Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola project faces mounting legal battles

A line of cars makes its way up Little Cottonwood Canyon on March 15, 2025. Photo: Cedar Knight

LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON – Little Cottonwood Canyon’s legendary ski slopes are world-famous — but these days, they’re becoming just as well-known for something else: traffic. A seemingly endless line of car lights on either end off the commute stretches through the canyon and the roads leading to it, has become an unwelcome symbol of the area’s growing congestion. Once a sight reserved for epic powder days, the gridlock has now become a regular part of the Little Cottonwood experience.

In 2023, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) settled on a bold solution: a gondola. Stretching from the base of the canyon to the resorts, it would be the longest gondola in the world, carrying a hefty $729 million price tag — funded by Utah taxpayers.

The project has strong backing from a group called Gondola Works, which includes Alta and Snowbird resorts, public relations firms, and CW Management, a management firm co-founded by a former Utah State Senator.

Despite support from ski resorts and developers, opposition to the gondola continues to grow. The Granite Oaks Homeowners Association filed a lawsuit in early March against UDOT, joining a larger, combined lawsuit that includes Friends of Alta/Canyon Guard, Save Our Canyons, and Salt Lake City, Sandy City, and the Metropolitan Water District. These lawsuits were merged into one case in April 2024.

The core argument? Opponents claim UDOT failed to conduct a thorough environmental review, particularly overlooking the potential impact on the canyon’s watershed.

Granite Oaks Homeowners’ Association’s lawsuit, filed a lawsuit in 3rd District Court, argues UDOT’s plan to use land within their subdivision for access to a parking garage and gondola base station violates their property rights.

Central to the complaint is UDOT’s purchase of a lot in the neighborhood last October — a purchase the homeowners claim was made with taxpayer funds not authorized for that purpose under the Utah Transportation Finances Act.

“As part of its effort to foist the gondola project on the taxpayers against their will, UDOT is now running roughshod over the property rights of plaintiff Granite Oaks Homeowners’ Association and its members,” the lawsuit states.

Homeowners argue that using the lot to build a road would breach the neighborhood’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions. They’re asking the court to block UDOT from moving forward with the plan.

This lawsuit adds to the growing legal battle surrounding the gondola project, which has drawn both fierce opposition and high-profile support as UDOT works to address Little Cottonwood’s worsening traffic.

A combined suit is expected to hit the court sometime later this spring or early summer.

While the legal fight drags on, UDOT has hit pause on other traffic mitigation efforts — including tolls and increased bus service — originally intended to ease congestion. The agency reportedly held off, citing the ongoing lawsuits. Opponents argue UDOT’s lack of action reflects poorly on their commitment to finding a solution.

What Happens if UDOT Loses?

If the courts rule against UDOT, the department could face several paths:

• Start over — Conduct an entirely new environmental impact review.
• Redo the review — Revise and expand the existing analysis.
• Abandon the project — Leave the decision-making to the Utah Legislature or other governing bodies to determine a new way to address canyon traffic.

Editor’s note: The rendering of the gondola was replaced with a different version because the previous version’s source could not be confirmed.