ALTA, Utah — A dramatic avalanche on Tuesday evening caused significant disruption in Little Cottonwood Canyon, as three vehicles were caught in the slide near Snowbird Ski Resort’s Entry 4, located near the Bypass Road. The incident, which occurred around 6:30 p.m., forced officials to close the road and prompt immediate safety measures.
According to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, two of the vehicles were partially buried under the heavy snow, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. The avalanche sent a wall of snow across the roadway, pushing the cars to the opposite side of the road, and leaving a dangerous trail of debris in its wake.
One of the individuals involved in the incident shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), detailing the harrowing experience. “Dude, we just got hit by an avalanche,” the person said in the footage. “It just pushed us and pushed those cars up and out, all the way to the other side.”
Responders from the Utah Highway Patrol arrived promptly at the scene, assisting stranded drivers as they worked to dig vehicles out of the snow. The incident led to the temporary closure of Little Cottonwood Canyon while authorities focused on clearing debris and addressing the potential for additional avalanches.
As part of the avalanche mitigation efforts, the Utah Department of Transportation and snow safety teams began clearing the area and assessing the stability of the mountainside. Crews worked quickly, and by 8 p.m., the mitigation efforts had been completed. Shortly after, Snowbird lifted its “Interlodge” status, and the road was reopened, allowing drivers to safely return down the canyon.
While the avalanche left behind a sense of urgency and unease, the coordinated response from public safety officials helped ensure that no one was hurt. Authorities continue to urge drivers to exercise caution in the area, especially given the potential for more snowslides in the coming days.