Your Guide to Leaf Peeping in Park City

Before Park City is blanketed in white, it’s blanketed in red, orange, and gold. Empire Pass on SR-224 is a great spot to check out the fall leaves, but there are a few things you need to know before making the trip.

Plan ahead with information about this scenic drive, designated parking, and seasonal public transit.

When is the best time to see fall colors in Park City?

Park City’s fall foliage is at its most vibrant in late September to early October. What you’ll see varies by elevation; higher-elevation areas (around Empire Pass) tend to reach peak color first, and then the color spreads down closer to the city.

Colors can last through October, but it’s weather dependent. A cold snap, rain, or snow can end the leaf peeping season quickly.

As the peak season approaches, follow local meteorologists who monitor the fall colors forecast. But keep in mind, there tend to be crowds on the weekend when the leaves are at their peak. Plan your visit for a weekday to avoid the busiest traffic.

Traveler Tip: The Bonanza Loop Trail closes each year from October 1 to July 1 to protect wildlife, as part of the Bonanza Flat Conservation Area. If you’re looking for a colorful hike, get that one in before October or choose a different trail.

Empire Pass scenic drive

Empire Pass is the highest roadway point in Park City at about 9,000 feet. The drive offers expansive views of the Wasatch Mountains that light up with color each fall. If you’re in Park City, the Empire Pass view area is about 5 miles from the roundabout in Old Town.

It’s another 2.5 miles from the Empire Pass view area to the Guardsman Pass Overlook. On the way, you’ll pass Bonanza Flat and Bloods Lake trailheads.

Traveler Tip: Dogs are not allowed on Bonanza Loop Trail or at Bloods Lake, but they are allowed on the surrounding trails and on the road over Empire Pass.

Dogs are not allowed anywhere in Big Cottonwood Canyon, including in a vehicle. So if you’ve got your furry friend along for the ride, you’ll have to stay on the Park City side and not continue past the Guardsman Pass summit. There is space to turn around at either of the trailheads or the Guardsman Pass Overlook.

Where can I park in the Empire Pass area?

Use designated parking at the Empire Pass view area, Bonanza Flat, Bloods Lake, Mid-Mountain, or Wasatch Crest Connect trailheads. Roadside parking is prohibited along Empire Pass and Guardsman Pass roads. Parking fees and restrictions vary by location.

Empire Pass Trailhead

• Location: On SR-224 in Park City, about a mile above the Montage roundabout.
• Capacity and Features: Dirt lot with space for about a dozen vehicles, as well as a pit toilet, picnic table, and trash. Leads to a high-elevation scenic viewpoint and access to popular mountain biking trails.
• Regulations: Managed under Park City’s Bonanza Flat paid parking system (details below).

Bonanza Flat Trailhead

• Location: On the Empire Pass side, about a half mile east of the intersection with Guardsman Pass Road and Pine Canyon.
• Capacity and Features: Dirt lot with roughly 50 stalls, pit-style restrooms, a picnic table, and trash facilities. Provides access to lower Bonanza Flat trails and connecting singletrack.
• Regulations: Managed under Park City’s Bonanza Flat paid parking system (details below).

Bloods Lake Trailhead

• Location: Located about 1.5 miles southeast of Empire Pass along Guardsman Pass Road.
• Capacity and Features: The largest designated lot in the area with roughly 50 dirt stalls, pit-style restrooms, and trash facilities. Provides direct access to Bloods Lake, Lackawaxen Lake, and Shadow Lake trails.
• Regulations: Managed under Park City’s Bonanza Flat paid parking system (details below).

Mid-Mountain Trailhead

• Location: On SR-224 in Park City, just above the Montage Roundabout and just below the Empire Pass winter closure gate.
• Capacity and Features: A small paved lot with about two dozen parking spaces, no restrooms or other facilities. Provides access to mountain biking and ski touring in the winter.
• Regulations: Free parking.

Wasatch Crest Connect Trailhead

• Location: Just off Guardsman Pass Road (SR-190), about two miles west of Bloods Lake Trailhead.
• Capacity and Features: A pit toilet and space for a handful of vehicles down a short dirt spur road right at the trailhead, plus space for a few more cars at the turnoff from Guardsman Pass.
• Regulations: Free parking.

*Little Joe Loop Trailhead (Restricted Use)

• Location: Where Empire Pass (SR-224) meets Guardsman Pass Road and Pine Canyon Road.
• Regulations: Little Joe Loop Trailhead no longer offers public parking except for vehicles with a disabled plate/placard. For others who want to hike Little Joe Loop, park at Bonanza Flat and use the half-mile connector trail.

