Visitors to Big Cottonwood Canyon and Little Cottonwood Canyon should be aware of Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) fee areas that took effect June 1, 2026. These fees apply within designated areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service and are used to fund recreation facilities, trail maintenance, visitor services, and other improvements.
Parking within an REA fee area requires a valid day-use pass or an accepted recreation pass. This requirement includes roadside parking located inside posted boundaries.
The REA fees help improve the visitor experience and recreation opportunities in national forests and other federal lands. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, at least 80% of collected fees remain with the national forest where they are generated, with the exception of online sales for America The Beautiful Interagency passes.
In the Cottonwood Canyons, these funds support trail and recreation site maintenance, parking and access improvements, sanitation and site services, resource protection and restoration, and visitor safety and infrastructure.
There are five REA fee areas located in Big Cottonwood Canyon: Mill B / S-Curves for summer only, Cardiff Fork on both sides of the road year-round, Donut Falls for summer only, Spruces Winter Trailhead for winter only, and the Silver Lake Recreation Complex year-round. In Little Cottonwood Canyon, the Grit Mill Trailhead and White Pine Trailhead are designated fee areas year-round.
REA fee areas are boundary-based rather than limited to specific parking lots. This means visitors must have a valid pass displayed if they park within posted boundaries, including along the road. Visitors are responsible for identifying these boundaries before parking.
Payment options include on-site fee kiosks at Cardiff, Donut Falls, and White Pine near trailheads and parking areas. Passes can also be purchased through third-party vendors such as the Brighton Store, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation at Silver Lake Visitor Center, Gear Room, IME/International Mountain Equipment, Skimo Co, and Solitude Mountain Resort. Additionally, passes are available online at recreation.gov or in person at the Salt Lake Ranger District office.
Accepted passes include Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Day-use passes for three-day or seven-day periods, USDA Forest Service annual passes, and the America the Beautiful Interagency Pass.
Fees are charged per vehicle rather than per person. The current REA fee rates in the Cottonwood Canyons include $10 for a three-day pass, $20 for a seven-day pass, $60 for a Uinta-Wasatch-Cache Annual Pass, and $80 for an America the Beautiful Pass.
Discounted rates for Senior, Military, Fourth Grader, and Access America the Beautiful Passes are available at the Salt Lake Ranger District. Before leaving a vehicle, visitors should confirm if they are parked within an REA fee area and ensure their purchased pass is clearly displayed.
