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The interstate against the canyons, live. Parleys is a freight interstate with a Class 1 and 2 traction segment; the Cottonwoods are Class 3 canyon roads with mouth enforcement and avalanche exposure. On a storm morning these three verdicts, read together, are the whole decision.
Parleys Canyon is open. Road surface: Dry. Weather: Fair. No traction restriction is posted for this corridor right now.
Data: UDOT Traffic | UDOT report Nov 4, 9:23 AM MT
Little Cottonwood Canyon is open. Road surface: Dry. Weather: Fair. No traction restriction is posted for this corridor right now.
Data: UDOT Traffic | UDOT report Nov 4, 9:23 AM MT
Big Cottonwood Canyon is open. Road surface: Dry. Weather: Fair. No traction restriction is posted for this corridor right now.
Data: UDOT Traffic | UDOT report Nov 4, 9:23 AM MT
| Corridor | Road | High point | Cameras listed | Traction segment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parleys Canyon | I-80 | Parleys Summit, 7,000 ft | 46 | Yes, Rule R920-6 |
| Little Cottonwood Canyon | SR-210 | Alta (top of SR-210), 8,530 ft | 14 | Yes, Rule R920-6 |
| Big Cottonwood Canyon | SR-190 | Brighton (top of SR-190), 8,730 ft | 7 | Yes, Rule R920-6 |
The structural difference is the story. Parleys was built to transcontinental freight standards and it behaves like it: wide, graded for trucks, and plowed like the economy depends on it, because it does. The Cottonwoods were built as canyon roads and they behave like that: two lanes, steep, and closed without apology when the avalanche forecast says so. Neither is better. They fail differently, and they fail on different mornings.
Use the live table the way locals do. If Parleys is posted and flowing and a Cottonwood is in control work, the resorts through the interstate win the morning. If a Cottonwood is clear and Parleys is stacked behind a summit crash, the canyon wins. And if all three are posted hard, the Wasatch is telling you something about the day itself.
Which is open more often in winter, Parleys or the Cottonwoods?
Parleys, by design. It closes mainly for crashes and extreme wind, while the Cottonwoods close proactively for avalanche control. The live verdicts above show today, which is the only version that matters.
Are the traction rules different?
Yes. Parleys posts Class 1 and Class 2; the Cottonwoods post Class 3, the strictest, with a 5/32 inch tread requirement. One vehicle setup that meets Class 3 meets everything on this page.