Midnight fireworks downtown, then the canyon
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Salt Lake City New Year's Eve
Downtown Salt Lake City to Big Cottonwood Canyon
Downtown Salt Lake City and Big Cottonwood Canyon sit about 32 km (20 mi) apart in a straight line, with Big Cottonwood Canyon to the south-east. It is leg 1 of 1 on our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 32 km · 20 mi
- Est. road distance
- 38–44 km
- Est. drive time
- 30–55 min
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 38–44 km (24–27 mi) of road and 30–55 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Fly into Salt Lake City International (SLC), 15 minutes from downtown on TRAX's Green Line. TRAX stops beside The Gateway and Temple Square; check UTA for any late service on Dec 31. Rideshare surges after midnight. On Jan 1, Big Cottonwood Canyon is about 40 minutes by car; traction laws often require 4WD or chains, and UTA ski buses run from the canyon mouth.
Open Downtown Salt Lake City → Big Cottonwood Canyon directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends, plus 1 place near the straight-line path.
When you arrive in Big Cottonwood Canyon
A slow Jan 1 up the canyon for skiing, snowshoeing on a frozen lake and a lodge lunch.
Brighton Resort
Ski area at the top of the canyon, open since 1936, with night skiing on lit runs most evenings.
Silver Lake
Small frozen lake at the canyon's top, with a flat boardwalk loop and groomed trails from the Nordic center.
Silver Fork Lodge
Old wooden canyon lodge with a restaurant known for sourdough pancakes and a fire on cold days.
Big Cottonwood Canyon Road
Winding 15-mile road past granite walls and snowy peaks from the valley to Brighton.
Solitude Mountain Resort
Quieter ski area just below Brighton, with a small village at the base and long tree runs.
Donut Falls
Short trail to a waterfall that drops through a hole in the rock, popular for snowshoeing in winter.
Near the way
These places from our other itineraries sit within about 4.7 km of the straight line between Downtown Salt Lake City and Big Cottonwood Canyon. The road may not pass them directly, so check how far off your route they are.
Before you leave Downtown Salt Lake City
Two nights downtown for the Temple Square lights, classic dinners and midnight fireworks at The Gateway.
The Gateway
Outdoor shopping district by the old Union Pacific depot, home of the free Last Hurrah and midnight fireworks in 2025.
Utah State Capitol
1916 domed capitol on the hill above downtown, with a marble rotunda and a view south over the valley.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Hotel in the 1924 Continental Bank Building on Main Street, a short TRAX ride from The Gateway.
On this curated route
Where Downtown Salt Lake City → Big Cottonwood Canyon sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Big Cottonwood Canyon to Downtown Salt Lake City is the same 32 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Downtown Salt Lake City to Big Cottonwood Canyon: questions travelers ask
How far is Downtown Salt Lake City from Big Cottonwood Canyon?
Downtown Salt Lake City is about 32 km (20 mi) from Big Cottonwood Canyon in a straight line, with Big Cottonwood Canyon to the south-east. By road, we estimate 38–44 km (24–27 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Downtown Salt Lake City to Big Cottonwood Canyon?
An estimated 30–55 min, assuming 38–44 km of road at average speeds of 50–80 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
What is there to see between Downtown Salt Lake City and Big Cottonwood Canyon?
Near the straight-line path we have 1 place from our curated guides, including Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City). The road may not pass them directly, so check the detour.
Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown Salt Lake City to Big Cottonwood Canyon?
Our Salt Lake City New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. Salt Lake City New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Downtown Salt Lake City travel guide
- Salt Lake City weather covers Downtown Salt Lake City
- Big Cottonwood Canyon travel guide
- Park City weather covers Big Cottonwood Canyon
Park City by month (covers Big Cottonwood Canyon)
Plan Downtown Salt Lake City → Big Cottonwood Canyon with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.