Alta Ski Area: Plan a Day on the Slopes
Alta Ski Area is a short drive from Salt Lake City. While people travel from all over the world to spend a few days skiing The Greatest Snow on Earth, many locals head up Little Cottonwood Canyon for a day on the slopes. I’ve enjoyed some time on the Alta Ski Area runs over the years.
Whether you enjoy a snowy day or a bluebird day on the slopes, I’ve put together a few tips to help you plan you day at Alta Ski Area.
I should also point out that Alta Ski Area is exclusive to skiers. Snowboarders are not allowed at the resort.
Getting to Alta Ski Area
From I-15, take the 9000 S. exit and head east for seven miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Alta Ski Area is a nine-mile drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon along Highway 210.
Depending on the number of people heading up the canyon to one of two resorts (Alta Ski Area and Snowbird), those nine miles may take a while. Bad weather (which is probably good weather for skiers looking for a powder day) can also complicate things.
Parking reservations are required on weekends and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Check the road conditions before you head up the canyon. You are required to have a vehicle in 4WD or chains on your tires if the weather is bad. DO NOT venture up the canyon if your vehicle does not have those features when they are required. You will end up gumming up the works for everyone else.
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The other option is to take the UTA Ski Bus. When my son and I went, we caught the 994 from the Historic Sandy Station around 8 a.m. Forty-five minutes later, we were up the canyon and ready to ski. Bus 953 departs from Midvale Fort Union Station and services Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Alta Ski Area has lockers you can rent, so if you end up bringing up gear you need to store, rent a locker. We rented a medium sized locker for $7 for the day. We had access to it any time.
Regardless of whether you drove or took the bus, it is possible for the canyon to be closed due to avalanches across the road. In our case, it was closed for avalanche mitigation – and it took us six hours to get back down the canyon.
A Few Tips About Skiing Alta
As a noob when it comes to skiing (meaning I’ve been skiing fewer than a dozen times in my life), I really enjoyed a day at Alta Ski Area. It’s a resort that if I can ski, so can you and your kids.
If you’re planning a day on the slopes, here are some quick tips to help you prepare for fun and safety.
- Hydrate while on the mountain. During our day of skiing, I only consumed one bottle of water at lunch. Combine the lack of hydration with the exertion of a not-as-active-as-I-should-be guy on the slopes, I ended up kicking my heart out of rhythm. I have atrial fibrillation, and dehydration is not good for me. But it’s probably not good for anyone else, either. So stay hydrated, even if you’re cold and aren’t feeling thirsty. Trust me.
- Bring ski poles. After a day at Alta Ski Area, I would encourage everyone to bring them – especially if it’s a powder day. There are some areas of the mountain that are pretty level, and we often lost our momentum from the downhill and had to cross-country ski to get to the next downhill part. Ski poles would’ve made that a little easier.
- Always wear a helmet. Beyond writing about travel, I also work in healthcare. I’ve worked with numerous news reporters over the years about concussions. Helmets really do save lives, and that applies to skiers of all ages and skill levels on the mountain. I strongly recommend goggles, too. They add warm relief to the cold mountain air and help you keep your eyes from freezing. 😉
- Bring snacks. I had packed some fruit leathers with me, and I was glad I did. When we got stuck on the bus for four hours trying to get home, a fruit leather was a welcome snack for my son and I.
Experience the 119 Ski Runs on the Mountain
Alta Ski Area has 119 ski runs. Looking at a map of the mountain will show you just how many opportunities and routes there are in the area. There are two main points you can access the lifts to the top, along with a tow rope between the two areas (Albion Base and Wildcat Base).
My only experience with Alta Ski Area has been at Albion Base, which is the furthest up the canyon you can go. Albion Base has several green and a couple blue runs accessible from the Sunnyside Lift. If you’re looking for a little bigger challenge, you can access Supreme Lift one you exit Sunnyside Lift. From the top of Supreme, you have access to several black runs and a few blue runs.
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One things I really love about Alta Ski Area is that from each lift, there are directional signs showing “Easiest Way” down the mountain. I need signs that reassure me I am not overtaxing my abilities. Haha!
Look at the map before you head up the canyon to decide which runs you want to take. There are runs that connect the two bases, so you can change your mind throughout the day.
