Accommodation
Best for: serious powder skiers, traditionalists wanting a no-frills, unpretentious mountain, and advanced and expert skiers chasing some of the most reliable deep snow in North America.
Not for: snowboarders, who are not permitted anywhere at Alta, or those wanting a polished, modern resort village. Alta remains deliberately old-school and low-key.
Alta sits at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, around 25 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah, and is one of the oldest and most storied ski areas in the United States. Famous for its famously light, dry “Utah powder”, Alta has deliberately resisted much of the commercial development seen elsewhere, retaining a genuinely old-school, community-focused atmosphere.
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Alta is one of only three major US resorts, alongside Deer Valley and Mad River Glen, that still prohibit snowboarding entirely, and it is linked to neighbouring Snowbird via an interconnect gate for skiers wanting to combine both mountains on an Alta/Snowbird combination ticket.
Alta covers 2,614 acres across 116-plus trails, split roughly 15% easiest, 30% more difficult and 55% most difficult. The base sits at 2,600m (8,530ft), rising to 3,374m (11,068ft) at the summit, a vertical drop of 774m (2,538ft). The resort is served by 7 lifts, and average annual snowfall is a remarkable 1,384cm (545 inches), among the highest of any lift-served resort anywhere.
With 55% of terrain rated most difficult, Alta is unapologetically geared towards strong skiers, though it retains enough gentler terrain low on the mountain to make it workable for confident beginners and intermediates too.
The lower mountain around the Albion base area offers gentle, well-groomed learning terrain, giving new skiers a legitimate way in despite Alta’s expert-heavy reputation.
Confident intermediates will find enjoyable cruising on the Wildcat and Sunnyside areas, though much of the mountain will feel like a step up from typical groomed resorts.
Alta’s steep chutes, bowls and famously deep, light powder have made it a pilgrimage destination for serious skiers for decades, with the interconnect to Snowbird adding further terrain for those with an Alta/Snowbird ticket.
Alta averages an extraordinary 1,384cm (545 inches) of snow a year, a result of the Wasatch Range’s famous “lake effect” storms off the Great Salt Lake. December through February bring the deepest, lightest powder, while the resort’s high elevation and heavy snowfall mean good conditions often persist well into spring.
Alta operates its own standalone lift tickets and a combined Alta/Snowbird ticket covering both resorts, alongside limited access through certain multi-resort pass products. Booking online ahead of travel is recommended for the best rates.
Alta’s ski school runs group and private lessons for all abilities, with a particular focus on powder and steep-terrain technique reflecting the mountain’s terrain and famous snow. Rental shops are available at the base areas.
Alta has a small number of historic, no-frills lodges directly at the base, considerably more low-key than the resort hotels found elsewhere in Utah, with Salt Lake City offering a much wider range of accommodation a short drive away.
Après-ski at Alta is genuinely low-key and community-focused, reflecting the resort’s deliberate resistance to commercial development, with most evening dining and nightlife found back in Salt Lake City.
Alta is less geared towards non-ski activities than larger resorts, with its appeal centred almost entirely on the skiing itself and the surrounding Wasatch mountain scenery.
Most UK visitors fly direct to Salt Lake City International Airport, then drive around 40 minutes up Little Cottonwood Canyon to reach Alta, making it one of the more convenient Utah resorts to access.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Among the highest snowfall totals of any resort in the world | No snowboarding permitted anywhere on the mountain |
| Genuine, unpretentious old-school ski culture | Very limited on-mountain lodging and nightlife |
| Convenient, direct flight access via Salt Lake City | Terrain skews heavily towards advanced and expert skiers |
| Interconnect access to neighbouring Snowbird | Canyon road can require chains or winter tyres in storms |
Alta is a genuine pilgrimage destination for serious powder skiers, offering some of the most reliable deep snow anywhere in the world alongside a deliberately unpolished, community-focused atmosphere that has changed little over decades. Snowboarders and those wanting resort luxury should look elsewhere, but for skiers who care most about the snow itself, few places compare.
No, Alta is one of only three major US resorts, alongside Deer Valley and Mad River Glen, that prohibit snowboarding entirely.
Fly direct to Salt Lake City International Airport, then drive around 40 minutes up Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Alta operates its own standalone lift tickets and a combined Alta/Snowbird ticket, with limited access through select multi-resort passes.
Alta averages around 1,384cm (545 inches) of snowfall a year, among the highest totals of any lift-served resort anywhere in the world.
Yes, an interconnect gate links the two resorts, and a combined Alta/Snowbird lift ticket allows skiers to explore both mountains.
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