Our Position

The proposed gondola system will scar Little Cottonwood Canyon forever.  It will be pervasive.  It will be permanent.  The main viewpoint of the canyon will no longer be the granite rock face behind Wasatch Resort.  It will no longer be the expansive view from the wildflowers of Albion Basin. It will no longer be the streaks of golden aspen in the fall.  The main viewpoint of Little Cottonwood Canyon will be twenty-two skyscraper-sized towers with 40 bus-sized gondolas riding on a steel cable.

We know that development and population growth will continue to pressure the canyon, however, we call for a commonsense, phased solution to these challenges. Practical and effective ideas such as variable tolling, smart bussing, tire traction requirements, and avalanche sheds should be implemented before jumping to a $1.4B, taxpayer-funded, irreversible gondola infrastructure that will forever change Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Private businesses such as Snowbird and Alta should not expect taxpayers to foot the $1.4B bill for an outsized system that will only serve a very narrow segment of the population. The gondola is not a mass transit solution – it's a tourist attraction paid for by Utah taxpayers.

With water becoming an increasingly vital and scarce resource, we need to be more diligent to safeguard the LCC watershed and protect our limited water supply. Inserting a gondola into this fragile environment will put our most precious resource at risk and that’s a risk we can’t afford to take.

More people in Little Cottonwood Canyon will cause more damage. It's just that simple. But we can't hide the canyon away and never use it. We should not only preserve our canyon, but we should enjoy it. We must achieve that balance. Preserving our watershed is imperative. Preserving our community experience is also essential. But, when you put 10 pounds of people in a 5 pound canyon, all is lost. Too many people in the canyon will damage the watershed and ruin the experience for local communities and canyon visitors alike. There is a proper "carrying capacity", one that allows us to enjoy the canyon without destroying the canyon ecology or adversely impacting local communities. We must, as a community, thoughtfully decide what is the sustainable capacity for the canyon is for its ecological health as well as for maintaining a desirable visitor experience.

We believe there is a solution for canyon congestion that doesn't require destroying the canyon experience itself. The answer comes through the phased implementation of cost-effective common-sense solutions.  These tactics include variable canyon tolling, enforced traction device use, reserved resort parking, carpool incentives, enhanced busing, and supplemental shuttle service to trailhead areas. We have already seen the positive impact of implementing reserved parking at Alta on high visitation days. These and other similar cost-effective activities should be implemented before a $1.4B, taxpayer-funded, irreversible gondola infrastructure is considered. 

We know we can make a difference.  We believe we can work together to keep our wilderness wild and our water safe while enjoying the canyon responsibly to protect it for future generations.