Alta
Alta Ski Resort Utah - ReviewAlta ski resort in Utah is amazing and it may be up there as the Powderhounds’ favourite destination. That’s a bold statement, so it must be pretty fantastic.
The ski area of Alta used to be a locals’ favourite because of the awesome powder, great terrain and cheap lift tickets. Then the secret got out and it became a vacation destination for us tourists. In part, the popularity of the resort increased after 2002 when it became possible to access
Snowbird via the lifts. Regardless of the increasing profile of Alta, there’s still plenty of powder for everyone to share.
Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the US (it opened in 1939) and it retains some of its old-fashioned traditions, the most obvious being the prohibition of snowboarders. Despite significant protests and threatened legal action from many snowboarders, the tradition of skiing remains and only those with sticks are allowed.
People who can’t pronounce “Alta” are not fully welcomed either – pronounce it AL-ta (like the man Al) rather than AHL-ta. This is not really the case as Alta certainly doesn’t have any snobbiness. There is a little bit of hard-core culture, but the atmosphere of Alta is incredibly friendly and welcoming to newcomers. Everyone is just happy that you love the hill as much as them. Alta has a close community of locals and regulars who have rich lives and often rich histories (don’t try and guess the average age of people that ski here)!
Ski Terrain
Alta ski resort has some good lift infrastructure and 891 hectares of
ski terrain. Alta is well-known for its extremely difficult terrain including steeps and tree skiing, but there is also a good spread of cruising slopes for beginners and intermediates. The mountain isn’t as rugged as Snowbird, but it is pristine with a little roughness around the edges. The quality and quantity of the powder is reminiscent of the infamous Niseko (Japan), but the terrain is on steroids in comparison to
Niseko. And the awesome powder of Alta is well preserved due to the lack of snowboarders, or so all the (possibly) biased Alta skiers claim.
If you pay the extra money for a combined Alta/Snowbird lift ticket you get even more terrain. Together the resorts provide 26 lifts and 1,902 hectares (4,700 acres) of terrain, which is one of the largest ski areas in the US. The two resorts are inter-connected via the lifts (via the saddle off the Sugarloaf chairlift) or a free bus.
Where is Alta?
Alta is located in the Wasatch Mountains at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, about 43 km east of
Salt Lake City Utah. The resort is about 45 minutes drive from the Salt Lake City international airport, and is located next to its famous neighbour, the
Snowbird ski resort.
Alta Lodging and Facilities
The village remains fairly traditional. Alta calls themselves a “ski area” rather than a “resort” which reflects the no-frills ambience. The
facilities and
nightlife are a little limited, but more than adequate for families and those who want to focus their energies on skiing. The Prada wearing set are not well catered for at Alta, with limited
shopping and day spas.
Park City suits this group well, which leaves the powder at Alta to those who are serious about their skiing. And when compared to Park City resorts (
Park City,
Deer Valley,
The Canyons), services such as ski school and equipment rental are inexpensive.
There are no 5-star resorts or hotels to be found on-mountain. Instead
Alta lodging consists of five old-fashioned rustic ski lodges that are incredibly charming. Alternatively you can stay off mountain in one of the many
Salt Lake City hotels or
Park City hotels, but there is always the risk that the roads may close for avalanche control, so you might want to stay on the hill to get the most of the powder days.
Why Ski at Alta?
Alta has history and romance, and combined with the great terrain and powder, you can’t help but fall in love with the place. This resort absolutely beats
Whistler hands down unless you need major nightlife. Alta is a definite five out of five for powderhounds – well for skiers anyway!