Alta Ski Resort, USA

Alta Ski Resort, USA

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Guide To Alta Ski Resort

Alta Ski Resort is the place to be if you're looking for an epic ski trip. The resort also shares the famous Utah skiing trademarked slogan “Greatest Snow on Earth.” And with great terrain and monster snow dumps, you’re bound to have an incredible snow sports experience at the ski resort.

The ski field is located in Utah's Wasatch Range and offers terrain for every skill level. Whether you're looking for a gentle run through the trees or a steep, winding adventure down the mountain, you can find it here.

Alta Ski Resort is a great destination for families who want to get together and have fun while on vacation. There are plenty of activities available at Alta Ski Resort, including skiing lessons, tubing, and more. And there's more than just skiing on offer at Alta: there are also hikes, snowshoeing, and sightseeing adventures.

In addition to the amazing terrain and facilities, Alta Ski Resort also offers some of the best dining around, plus great lodging options for everyone in your group, including luxury suites with views of mountains across Utah County. Most of the on-mountain accommodations offer ski-in/ski-out access. However, if you don’t mind the commute, you can get more accommodation options over at Salt Lake City.

What Alta Ski Resort has to offer

Mountain Features

Resort Features

ALTA SKI RESORT OPEN DATES AND TIMES

Alta Ski Field is estimated to be open

Between the dates of November 18, and estimated to close on April 23, 2023, for the 2022-23 season.

Ski life Services at Alta Ski Resort open as early as 9:15 AM and last to close is at 4:30 PM.

Mountain Map/ Info

Alta Ski Resort Trail Map

Alta Ski Resort Terrain

The Alta Ski Resort has 2,614 acres of skiable terrain with 116 trails situated on a 616-meter vertical. The highest lifted point on the resort is 3,216 meters while the lowest is 2,600. The terrain is moderately rugged but also pristine, with thrilling features such as steeps, rock hucking, tree skiing, and great cruising slopes for intermediates and beginners.

Its expert runs have plenty of steep chutes and cliffs that are well-marked on the single-black and double-black runs. Atop the resort, there are sporadic trees and open alpine areas overlooking gladed areas. There are also many off-piste and uncharted snow areas to discover and explore on the mountain.

The terrain’s official stats include:

  • 15% beginner
  • 30% intermediate
  • 55% advanced

Beginner Riding at Alta Ski Resort

There are ample beginner slopes at the resort that are serviced by lifts that can be accessed at Albion, Cecret, and Sunnyside. While the beginner area is not designated, novices can learn undisturbed as the area is not heavily trafficked by more advanced riders.

Intermediate Riding at Alta Ski Area

The resort has a range of intermediate runs with tons of features including gentle groomers with rollers. Some of the blue runs are ungroomed which enables less experienced intermediates to learn to ride on ski bumps. The resort also has areas where intermediates can learn to ride powder.

As you traverse further from the Collins lift, the runs become steeper. However, there are great trails here and you’re practically spoilt for choice.

Advanced Riding at Alta Utah

While there’s no clear designation between single and advanced riding, the resort offers great challenging slopes. There is a wide-open bowl with a moderate pitch and tons of interesting features.

More challenging slopes can be accessed via the supreme lift which also stays open during inclement weather. On either side of the Supreme lift, there are extreme double blacks with steep, narrow chutes and cliffs. The Catherine area has pleasant tree runs that provide an adrenaline-spiking riding experience.

After ascending to the top of the hill, powder meadows can be found a little walk from the landing.

Expert Slopes at Ski Alta

There’s an abundance of extreme, challenging expert slopes at the resort. The East Greeley, Yellow Tail, and Greeley Chutes areas have great pitch and powder and make for splendid skiing and snowboarding. There are also dozens of pleasant slopes with thrilling features over at Alf’s High Rustler.

Other areas that have expert riding opportunities include the Devil’s Castle, West Castle, East Castle, and Baldy Chutes. These can be accessed from either Alta or Snowbird.

Lifts at Alta Ski Resort

The resort’s terrain is served by 6 primary lifts, 5 of which are chairlifts. The lifts are conveniently placed and enable riders to access different parts of the slopes according to their ability or level.

