Free Bonanza Flat shuttle launches from Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride

Photo: Utah Open Lands

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah. — Visitors looking to escape the summer heat without the hassle of full parking lots can once again take advantage of a free weekend shuttle to the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area.

Along with Park City’s extended Purple Route, Utah Open Lands has launched its seasonal Bonanza Shuttle, providing free rides on Saturdays and Sundays between the Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride in Cottonwood Heights and the Bloods Lake and Bonanza Flat trailheads.

The service runs through Sept. 27, operating from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with departures every hour on the half-hour. The shuttle is free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each van accommodates up to 11 passengers and seven bicycles, making it an option for hikers, mountain bikers, picnickers, and others visiting the protected open space. The final shuttle departing Bonanza Flat each day leaves at 3:30 p.m. Only service dogs are permitted during the pilot season.

The pickup location is at 3865 Big Cottonwood Canyon Road in Cottonwood Heights, where riders should look for the Utah Open Lands Bonanza Shuttle sandwich board.

Utah Open Lands says the program is intended to reduce traffic, parking demand, and vehicle emissions while improving access to the conservation area.