Guardsman Pass will stay closed until at least Thursday morning after UDOT shut the upper stretch of SR-190 Monday night, Oct. 12.

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) cited winter conditions for the closure, which took effect at 9:30 p.m. It follows a weekend of storm damage in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel dumped heavy rain on the Wasatch Front starting Sunday, Oct. 11, sending rocks, trees and debris across the road, KUTV reported.

UDOT and the Salt Lake County Sheriff turned around Solitude and Brighton traffic at the canyon mouth Sunday evening. The lower canyon reopened before 2 a.m. Monday after crews cleared debris near Storm Mountain.

Hours later, winter weather moved in on the pass itself.

Before closing the road, UDOT's Cottonwood Canyons account on X warned drivers Monday to prepare for winter conditions on Guardsman Pass and to slow down on uphills and corners. By that evening, the agency determined the pass could not stay open safely.

UDOT Public Relations Director John Gleason told ABC4 the intense storm left more hazards waiting above the road. "As much as we cleared out, last night, there's a lot more on the mountainside there that could come down again," Gleason said. UDOT has heavy equipment positioned to respond quickly if more debris falls.

The agency's closure alert on X estimated a Thursday, Oct. 15, morning reopening. An exact time has not been set.

Drivers can still reach Solitude and Brighton via the lower canyon. The closure applies only to Guardsman Pass, the road connecting Big and Little Cottonwood canyons. As we reported Monday, the main SR-190 route through Big Cottonwood Canyon reopened after the flood-related shutdown.

UDOT warned that more rain is forecast and weather-related delays are possible. The agency urged drivers to check conditions through its Cottonwood Canyons accounts on X before heading up the canyon.