The named lifts include:

  • Sunnyside – This is a 6-person detachable high-speed chairlift that has an hourly carrying capacity of 2,400 persons per hour. It travels a distance of 1,600 meters.
  • Supreme Chair – This is a detachable high-speed quad that travels a length of 1,565 meters and has a carrying capacity of 2,400 riders per hour.
  • Collins Express – This is a detachable high-speed quad that covers a distance of 1,918 meters and has a carrying capacity of 2,400 riders and their equipment every hour.
  • Sugarloaf – This is also a detachable high-speed quad that can ferry up to 2,400 riders per hour and cover a distance of 1,537 meters.
  • Wildcat – This is a fixed-grip double chairlift that can carry up to 1,000 persons every hour while covering a distance of 1,310 meters.
  • Transfer Tow – This is a 756-meter rope tow that can haul up to 1,000 people every hour.

How To Get A Ski Pass To Alta Ski Resort

There are two ways to get your ski passes. You can either purchase them physically at the resort from the ticketing offices or buy them online through the resort’s website. Getting your ski passes online has two advantages:

  • It saves you the hustle of having to queue at the resort’s ticketing offices where you just collect your physical pass in designated locations.
  • You may save money by taking advantage of pre-season sales, coupon codes, and early bird offers.

Please note that weekend riding may be priced differently from weekday riding. In addition, passes may cost more during the holidays and the season’s peak.

You can buy the following kinds of passes at the resort:

  • Alta Ikon Pass – These passes are for those who would like to ski or snowboard at Alta as well as the other resorts in Utah that are Ikon Pass Signatories. It is the best value for money as it gives you a variety of riding in different resorts in North America and the world. The passes include the Ikon Pass Plus and the Ikon Base Plus Pass.
  • Adult Season Passes (for adults between 18 and 25 years)
  • Senior Season Pass (for adults over 80 years old)
  • Alta-Bird Season Pass 
  • Kids Season Pass (priced differently for children between the ages of 13 and 17 years, 7 to 12 years, and 6 years and below)

For more details on these tickets and more, you can visit the Alta Ski Resort website.

Alta Ski Resort Snowcam  

Curious to know what the snow is like today at Alta Ski Resort?

The following is a live snow Cam feed of the slopes at the Alta Ski Resort. We’ve curated the best views to show you the current snow conditions from around the resort.  

Ski Resort Weather

Aside from its marvelous terrain, the other highlight of the Alta Ski Resort is the abundant dry powder. The snow falls in abundance and stays fresh longer than in the other neighboring ski areas such as Snowbird. The resort receives a high average seasonal snowfall of about 14 meters. The snow conditions are particularly optimal from late February to early March and this is when riding is especially pleasant.

Akin to the other resorts in Utah, the resort also shares the phrase “Greatest Snow on Earth.” Skiers and snowboarders love Alta because of the quantity and quality of the snow which creates great opportunities for different kinds of riding. The snow quantity is partly due to the lake effect phenomenon that leads to massive snow dumps from the clouds that form from ascending moisture.

The snow stays fresh longer in part because most of its slopes have a northern aspect, facing away from the direct sun. A point to note for advanced riders is that sometimes the slopes have an avalanche risk but the resort warns riders accordingly and so long as they follow the set safety protocols, they have nothing to worry about. 

ALTA SKI RESORT SNOW REPORT

In the following live graphic, you can see the currently estimated snow depth for the Alta Ski Resort.

ALTA SKI RESORT WEATHER FORECAST

Knowing the projected weather conditions at and around the resort can help you plan your trip better. The following graphic shows an updated forecast for the Alta Ski Resort’s weather.

Alta Ski RESORT Weather Forcast

BOOK NEARBY HOTELS

ALTA SKI RESORT ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE SKI RESORT.

The resort’s village has great facilities that are sufficient for its patronage. The accommodation and dining options are located either in the Albion base (for beginners and kids) or the Wildcat base (for intermediates, advanced, and expert riders). For revelers who don’t mind the commute, they can seek out more options at Salt Lake City (SLC). At SLC, there is a wide variety of options ranging from luxurious to pocket-friendly lodging and dining.

The resort boasts a collection of unique, privately-owned lodges, vacation homes, condos, and incredible views. The facilities offer great ski-in/ski-out access. There are also superb on-mountain restaurants, bars, spas, and rental/retail shops.

