3 Cars trapped by avalanche in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Alta and Snowbird Resorts

Little Cottonwood Canyon is one of the most avalanche-prone areas in the world, with SR-210 frequently shutting down due to hazardous conditions. The road is often referred to as “the most dangerous highway in the world” for its exposure to frequent, large-scale avalanches. \

On March 19, A powerful avalanche struck this stretch of road on Tuesday evening, trapping three vehicles and prompting an emergency road closure by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but Interlodge restrictions were enforced at Alta and Snowbird until 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Alta Central, officials immediately warned drivers to leave the road and return to designated parking areas:

AVALANCHE SR-210 Closed; if on road, return to parking lots and follow directions from UDOT and law enforcement.

The avalanche occurred near Snowbird Ski Resort, partially burying two vehicles under heavy snow. UDOT crews worked overnight to clear debris and conduct mitigation efforts while ensuring no further slides threatened the canyon.

UDOT’s Public Relations Director, John Gleason, credited earlier mitigation work for preventing a more serious disaster.

Fortunately, no one was injured. Our crews reacted immediately by shutting down the canyon and addressing the situation.

Interlodge and Avalanche Control Measures

Interlodge orders—requiring all individuals to remain indoors—were issued for Snowbird Village and Alta’s Hellgate area. These restrictions were lifted around 8:30 p.m., allowing for a partial reopening of SR-210 to downhill traffic only.

For reference, Little Cottonwood Canyon has seen severe closures in the past. In 2021, a historic 60-hour Interlodge left guests stranded after five feet of snowfall in just one week.

Snowbird Resort issued the following update:

Highway SR-210 is now CLOSED for UDOT avalanche mitigation and Interlodge is IN EFFECT for the Snowbird Village. The estimated time of reopening is 8:45 a.m., Wednesday, March 19, results depending.

Heavy Snowfall Increases Avalanche Risk

The avalanche followed a powerful winter storm, which dumped 27 inches of snow at Alta and 22 inches at Snowbird within a 24-hour period. Avalanche danger was rated considerable (3/5) by the Utah Avalanche Center (UAC), with unstable wind-drifted snow posing an ongoing risk.

The danger will rise to CONSIDERABLE on all slopes of the mid and upper elevations with recent deposits of wind-drifted snow. Expect storm slabs and loose snow sluffs to run naturally during peak instability. – Utah Avalanche Center

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