With inexpensive lift tickets, close proximity to Salt Lake City, deep powder and superb terrain, Alta is one of Utah's premier ski resorts. Beautiful scenery, panoramic views, two ski-in ski-out restaurants, it just doesn't get much better than this! Unless, of course, you take advantage of the deal between Alta and Snowbird that allows skiers access to both resorts... and it looks like Alta uses an RFID Hands Free ticket system.

Popular areas of the mountain:

  • Baldy Chutes (a hike from the top of Sugarloaf lift) - Excellent snow, good pitch, expert only.
  • Catherine's Area (accessed from Supreme lift) - Superb powder, excellent pitch, intermediate and expert.
  • Greeley Chutes (accessed via Collins lift) - Excellent powder, good pitch, expert.
  • Rustler (accessed via Collins lift) - Powder, powder and more powder, excellent pitch, expert.
  • Glory Hole (accessed via Sugarloaf - a small bowl of incredible powder
  • Devil's Castle (accessed via Sugarloaf) - open steeps, excellent powder, expert's favorite
  • Wildcat Steeps (accessed via Wildcat lift) - superb deep powder through the trees...

Alta is located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon on State Highway 210 (also known as the Little Cottonwood Canyon Scenic Byway), about 25 miles southeast of Salt Lake City in the Wasatch Mountains. Alta is a "skiers only" resort: no snowboarding allowed. Alta Ski Area has been in business since 1939. And in the 2007-08 winter, Alta topped 700" of snow.

Baldy Chutes at the top of Alta
Baldy Chutes at the top of Alta
Quick Facts about Alta Ski Area
Nearest City: Alta, Utah
GPS Coordinates: 40.580833, -111.637222
Google Satellite Map
Season: Late November - Mid-April (Weather permitting)
Hours of operation: 9:15 AM to 4:30 PM, MST
Lifts: 11:
* 2 detachable quads
* 1 detachable triple chair
* 1 triple chair
* 3 double chairs
* 3 surface tows
* 1 moving conveyor
Average Snowfall: 514"
Base Elevation: 8,530 ft
Summit: 10,550 ft
Vertical Rise: 2,020 ft
Skiable Terrain: 2,200 acres
Snowmaking: Yes
Night skiing: No

Number of Trails: 116+
Trails Classification:
Beginner: 25%
Intermediate: 40%
Expert: 35%