Last March the Cabriolet ran its normal 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule one final time. Park City Mountain and the Canyons Village Management Association marked the day with donuts at the top terminal and gift-card giveaways in what they called a Cash Cab. Construction started the next day on two projects: the lift that replaces it and the last three levels of the parking structure at the bottom of the village.
Both are scheduled for this winter, but not on the same day. That gap gives Canyons Village three different arrival setups in one season. For anyone driving down from The Colony to meet guests for lunch, pick up a ski-school group, or have an evening in the Forum, the cost depends far more on the date and the time of day than on where you park.
Three arrival setups in one season
Park City Mountain is targeting Friday, November 20, 2026, for opening day. That includes the new Canyons Village Skyway, which runs from the parking area up to the resort village. The garage is a separate matter. KPCW reported in August that the new structure "will be open for the 2026-2027 winter season, just maybe not by opening day," and the resort expects it in early December. The resort's parking page, current as of October 2026, still says the garage is "scheduled to open in early December," with access once construction is complete.
| Window | Where cars go | What it costs | How you reach the Forum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening day target, Nov. 20, until the garage opens | Surface Lots 2, 3 and 4, with attendants directing traffic | Free | Shuttle or walking routes to the upper village |
| Early December through closing | Canyons Village Parking Structure | $29 a day, free after 12 p.m., free for carpools of four or more when space allows | The free Canyons Village Skyway |
| All season | Limited surface lot next to the garage | Free, first come, first served | Short walk to the Skyway |
Lots 2, 3 and 4 close for good once the garage opens. The Park Record's March report on the construction listed only Lots 2 and 4 as the free construction-period lots, so if you remember that, it's out of date. The resort's current plan names all three.
The cheapest weeks come first
For however long the gap between opening day and the garage lasts, every space the resort points you to at Canyons Village is free, at any hour. After that, a morning arrival parks free in only two places: the limited surface lot next to the garage and the carpool areas inside it.
That is the purpose of the garage. The Park Record reported that once the structure is finished, it "will consolidate surface parking throughout the village." Its first two levels opened for the 2025-26 season. Canyons Village master developer TCFC is now finishing the remaining three. Park City Mountain describes the plan as building "on insights from successful parking programs at Mountain Village." Mountain Village keeps last winter's system, with paid reservations at every surface lot and free parking for carpools.
The early-December date is the resort's stated plan, and no dated progress report on the garage has come out since KPCW's August story. The free-lot window could be two weeks or it could run longer. Either way, it's the stretch when Thanksgiving visitors can park at Canyons Village without paying.
After December, the price changes at noon
Once the garage opens, its pricing comes down to two rules: $29 a day, and free after 12 p.m. The daily rate is aimed at the morning ski-day crowd. A trip that starts after noon, whether it's a late lunch at the base, an afternoon pickup, or dinner in the village, costs nothing to park.
So the trips most likely to bring a Colony household down to Canyons Village by car are the trips the plan doesn't charge for. The $29 rate applies to the window when day skiers are competing for spaces. The afternoon and evening, when the base is mostly about food, lessons ending, and guests arriving, are free.
There are two other ways around the daily rate. A vehicle with four or more people parks free in the carpool areas when space allows. For anyone who expects to park in the garage often, KPCW reported that season parking passes are sold for the new Canyons Village garage and for the Mountain Village garage at the top of the First Time lot. They cost $825, still require reservations, and went on sale September 1. Garage access for passholders runs through the resort's 2026-27 closing date for Canyons Village. At the posted daily rate, the pass costs about as much as 28 morning arrivals.
What the Skyway connects, including its mid-station
The Canyons Village Skyway runs from the new parking structure to the Canyons Village Forum and the base area around it. It's free, with enclosed 10-person cabins and floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort said the name reflects the gondola's role as the link between the Lower Village and Canyons Village.
The mid-station adds something the old lift didn't have. Park City Mountain said it "will provide improved access for homeowners, lodging properties and guests." That makes the Skyway a village circulator as well as a ride from the parking lot to the lifts. The resort hasn't published the Skyway's operating hours, evening schedule, or rules for riders who aren't skiing. Until it does, an evening plan that depends on riding the gondola back down after dinner is worth confirming with the resort first.
The Skyway is part of a larger plan. The Park Record reported in September that it is the second new gondola at Park City Mountain in two seasons, after the Sunrise Gondola opened for 2025-26. Vail Resorts says Sunrise improved uphill flow by 45%. The next round, planned for the 2027-28 season, is at the other base. It includes an eight-passenger Silverlode chairlift, one six-passenger lift replacing Eagle and Eaglet, and a full retrofit of Crescent. For Canyons Village, this winter is the big arrival change, and our earlier piece on what is and isn't new at opening day covers the terrain side of the season.
What to tell guests staying in the village or arriving on their own
Colony owners get to the slopes through the community's own ski access, which we explain in our guide to how ski easements and lift access work inside The Colony. Guests staying elsewhere, or meeting you at the base, will be using the public system. Here is what to tell them, depending on when they arrive:
- Before the garage opens: Follow the signs and attendants to Surface Lots 2, 3 or 4. Parking is free, and shuttles or walking routes lead to the upper village.
- After the garage opens, arriving in the morning: Expect $29 for the day unless the car has four or more people, or unless you get one of the limited free spaces in the surface lot next to the garage.
- After the garage opens, arriving after noon: Park in the garage for free and take the Skyway up to the Forum.
- Skipping the car entirely: High Valley Transit's 10X The High Line runs direct to Canyons Village, and the 101 Spiro / 224 Local serves both Canyons Village and Mountain Village. High Valley Transit and Park City Transit are both fare-free, and High Valley Transit also runs micro-transit across the Wasatch Back.
One more detail for guests who visited in past winters: there's no lift between the Lower Village and the Forum until the Skyway opens. That connection was closed during construction, and shuttles, walking routes, and public transit filled in. The resort's live parking page is the place to check the garage's opening date as it gets closer. Its older FAQ still refers to a 2025-26 opening, so go by the updated plan at the top of the page.
If you're hosting family or friends at Canyons Village this winter and want help timing their arrival, or want to understand how your own ski access works next to the base, The Colony sales team is on site and can walk you through it. Schedule a Private Tour, and we'll answer the logistics questions while we're on the mountain.
