Summer trailhead shuttle to Bonanza Flat & Bloods Lake is back July 3, paid parking continues

The Bonanza Flat trailhead, July 17, 2023. Photo: TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah — Starting July 3, Park City Transit’s 9 Purple Route will extend service to the Bonanza Flat and Bloods Lake trailheads, giving riders free, frequent access to some of the region’s most popular open space destinations during the summer season.

The expanded service will run every 20 minutes on Friday through Sunday, operating from the Old Town Transit Center and continuing past the Montage Deer Valley with stops at both trailheads. The route extension, which was also implemented last year, is designed to help reduce traffic congestion in upper Deer Valley while improving access to the Bonanza Flats open space.

The Purple Route will continue its standard weekday service Monday through Thursday between the Old Town Transit Center and the Montage Deer Valley from 5:36 a.m. to 6:06 p.m., running every 30 minutes.

Buses on the route accommodate bikes, and leashed, muzzled dogs are welcome. Riders traveling with bikes are encouraged to follow new signage at the Old Town Transit Center directing them to designated boarding areas. Boarding is first come, first served.

The summer extension builds on the route’s first winter season as a key access corridor for Bonanza Flats, when transit service transported winter recreators to the area.

That effort is also tied to previous changes at the Bonanza Flat parking area, where paid parking will be implemented once again this year after previewing in 2025. Hourly rates will be $5 per hour on weekdays and $8 per hour on weekends. Fees are enforced from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Residents living in the 84060 zip code can apply for a free parking pass at Bonanza Flat. The city explained this is because taxpayers within this district pay into the bond of the Bonanza Flat preservation expense. The parking permit is limited to two per household and does not have allowances anywhere outside of the Bonanza Flat paid parking areas, according to the city.

The Bonanza Flats and Bloods Lake areas have seen rapidly growing visitation in recent years, particularly during summer hiking and fall foliage seasons, prompting increased emphasis on transit-based access.

More information about Park City Transit routes and schedules is available through Park City Municipal.