Utah, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Alta
Alta delivers 545 inches annual snowfall across 2,614 acres in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. Skiers-only since 1939.
Season 2025-2026
Opens
29 Nov 2025
Closes
26 Apr 2026
Days open
148
Annual snow
45ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Alta operates across 2,614 acres between 2,600 and 3,373 metres elevation in Little Cottonwood Canyon, delivering 773 metres of vertical drop across 119 runs. The resort receives an average of 545 inches of snowfall annually, measured at the Collins Study Plot since 1980, with the 2022-23 season recording a record 903 inches. One of three remaining skiers-only areas in the United States alongside Deer Valley and Mad River Glen, Alta first opened its lifts in January 1939 as the second chairlift-served resort in the western United States.
Terrain divides into 15 per cent beginner, 30 per cent intermediate and 55 per cent advanced, with no distinction between single and double black diamond ratings on the trail map. The Albion Basin side centres beginner skiing on the Sunnyside lift with runs like Crooked Mile and Home Run, whilst advanced terrain dominates the Collins Gulch side. Alf's High Rustler drops 1,000 vertical feet at a sustained 45-degree pitch from the High Traverse, and Devil's Castle requires a bootpack from the Supreme lift to access over 500 vertical feet of open, steep terrain. Ballroom bowl spreads across massive open faces below Mount Baldy, and the Spiney Chutes near Supreme Point deliver 40-degree tree skiing.
The mountain operates from two base areas connected by a bi-directional rope tow - Wildcat serving expert terrain via the Collins lift, and Albion supporting beginners and intermediates around Sunnyside. Five independently owned lodges including Alta Lodge and Goldminer's Daughter provide ski-in ski-out accommodation at the base, maintaining a traditional atmosphere focused on skiing rather than resort amenities. Watson Shelter at mid-mountain houses Collins Grill for fine dining and Baldy Brews coffee shop, whilst the Albion Day Lodge anchors services at the second base.
Alta appears on both the Ikon Pass (7 days shared with Snowbird) and Mountain Collective (2 days plus 50 per cent off additional days), with the resort's own season pass priced at $899 for 2025-26. The Alta-Bird combination pass launched in 2002 provides unlimited access to both resorts totalling 5,114 acres via gates connecting through Mineral Basin. Daily lift tickets range from $89 to $125 depending on season, with children six and under skiing free. The resort suits powder-focused skiers willing to traverse and bootpack for terrain, with the local saying 'Alta is for skiers' reflecting both the snowboard ban and the mountain's technical character.
2,536ft
Vertical
119
Runs
2,614 acres
Skiable
45ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
119 runs across 2,614 acres skiable
Alta spreads 119 runs across 2,614 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 40%, with 18 beginner runs to find your feet and 66 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
119
runs
119 runs across 4 grades
Beginner18 runs · 15%
Intermediate36 runs · 30%
Advanced48 runs · 40%
Expert18 runs · 15%
Time it right
When to visit Alta
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.
Season 2025-2026
29 Nov 2025
Opens
26 Apr 2026
Closes
148
Days open
45 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Alta, and where to stay
Alta sits at 2,600 metres elevation at the terminus of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, within Salt Lake County. The town of Alta occupies Albion Basin and Collins Gulch approximately 48 kilometres from the Great Salt Lake, with the ski area bounded by Snowbird resort to the west and backcountry access to Grizzly Gulch to the east. Mount Baldy rises to 3,374 metres as the highest point, with Sugarloaf Peak at 3,368 metres and Devil's Castle forming the dramatic eastern skyline.
Salt Lake City lies 40 kilometres northwest with a driving time of 45 minutes in normal conditions, whilst Park City sits 72 kilometres distant requiring 90 minutes. Sandy, the closest substantial town, is 34 kilometres away at the canyon mouth. The historic mining town of Alta dates to 1871, reaching a population of 3,000 during the 1872 silver boom before declining to ghost town status by 1930, then reviving as a ski destination from 1938. Five lodges and scattered condominiums comprise current accommodation, with most skiers staying slopeside or commuting from the Salt Lake Valley.
State Highway 210 provides the sole access route into Little Cottonwood Canyon, beginning at the junction with State Route 209 in Sandy and climbing 1,036 metres over 14.5 kilometres of two-lane canyon road. The road passes through Snowbird at 11 kilometres before reaching Alta at the canyon head. Interstate 15 and Interstate 215 serve as primary approach routes from Salt Lake City, with the drive traversing suburban areas before entering the canyon. Winter driving requires 4WD, AWD or chains under Utah's Traction Law, with UDOT frequently implementing restrictions during storms and closing the road for avalanche control work.
Salt Lake City International Airport serves as the primary gateway 51 kilometres from Alta with a 45-minute transfer in good conditions. UTA Ski Bus Route 994 operates daily from Historic Sandy Station to Alta from early December through mid-April, running at 30-minute intervals during peak hours with free ridership for Ikon and Alta passholders. Private shuttle services including Alta Shuttle and Alpine Transportation provide door-to-door transfers. The canyon's 10 per cent grade and exposure to avalanche paths make Little Cottonwood one of North America's most avalanche-prone roadways, with interlodge periods occasionally trapping overnight guests and employees when Highway 210 closes for extended mitigation work.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Alta, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter
Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.
19 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season
Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.
17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope
Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.
15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening
Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.
12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On
Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.
8 Aug 2026
Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift
Silvretta Montafon wants to retire one of its most distinctive lifts. The plan: a single 10-person gondola running direct from Schruns to 1,870 metres, replacing both the two-stage Hochjoch cable car and the 1985 Kropfen chairlift in one move. Capacity jumps from 620 to 3,000 people an hour, and the mid-station transfer disappears entirely. The public hearing lands August 27, 2026 - construction hasn't been confirmed yet, though lift databases are pointing to 2027.
5 Aug 2026
Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years
Dolomiti Superski's general assembly has unanimously re-elected Andy Varallo for a third consecutive term, running through 2029. Alongside the leadership renewal comes a bigger shift: a Smartpass that puts your ski pass on your smartphone, more AI in guest services, and an expanded Dolomiti Supersummer program. The 46-year-old Alta Badia cable car entrepreneur says the region's marketing is moving beyond skiing alone, toward positioning the Dolomites as a year-round destination.
4 Aug 2026
Current conditions
Snow Report
Updated 19 Aug 2026
11,066ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Clear59°F / 76°F · W 13mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
71in
Season total
0in
Total lifts11
Live open status isn’t available right now.
29 Nov 2025 - 26 Apr 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 47 hours· Updated Aug 19, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
11,066 ftUpdated Aug 19, 2026 at 6:02 PMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Wed, Aug 19
Overcast
Temp76° / 59°°F
Snow0.0"(2%)
Wind13 mph W
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Alta snow report
Planning a day at Alta? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 2600m base to the 3373m summit.
Snow measurements
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Alta, summit conditions (3373m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Alta are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
We pull Alta's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 11 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Alta's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.