Alta

Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the United States: its first lift opened in 1939 on the site of an abandoned mining settlement. The resort stands at the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon, a half-hour drive from Salt Lake City, at an altitude of 2,600 m. Skiing reaches 3,216 m, while the 3,374 m summit of Mount Baldy can be accessed on foot with skis over your shoulder.

Alta is known above all for its snow. Around 1,380 cm falls here on average each winter - one of the best figures in North America. The snow is also dry and light: moisture is lost over the Great Salt Lake Desert before the clouds reach the mountains.

Worth knowing

Snowboarding is banned at Alta - it is one of only three resorts in the United States where people ski exclusively. Snowboarders will find the closest option at neighboring Snowbird, which is connected to Alta by pistes and a shared Alta-Snowbird lift pass.

Of Alta's 71 km of pistes, 39 km are difficult, so the resort is aimed primarily at confident skiers. Easy runs are grouped in the Albion area at the base, where magic carpets also operate.

Little Cottonwood Canyon is at risk of avalanches, and the road to the resort is periodically closed for preventive work. On such days, an "interlodge" protocol is in effect: leaving buildings is not permitted.

Longest run

The longest descent is the linked Ballroom and Corkscrew run, around 5.6 km from the top of Sugarloaf to the Albion base.

Most difficult runs

The most challenging run is High Rustler, 1.5 km long with a vertical drop of 480 m. A steep, open slope beneath the Rustler Mountain ridge and the resort's signature run.

Snowparks

Alta has no snowpark: the resort deliberately does not build parks or jumps.

Features

The Alta-Snowbird lift pass provides access to 1,640 hectares of shared skiing across the two resorts.

Snowmaking is barely used - there is enough natural snow.

Night skiing

There is no night skiing at the resort.