Looking for a free ride to go leaf peeping this weekend? Here’s where to go.​on October 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are coated in flaming auburns and golden yellows, and this year there’s a new — and free — way to check out the scenes.

​An extended bus line in Park City offers a free way to check out the changing fall colors.  

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are coated in flaming auburns and golden yellows, and this year there’s a new — and free — way to check out the scenes.

Park City’s Purple Line has been extended to Bloods Lake and Bonanza Flat, two of the most popular spots where Utahns seek out the changing leaves. The free bus line also allows dogs and mountain bikes so hikers, bikers and their furry friends can avoid parking fees implemented over the summer at both trailheads, Park City transportation planning manager Julia Collins said.

Dogs are limited to one pooch per rider, and must be leashed and muzzled, according to the city’s transit policy. Park City buses also provide muzzles on board for owners who don’t have one.

The Purple Line was extended to offer “trail service” on July 11. The upgraded route runs every 20 minutes from 5:40 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Park City’s Old Town Transit Center to Bloods Lake Trailhead. The bus makes stops at Deer Valley’s Montage resort and Bonanza Flat.

The route also operates every 30 minutes Monday through Thursday from 5:36 a.m. to 6:04 p.m., but only runs from the Old Town Transit Center to Montage — with no stops at the trailheads, according to the route map.

“It started this year on a strategy to give people more opportunities and access up to the Bonanza Flat area that’s sustainable, keeping in line with the city’s Bonanza Flat Conservation Area management program,” Collins said. “So we looked at both providing frequent, fast and free transit up there to the … trailheads, and then combining that with our paid parking program.”

Revenue from parking funds the free transit extension up to the trailheads, Collins added. The city is also seeing less congestion on the road, which leads up to Guardsman Pass. Since the leaves have started changing in recent weeks, the bus service has had days where it’s transported over 800 riders, Collins said.

The city is working with a developer in the area to make improvements to a parking lot at the Mid-Mountain Trailhead, Collins said, and once that’s complete, the city plans to offer year-round service to the trail.

In the winter, the city plans to contract with a third-party vendor to transport riders to Bonanza Flat, Collins said.

“It is so beautiful up there,” Collins said. “I’m just grateful that we’ve been able to open up more access for people through the bus.”