Alta Ski Area

Photo: Travel Utah

Steep, Soulful, and Unapologetically
Ski-Only

Alta Ski Area is the Wasatch classic. It has that throwback feel with modern flow. No frills and no fuss. Just long fall-line pitches and storm cycles that stack up right outside your lodge window.

Average winters bring around 548" of the light, dry stuff. The legendary 2022-23 season rang up 903" easily setting a new Alta all-time record.

Overview of Alta Ski Area

Alta sits at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon sharing a skyline … and a pass option … with Snowbird next door. The mountain skis big and honest. It boasts bowls, trees, chalky steeps, and groomers that run for ages.

Two base areas … Wildcat and Albion … make it easy to plan your day. Choose steeper, classic laps out of Wildcat/Collins or a mellower, family-friendly start from Albion/Sunnyside.

Alta Ski Area is also one of America’s last true ski-only areas. That policy is crystal clear. Snowboards (and a few other devices) are not permitted. Alta continues to be a skier’s mountain through and through.

Photo: Travel Utah

Mountain Stats & Snow

• Skiable terrain: 2,614 acres
• Vertical drop: 2,538’
• Base/Summit: 8,530'/11,068'
• Average annual snowfall: 548" (record 903" in 2022–23)
• Lifts/runs: 8 lifts, 118 runs (no night skiing)
• Ability mix: 15% beginner, 30-31% intermediate, 53-55% advanced/expert

Numbers vary slightly by source but the picture is pretty consistent. Alta ski area offers huge natural snowfall, high elevation, and a trail mix that rewards progression. From greens at Albion to iconic steeps like High Rustler and the Baldy Chutes.

How The Mountain Skis

• Collins/Wildcat (West Side): This is Alta’s beating heart. Collins delivers long, classic fall-line laps and quick access to shots off the High Traverse. Wildcat keeps the flavor old-school with a fixed-grip rhythm, trees, and pockets that stay soft after storms.

• Sugarloaf/Supreme (Albion Basin): If you’re stepping up a notch or chasing morning sun, link Sunnyside → Sugarloaf → Supreme. Supreme’s zone dishes out playful bowls and short hikes to spice things up while keeping regrouping simple.

• Sunnyside is the Learn-to-Ski HQ: The newer Sunnyside six-pack transformed learning terrain and family laps out of Albion. It’s the best way to get new skiers comfortable before graduating up-canyon.

• Alta-Snowbird Connection: With the right ticket, you can slide through marked gates near Sugarloaf to ski both mountains in a single day. Note: Alta is ski-only so the interconnect isn’t available to snowboarders.

Why The Snow Is So Good

Storms sweep in from the Pacific, cool and dry across the Great Basin. They unload on the steep, granite walls of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Add occasional Great Salt Lake lake-effect bands and you get that trademark “right storm, right canyon” jackpot.

Alta’s deep, low-density powder skis like a dream. It’s the recipe behind Utah’s “Greatest Snow on Earth” and Alta sits in the sweet spot. As does Snowbird.

Ski-Only Tradition

Alta’s policy bans equipment not people. So if you’re a crossover family, know that your snowboarders can ride at Snowbird while skiers lap Alta.

The rule has been tested in court over the years and remains in place today. It’s part of Alta’s identity and charm.

Photo: Travel Utah

Lessons & Programs

Alta’s Alf Engen-inspired ethos shows up in thoughtful instruction across ages and levels from true first-timers to expert tune-ups on steeps and variable snow.

Book early around holidays. Little Cottonwood Canyon fills up fast. (See current products and pricing live on Alta’s site.)

Dining & On-Mountain Breaks

• Alf’s Restaurant (mid-mountain, Albion side): Classic fuel stop between Sugarloaf and Supreme.
• Watson Café/Collins Grill (Collins zone): Easy access from the Collins side for a warm-up and a bite.
• Base-area cafés: Quick coffee and soups at both bases so you don’t lose storm-day momentum.

Exact offerings/hours change seasonally. Check the status page before you go.

Photo: Travel Utah

Lodging: The Alta Lodge Experience

Alta’s slopeside lodges are part of the magic. Ski a tram-load day next door. Then hole up in a true ski lodge with dinner included and first chair outside your door next morning. Pick your flavor:

• Alta Lodge – classic, quietly elegant, and steps from the snow.
• Alta’s Rustler Lodge – ski-in/ski-out with a famous outdoor pool/hot tub view.
• Goldminer’s Daughter Lodge – right by Collins for out-the-door laps.
• Alta Peruvian Lodge – European-style warmth and big-day energy.
• Snowpine Lodge – the deluxe option with spa perks in a modern alpine structure.