*Guardsman Pass Overlook (Restricted Use)

• Location: On Guardsman Pass Road (SR-190), about one mile west of Bloods Lake Trailhead.
• Regulations: Parking for trail access is no longer allowed at Guardsman Pass Overlook, but you may park here temporarily to take in the view or use the restroom.

How much does it cost to park at the Bonanza Flat area trailheads?

Empire Pass View Area, Bonanza Flat Trailhead, and Bloods Lake Trailhead have paid parking lots. These are the rates as of 2026:

• $8 per hour on weekends and holidays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• $5 per hour on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Free from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• Free for residents in ZIP code 84060 who register for a season parking permit

Check the Bonanza Flat and Bloods Lake parking cameras, so you can check the parking lot capacity before you drive up. The lots can fill up at peak times, so have a Plan B if your intended destination is full.

Can I park on the road on Empire or Guardsman Pass?

No. Roadside parking is prohibited along Empire Pass and Guardsman Pass roads. Vehicles parked on the shoulder or outside designated stalls are regularly ticketed and towed.

Is there public transit to Empire Pass?

Yes. Two free services provide seasonal access to Bonanza Flat and Bloods Lake trailheads on Empire Pass. This is a great option to avoid parking hassles, and you can take in the beautiful scenery without worrying about needing to keep your eyes on the road.

• Park City Transit’s 9 Purple route travels from Park City.
• The Utah Open Lands shuttle travels from Big Cottonwood Canyon park-and-ride lot in Cottonwood Heights.

Service dates and schedule may change. Confirm current information before your trip.

Park City Transit’s 9 Purple Route

• Stops: Old Town Transit Center in Park City, the Montage at Deer Valley, Bonanza Flat Trailhead, and Bloods Lake Trailhead
• 2026 service: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through October 31
• Bikes allowed? Yes
• Dogs allowed? Yes (with certain rules)
• Cost: Free

👉 Schedule and more info about the 9 Purple Route

Utah Open Lands shuttle

• Stops: Big Cottonwood Canyon Park and Ride in Cottonwood Heights, Bloods Lake Trailhead, and Bonanza Flat Trailhead
• 2026 service: Saturdays and Sundays through September 27
• Bikes allowed? Yes
• Dogs allowed? No (except service animals)
• Cost: Free

👉 Schedule and more info about the Utah Open Lands shuttle

Nearby scenic drives

Pine Canyon

Pine Canyon Road is a roughly 7-mile route connecting Empire Pass (SR-224) with Midway and Wasatch Mountain State Park. Wasatch County manages the road.

Use designated trailheads and pullouts if you stop along the route. Get information about visiting Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Continuing west from Empire Pass leads to Big Cottonwood Canyon and SR-190. It’s about 14 miles from the intersection with Guardsman Pass Road to the mouth of the canyon in Cottonwood Heights.

The route passes Brighton Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, and several Forest Service trailheads. Dogs are not allowed because Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed.

Get more travel tips on visiting Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Traffic and safety tips to have a nice drive

Empire Pass, Guardsman Pass, and Pine Canyon are popular scenic roads traveled by a variety of users. These roads are narrow, two-lane mountain roads with steep ascents and descents and tight switchbacks that serve passenger cars, cyclists, and motorcycles. Keep the following in mind to navigate these roads safely.

• Be alert: Keep your full attention on the road, no texting and driving, and turn off cruise control so you can respond quickly, especially at pedestrian crossings.
• Use caution: Maintain a safe following distance. Blind corners and steep drop-offs with limited guardrails mean you need to stay in your lane and never cut corners.
• Reduce your speed: Lowering your speed gives you more reaction time on steep descents and sharp curves. Manage your descent speed by downshifting into a lower gear (engine braking) rather than riding your brakes to avoid brake overheating and mechanical failure.
• Watch for wildlife: Deer, elk, moose, and smaller wildlife frequently cross these roads, and are most active during dawn and dusk when visibility is reduced. Remember that if one animal crosses, others often follow.
• Watch for cyclists: Road cyclists heavily use Empire Pass, Guardsman Pass, and Pine Canyon. Give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing. Be aware that downhill cyclists can travel as fast as motorized vehicles.
• Plan for weather: Mountain pass weather changes rapidly, even during summer and fall. High-elevation roads can experience sudden rain, hail, or early seasonal snowfall that makes asphalt extremely slick. Check road conditions before heading out.
• Check your vehicle: Ensure your brakes, tires, and cooling systems are in good condition. Steep grades put high stress on vehicle engines while long descents put friction and heat on your brakes.

Other fall hikes in Park City

Bloods Lake is a popular destination for viewing fall foliage, but you don’t have to go all the way up to Empire Pass for a colorful hike.

👉 Learn more from Visit Park City about good trails for leaf peeping and how the leaves change color.