Odgen Central Station – Connect with route 675 Bus to Snow Basin.
We recommend booking lodging in Ogden Utah when traveling to Snow Basin and utilizing route 675 to Snow Basin Ski Resort.
Airport to Powder Mountain
Take the Green Trax Line from SLC Airport, Transfer at North Temple to Front Runner Purple Trax Line towards Ogden – Exit Odgen Central Station – Connect with route 674 Bus to Powder Mountain.
We recommend booking lodging in Ogden Utah when traveling to Powder Mountian and utilizing route 674 to Powder Mountian Ski Resort.
Non Airport Travel
If you are a budget traveler, you’re most likely flying in and heading to your accommodations in Salt Lake City, rather than expensive lodging at a ski resort. We recommend booking lodging in Salt Lake City near a ski bus stop or Trax station for easy navigation from the airport and to ski resorts when using public transportation.
If your starting destination is somewhere other than the Airport; take the nearest Bus to the nearest Trax Station, and make your way from there to the desired ski bus boarding station.
For the fastest journey, utilize Uber to get you to the bus station for boarding your preferred ski bus route.
Check the UTA website to plan your route and for up to date bus and Trax schedules.
Bus Routes & Stations
Most bus routes traveling to ski resorts are only available during winter*.
Alta/Snowbird – Departs from Historic Sandy Station, Route 994
Solitude/Brighton – Departs from Midvale Fort Union Station, Route 972
Park City – Departs from Central Salt Lake Station, Route (901 or 902)
Snow Basin – Departs from Odgen Central Station, Route 675
Powder Mountain – Departs from Odgen Central Station, Route 674
Public Transportation Tips
Traveling by bus is affordable and eco conscious, however it’s not the most convenient option. The disadvantages involve dealing with schedules, crowds and multiple transfers.
Here are a few tips that will make your trip smoother:
- Check the schedule for each leg and screen shot the schedule times.
- Plan for extra time.
- Less is more, travel as light as possible when using public transportation from the Airport.
- Travel with a backpack instead of duffle bags or suitcase luggage.
- Invest in a gear bag with wheels, we love our Dakine Snowboard Roller Bag & Dakine Ski Bag for traveling.
- Book accommodations nearby the ski bus stop that leads to your preferred ski resort destination.
- Schedule your flight arrival and departure time outside of peak hours.
- Travel against the flow of traffic when arriving or leaving accommodations with your gear and luggage.
- Board the desired ski bus at the beginning location of the route to ensure a seat.
- Use Ride Share in conjunction with Public Transportation to get you where you need to be.
- Download the Transit App and purchase tickets online when available.
Conclusion
Utah provides a great public transportation system, it helps winter enthusiasts realize the dream of blower pow and mountain adventures.
Traveling from Salt Lake City to ski resorts presents a unique opportunity to embrace both cost savings and sustainability.
By opting for public transportation, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to the preservation of the stunning natural landscapes that make these ski destinations so desirable.
However, it’s important to acknowledge the drawbacks as well. Public transportation schedules may not always align perfectly with your arrival times, potentially leading to longer wait periods.
Additionally, carrying ski gear on buses can be cumbersome. We have personal experience using trains and buses when traveling with snowboard gear.
In our experience, we find taking an Uber to our accommodations and taking the bus to and from ski resorts is our preferred level of using public transportation.
If you choose to take advantage of public transportation, make sure to always double check bus schedules online to ensure a smooth travel journey.
We hope this article has given you valuable information for planning the logistics of your next ski trip! Utah is one of our favorite places and utilizing public transport can facilitate an otherwise costly trip.
For more information on Utah Ski Resorts, check out our article “Best Ski Resorts in Utah – Powder Paradise.”
Happy Shredding 😉
