Paid Parking Implemented at North America's Biggest Ski Resort

Matt Lorelli

Mon, October 7, 2024 at 3:46 PM UTC

3 min read

Powder Mountain in Utah will implement paid parking on weekends and holidays at $12 per vehicle, but vehicles with three or more passengers will park for free.
The decision to introduce paid parking has sparked criticism among Powder Mountain pass holders, who feel blindsided by the additional cost after purchasing their season passes.
Powder Mountain's rationale for implementing paid parking is to reduce weekend and holiday crowds, encourage carpooling, and provide incentives for using public transportation like the UTA Ski Bus.

Powder Mountain, located near Eden, Utah, is embarking on a new era under the ownership of Netflix co-founder and billionaire Reed Hastings .

The public has been critical since Hastings announced a private/public hybrid model for Powder's ski terrain, but a new decision is really ruffling feathers— paid parking.

Vehicles with three or more people will not be required to pay for parking at Powder Mountain, Utah.<p>Photo: Maskot</p> — Vehicles with three or more people will not be required to pay for parking at Powder Mountain, Utah.

Photo: Maskot

Announced on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 to Powder's season pass holders in an email, the ski area will implement paid parking on Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday periods at $12 per vehicle. Parking will remain free on weekends and holidays for vehicles with three or more passengers, and for all vehicles Monday-Friday.

Reservations will not offered in advance, and parking spots will remain on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking fees will be paid using an app, similar to systems used in towns and cities across America.

Ashton Stronks, Powder Mountain's communications director, explained to The Salt Lake Tribune that the ski area is implementing the fees to reduce the amount of vehicles that arrive on weekends and holidays, and to encourage carpooling or use of the UTA Ski Bus.

Powder Mountain has installed four new lifts this offseason.<p>Photo: Ash Christensen via Powder Mountain</p> — Powder Mountain has installed four new lifts this offseason.

Photo: Ash Christensen via Powder Mountain

Ski resorts such as Solitude Mountain Resort, Palisades Tahoe, and Arapahoe Basin have implemented similar paid or reserved parking measures to cut back on crowds. The cost to park multiple vehicles tends to be an effective deterrent, but many skiers at Powder Mountain are confused.

The ski area is known for being uncrowded with ample parking and relatively-small lift lines on even the busiest days. Unless there's a dramatic uptick in vehicles this upcoming season due to Powder Mountain's expanded season pass offerings or the buzz of the offseason, long-time pass holders can't fathom the need for paid parking.

Some pass holders are also expressing frustration with the paid parking announcement coming after many of them purchased their passes. $12/day when you plan on skiing 20+ weekend days a season adds up.

An aerial view of parking at Palisades Tahoe. The resort implemented a new system last season that required free reservations on weekends on a first-come basis. Additional parking reservations could be made for a fee once all free spots were claimed.<p>Photo: Courtesy Palisades Tahoe</p> — An aerial view of parking at Palisades Tahoe. The resort implemented a new system last season that required free reservations on weekends on a first-come basis. Additional parking reservations could be made for a fee once all free spots were claimed.

Photo: Courtesy Palisades Tahoe

The comments sections of Powder Mountain's recent social media posts are telling. Read below. Names have been removed for privacy.

"Announcing that there's now a charge for parking on weekends months after season passes went on sale seems kind of like a "bait and switch"

"Paid parking every single weekend day? For those of us that go every Saturday and Sunday that is going to be an ADDITIONAL cost of $400 dollars. Just for parking. Season pass holders are treated like GARBAGE at this mountain now."

"You're seriously going to start to charge for parking!?!? Isn't having to drive up to the top enough? This is getting ridiculous! Lifting the pass cap, closing part of the mountain for private use, and charging almost 50% more for passes! You're becoming worse than Park City. Good luck with all that."

Powder Mountain unveiled a new <a href= — Powder Mountain unveiled a new trail map last week that includes their new chairlifts.

Photo: Courtesy Powder Mountain

Powder Mountain has responded to the 'bait and switch' allegations with the following comment: "Hi, when we announced season passes we did share that in addition to our current system of first come/first served, we're working to incorporate paid parking, carpool incentives, and increased bus and shuttle service to best accommodate all guests. In an effort to mitigate crowding and to incentivize carpooling, we're introducing paid parking on weekends and holidays, which becomes free after 1pm, or if you carpool with 3 or more people."

As the biggest ski resort on the continent by acreage (when combining lift-accessed and backcountry terrain), Powder Mountain will always be under the microscope. Paid parking isn't anything new in the ski industry, but pass holders are in disbelief at how their once heralded mom-and-pop ski area is dramatically shifting course.

Stay tuned in here at POWDER Magazine for more updates and stories regarding Powder Mountain throughout the season. We've got you covered.

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