All five sit in the tiny “town of Alta.” Sleep here and you’re living the rhythm the mountain was built for.

Getting Here, Parking & The Ski Bus

Alta is right up at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon - SR-210. In storms, 4WD/AWD or chains will be required and expect occasional canyon closures for avalanche work.

On peak days and holiday periods, parking reservations are required from 8 A.M. - 1 P.M. Reserve in advance and always check the Parking & Road page before you leave.

Prefer transit? The UTA Ski Bus Route 994 connects the Historic Sandy TRAX station to Snowbird and Alta. It typically runs every 30 minutes during the heart of the season. Schedules refresh each fall. Confirm details before your trip.

“Interlodge” 101

During the biggest storm cycles, Alta (and Snowbird) occasionally go into Interlodge. This is a safety protocol where everyone must stay indoors while avalanche control work happens and canyon hazards settle.

It’s rare enough to be memorable but common enough to be part of local lore. When it lifts, though, those first laps can be all-time.

Tickets & Passes

Alta sells date-based day tickets online. Buy early to save. If you like to sample, look at the Ikon portfolio (Alta is included via “Alta only” and "Alta+Snowbird" products depending on the pass year).

Also check the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass for flexible multi-day access among the four Cottonwood resorts. Details and eligibility change by season so always verify the current options.

When to Come

January - March is prime for cold storms and that famous blower. December often delivers early. April can be a sleeper with corn mornings and surprise refreshers.

Start early on peak weekends, watch the weather, and remember the canyon rule of thumb: right storm, right canyon. Watch for the biggest storms in February. They seem to be more than common.

Photo: Travel Utah

Summer and Albion Basin

Summer in Little Cottonwood Canyon is a perfect time to visit this canyon. For a stunning display of color that you have to see to believe, visit Albion Basin during the Wasatch Wildflower Festival in mid-to-late July each year.

The Wasatch Wildflower Festival is a multi-day event hosted at the four Cottonwood Canyons ski areas to celebrate the beauty and diversity of wildflowers in the Wasatch Mountains.

Of course, you can visit outside the festival dates to avoid larger crowds. Festivals and “special days” in Utah always seem to draw huge crowds now. It is always our preference to avoid them.

Albion Basin is located in Little Cottonwood Canyon just above the Alta Ski Area. And, of course, Alta is just up the road from Snowbird Resort.

Due to the altitude, the gate is usually closed until July. Snowdrifts are common among the pines even then. Expect crowds on the weekends as this dramatic display … and during the Wildflower Festival … has a relatively short life.

Summer comes much later up here at an elevation of 9,500 feet. It doesn’t last long either. Weather can change quickly so be prepared for thunderstorms.

There is a campground host on site as well as restrooms and drinking water. Parking is limited though so plan on that.

You may have to hike a ways. That being said, there is an excellent hiking and biking trail which leads up to a scenic little lake called Cecret Lake (not a spelling error).

Quick Facts

• Location: Head of Little Cottonwood Canyon (SR-210), east of Salt Lake City
• Snow: 548" average; record 903" in 2022–23
• Vertical/Acreage: 2,538'/2,614 acres
• Lifts/Runs: 8 lifts / 118 runs
• Night skiing: none
• Ski-only: Snowboards are not permitted
• Parking: Reservations Friday – Sunday & holidays, 8 A.M. –1 P.M.
• Transit: UTA Ski Bus 994 to Alta (seasonal so check schedules)

Final Thoughts

Alta is skiing’s North Star in Utah. Simple, soulful, and pointed straight at what matters.

You wake up slopeside, click in a few steps from the door, and spend the day surfing low-density magic on honest pitches with friends fanning out down a bowl.

If you’re building a Utah itinerary around one “this is why I ski” day, put Alta in bold.

Alta Ski Area
Highway 210; Alta, Utah
Base at Wildcat & Albion areas
For lodging and planning: Alta Lodge, Rustler Lodge, Goldminer’s Daughter, Peruvian Lodge, Snowpine Lodge (see Alta’s lodging hub for details). 
Website: https://www.alta.com/

Bryce Canyon National Park

Canyonlands National Park

Wasatch Mountains

Lake Powell

Zion National Park

Arches National Park

Great Salt Lake

Monument Valley