Alta Ski Area

Katie Hitchcock Alta, Utah (Photo: Lee Cohen) Alta, Little Cottonwood Canyon’s skier-only gem, claims one of the most loyal followings in all of skidom, who never fail to give this mountain high praise for its tough terrain, plentiful powder, easy access, and great value. New snowmaking machines will ideally get the slopes open around Thanksgiving, and the resort plans to keep the lifts spinning into May again if the snow gods provide. Don’t miss the high-speed Supreme chair, which services some of the best terrain in the West. No. 7 in the West: Alta Ski Area, Utah Alta Ski Area Mountain Stats Annual Snowfall Acres Lifts Trails 547″ 2,614 11 116+ Alta Ski Area Pass Info Alta is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective. Ikon Pass holders get 7 days with no blackouts; Ikon Base Plus pass holders get 5 blackout-restricted days. Alta is not accessible on the Ikon Base pass. Mountain Collective pass holders get 2 days at the resort, with 50 percent off additional lift tickets. Trip Planning From lodging and and dining to off-slope activities and local tips, here are the SKI editors’ picks for what to do in Alta, Utah. What’s New After a record snow season and two lift replacements last year, Alta is replacing and upgrading the snowmaking pipes in the Wildcat base, and installing the final five remote avalanche device towers so they can stop using artillery for avalanche mitigation. Continuing Ed This season, the Alf Engen Ski School debuts two-hour afternoon adult lessons for beginners through intermediate skiers for $114. Local Tip Sitting at the top of the canyon, Catherine’s Area traps the most powder in Little Cottonwood, making it the place to find powder stashes days after winter storms. Best Value Seniors ages 80 years old and up have earned the privilege of skiing for free. We salute that. Après Spot Head to the P-dog to take a shot-ski, listen to live music, and bump elbows with the locals. You might even run into your favorite pro skier. On-Hill Eats  We’ll spare you the details about how amazing the fare is at Collins Grill and leave it at this: the Heart of Darkness Cupcake. Trust us, it’s worth every calorie. Mandatory Run  Ski the Alta-Snowbird Connect via Keyhole or Mineral Basin and take in the giant scale of Little Cottonwood Canyon’s high peaks. Pick-Me-Up  Ski to Alta Java at the Albion base for a Susie’s Special (dirty chai, extra espresso, extra love, and semi-secret ingredients) before taking another Highboy lap. Signature Experiences  Alta’s iconic Highboy run (officially called Alf’s High Rustler) is T2B—top-to-bar, that is—meaning you can ski the advanced, ungroomed run all the way to the deck at Goldminer’s Daughter. Alta’s Official Website