Grab a Bite to Eat
If you plan to grab lunch on the mountain, Alta Ski Area has that option. Not all the food places and cafeterias are at the base. We enjoyed a burger and fries at Alf’s Restaurant, located near the Supreme/Sugarloaf lifts. But they have lots of options.
Decide where you want to enjoy your meal – either on the mountain or at the base, from this list:
ON THE MOUNTAIN
- Alf’s Restaurant
- Watson Cafe
- Collins Grill
- Baldy Brews
- Cecret Coffee
AT THE BASE
- Cecret Mercantile Food Trailer (Albion Base)
- Basecamp Kitchen Food (Wildcat Base)
- Alta Java (Albion Base)
- Albion Grill (Albion Base)
- Alta Lodge Dining – Offers lunch to guests not staying at the lodge
- Rustler Lodge – Offers lunch to guests not staying at the lodge
- Alta Lodge Sitzmark Club – It’s a bar, so it doesn’t serve food
Ski School and Lessons for Young and Old
I can’t ski well enough to try and teach my kids how to ski, especially when they were younger. Although I will take credit for teaching my wife to ski. It’s as simple as French fries and pizza wedge. 😉
When they were younger, we put them in the Alf Engen Ski School for a half day. They do offer full-day ski school options, too. The adults went off to ski while the kiddos learned how to ski. The kids were able to ride a conveyor belt to the top of the small hill, then stick their arms out for balance and pizza wedge down. The instructors were amazing and the kids enjoyed it. My daughter did try to make a run for the main thoroughfare, but the orange barrier fence kept her in the ski school area.
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When my oldest son felt comfortable enough to go up the ski lift, the instructor took him up and helped him ski his way down the mountain. Now, several years later, I feel like my 18-year-old son is teaching me how to ski.
If you’re a first time adult skier, don’t worry. They have lessons for you, too.
I’ve never used the child care services at Alta Ski Area. We could usually find a sitter in the valley and not transport the non-skier kids up the mountain. But if you need that child care option – it’s here.
The Details
Address: Alta Ski Area, Highway 210, Alta, UT 84092 (At the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon – 32 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport)
Cost: Lift tickets are less expensive online vs. at the window. Online prices for adult single-day passes are roughly $113-$151. Children lift tickets range from $54-$76 (online). Prices vary depending on the day of the week and any holiday weekends. Visit their website for more specific pricing. When you buy your lift ticket, you will need to make parking reservations for any weekend or holiday times.
Hours: The lifts run from 9:15-4:30 p.m. daily. Some lifts close earlier. Hours may change due to weather and road conditions in the canyon.
Website: https://www.alta.com/
Phone: (801) 359-1078
Disclosure: I received two complimentary lift passes to Alta Ski Area for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
PIN THIS
Awful article. You obviously did not read the road signs. EVERY car centering the canyon must have chains or 4 wheel drive EVERY DAY, without exception into May every year.
Alta is basically not for beginners. Your suggestion to have poles and goggles is moronic . Who skis without poles, and because weather can change frequently without notice
Goggles are a must, especially for beginners.
Alta is not advised for beginners. Generally it is for hard core skiers.
I can’t believe the writer was paid to write this article. He should be trying miniature golf.
I appreciate you taking the time to read the article and offer your opinion. I respectfully disagree with your take, in that my kids and I learned to ski at Alta. I still consider myself a beginner skier (I’ve been skiing about a dozen times in my life), and this article is focused on people who are like me – looking to enjoy a day on the slopes as a beginner. I think Alta is perfect for that and I’ve had a great time every time I’ve been at Alta. The tips shared in the article are from my personal experiences – yes, even the goggles and ski poles comments. My purpose is to provide tips to those thinking about skiing at Alta as per my experiences. It’s a large mountain, and there is room for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers – lots of runs, ranging from green to black diamond.
Richard –
Three things:
1) Check UDOT’s website: https://cottonwoodcanyons.udot.utah.gov/getting-up-the-canyons/
You are only required to use chains/4-wheel-drive on severe winter weather days – although they certainly might be helpful for days afterward as roads may still be snowy/icy.
2) Alta might not be the most beginner-friendly, but there are certainly areas for those just starting out – as evidenced by the presence of a ski school!
3) Some skiers may think it’s moronic he might have to mention this kind of stuff, but that’s because a lot of people are morons and need to be told. That’s not on him. In fact, it means he understands his audience.