Some great on-mountain joints to eat and drink include:

You can also check out the following lodges with both affordable and deluxe accommodations:

ALTA SKI RESORT ACCOMMODATION AND WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING THE SKI RESORT.

The resort’s village has great facilities that are sufficient for its patronage. The accommodation and dining options are located either in the Albion base (for beginners and kids) or the Wildcat base (for intermediates, advanced, and expert riders). For revelers who don’t mind the commute, they can seek out more options at Salt Lake City (SLC). At SLC, there is a wide variety of options ranging from luxurious to pocket-friendly lodging and dining.

The resort boasts a collection of unique, privately-owned lodges, vacation homes, condos, and incredible views. The facilities offer great ski-in/ski-out access. There are also superb on-mountain restaurants, bars, spas, and rental/retail shops.

Some great on-mountain joints to eat and drink include:

You can also check out the following lodges with both affordable and deluxe accommodations:

Getting To The Resort

How To Get to Alta Ski Resort

The Alta Ski Resort is located in the Mountain Ranges of Wasatch in the Little Cottonwood Canyon, along State Highway 210. The resort is just 43 minutes from Salt Lake City and its airport. The proximity of the city to the resort and the presence of an international airport make it very accessible to revelers. 

Getting to Alta Ski Resort by Air

The gateway airport to the resort is the Salt Lake City International Airport. The airport makes Salt Lake City a major airline hub with many flights into and out of Utah. The airport also has many flight services to and from major cities in the US and the world, through several airlines. The main transfer options to the resort from the city include rental cars and shuttle bus rides.

Driving to Alta Ski Resort

If you plan to stay off-mountain, a rental vehicle is the best and most useful option. It gives you the flexibility to visit more ski resorts in Utah. Salt Lake City and the airport has great car rental options with affordable rates. From November up to May, all vehicles heading up the alpine areas in Utah are required by law to have snow tires and fitting snow chains. 

To get to the resort from the airport and SLC, head east on I-80 or south on I-215. Then exit at 6200 South which turns into Wasatch Boulevard and follow the signs to Alta and Snowbird.

As you embark on your journey to the resort, note that the Little Cottonwood Canyon tends to be avalanche-prone and may be closed for avalanche control. In addition, the route from Alta to Little Cottonwood tends to choke up on traffic, especially during the weekends. You can get up-to-date information on this and general road conditions by tuning in to AM 530 radio station. 

There are limited parking options at the Alta Lodges and additional two-day parking lots at the facility. The first parking lot at the resort is at the Wildcat base and is best suited for advanced and intermediate thrill-seekers, with parking set aside for people traveling in groups of 3 per vehicle.

Getting to the Alta Ski Resort Using Shuttle Buses

Visitors staying at the hotels in Salt Lake City can take the Utah Transit Authority Light Rail (UTA TRAX) which takes them to the UTA ski bus boarding terminal. The buses have multiple pick-up locations around the city and are inexpensive. The entrance to the Canyon also has park-and-ride options where you can hop onto the UTA buses.

You can also use a private transfer through Alta Shuttles such as the Canyon Hop, which also provides transfers to other locations in the ski domain.

Ski Resort FAQ

WHERE IS ALTA SKI RESORT?

The resort is located in the Wasatch Mountains at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, near Salt Lake City.

HOW MUCH SNOW IS AT ALTA SKI RESORT?

The resort receives an abundant average seasonal snowfall of about 14 meters of high-quality snow.

HOW BIG IS ALTA SKI RESORT?

The Alt a Ski Resort has 2,614 acres of skiable terrain with 116 trails situated on a 616-meter vertical.

IS THERE PARKING AT ALTA SKI RESORT?

Yes, there is ample parking at the resort for both overnight guests and day trippers. Onsite parking can be found at the Alta Lodges but there is more parking farther afield.

IS ALTA SKI RESORT BEGINNER FRIENDLY?

Yes, the resort has beginner-friendly slopes complete with a ski school, equipment rental, and sales services as well as beginner-accessible and friendly lifts.

DOES ALTA SKI RESORT NEED SNOW CHAINS?

Yes, Utah  requires that all vehicles heading up the alpine areas have appropriate snow tires and snow chains from November to May.