Alta covers 2,614 acres (1,058 hectares) at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah, rising from an 8,530 ft (2,600 m) base to 11,070 ft (3,373 m) at the summit for 2,540 ft (773 m) of vertical. Across 119 runs the split is 15% beginner, 30% intermediate, 40% advanced and 15% expert, so the mountain leans towards confident skiers. Snowfall is the real draw, averaging around 545 inches a year. Alta is a skiers-only mountain, with snowboarding not permitted, and its mostly fixed-grip chairs are slow by modern standards, which suits the unhurried, powder-first culture.

Collins Gulch is where the steep skiing starts. The High Traverse, the access road from the Collins lift, leads to Alf's High Rustler, a famous pitch that begins at about 45 degrees, while Ballroom is a wide bowl that collects excellent powder. Devil's Castle needs a bootpack from the Supreme lift for more than 500 vertical feet of open, steep terrain. Albion Basin is the gentler side, where the Sunnyside lift serves beginners on Crooked Mile and Home Run, the longest run at Alta at 1.3 miles. Alta suits powder-minded skiers who are happy to traverse and hike, and the joint Alta-Bird ticket opens up neighbouring Snowbird via Sugarloaf Pass into Mineral Basin.

The 2025-26 season opened 7 December 2025 and runs through 26 April 2026, with lifts operating 9:15am to 4:30pm daily. Typical season length spans mid-November to late April, though opening dates vary based on early-season snowfall and snowmaking coverage. The 88th consecutive winter of operation continues Alta's legacy as one of North America's oldest continuously operating ski areas.

Alta averages 548 inches of snowfall annually at the Collins Study Plot, with measurements ranging from pedestrian seasons around 400 inches to the record 903 inches recorded in 2022-23. Lake-effect snow from the Great Salt Lake combines with orographic lift from Little Cottonwood Canyon's steep walls to produce consistently dry powder averaging 8.5 per cent density. The resort averages 64 snowfall days per season, with February historically the snowiest month receiving over 100 inches, followed closely by January and March. Snowmaking covers approximately 140 hectares of key terrain to ensure coverage across beginner zones and main thoroughfares.

Peak powder conditions arrive late February through early March, though substantial snowfall occurs throughout the December to April window. Spring skiing extends into late April with corn snow conditions developing on south-facing aspects, whilst north-facing terrain retains powder quality due to high elevation and shaded exposure. January through March provides the most consistent deep snow and coldest temperatures, with storm cycles often delivering 10-plus-inch powder days - the 2022-23 season saw 36 such days compared to a typical season's dozen.

Closing Day on 26 April traditionally features the Frank World Championship costume event with DJ entertainment in the Wildcat parking lot. No night skiing operates at Alta, keeping the focus on daytime powder skiing. The resort implemented weekend and holiday parking reservations from 8am to 1pm beginning December 2025, requiring advance booking through April except for passholders who reserve for free. Summer uphill access opens after closing day for backcountry skiers and hikers, with no ski patrol or avalanche mitigation during the off-season months.

Daily snow reports at Alta go back to 2010, 17 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.