Skiing in Alta

Alta ski area is one of the United State’s best ski resorts. From beginner trails at Albion Base to black diamond bowls off Sugarloaf, Alta has great variety, stunning scenery and dry snow quality.

Alta Ski Area Overview

Alta is recognized not only for its variety of terrain but also for stunning scenery and dry snow quality. There is plenty of beginner and lower intermediate terrain, as well as some steep chutes and powder bowls that you will have to hike to. Most of the beginner trails are accessed from Albion Base, with intermediates scattered around the mountain and some great advanced black diamond bowls off the Sugarloaf quad lift.

Any discussion of Alta begins and ends with snow. 500″+ of it fall annually and it’s amongst the lighest, fluffiest snow anywhere in the world. “Cold Smoke” is a term often used to describe the snow here, but it hardly does it justice. In fact, the snow is so light that Alta actually publishes not only the snowfall total in inches, but the water content of the snow. Anything under 6-7% is considered to be very dry. Alta often records snowfall in the 4-5% range, which borders on vapor. Skiing Alta’s light snow is truly a pleasure for all ability levels of skiers.

Neighboring Snowbird is the more aggressive of the two ski areas, though Alta’s ski area still has plenty to test advanced skiers.

Beginner Skiing in Alta

Alta’s beginner skiing is focused around three chairs, the Albion, Sunnyside and Cecret on the looker’s left side of the mountain. rooked Mile is ideal for beginners in Alta as they can ski at altitude and enjoy mountain views.

Beginner skiers can access the mountain using the Albion, Sunnyside and Cecret lifts. The triple chair Sunnyside services a mile-long (1.6 km) beginner trail, originally named Never Sweat, now known as Crooked Mile, which gives beginners the chance to ski at altitude and enjoy the mountain views. Beginners can ride the Sunnyside chairlift for free after 3 pm each day.

A good day for a beginner would be to take the Albion double chair and ski down Crooked Mile to the base of Sunnyside triple chair, then take Sunnyside up and ski down Sunnyside green trail to Home Run, back to the base of Sunnyside lift. Then take Sunnyside up again, but this time cross over to Cecret double chair along Dipsy Doodle. Take Cecret lift and ski down Rabbit or Sweet ‘n’ Easy to join on with Home Run back to the base.

It is worth noting that Alta’s 500″ of annual snowfall can be a double-edged sword for beginners. Surface conditions are usually powdery and soft. However, all that soft, dry snow can be difficult to pack. As a result, the snow tends to get cut up more easily. That can mean that while experts are happy about fresh snow, some beginners can grumble about the skiing being more difficult than they expected due to the less smooth surface.

Intermediate Skiing in Alta

Intermediate skiers will enjoy the ride up Supreme and the panoramic view of Alta and the Heber Valley from the top.

40 percent of the terrain at Alta is deemed suitable for intermediates, while there is plenty to either stretch experienced intermediates, or encourage novice intermediates.

Intermediate skiers can ride the Sugarloaf quad that accesses intermediate and advanced terrain. From Sugarloaf, you can ski the front of Alta by cutting back to the Supreme lift via Waldren’s Way, Devil’s Elbow and Razor Back, then take the Supreme triple chair for some good blue and black diamond trails. Or, if you have the right pass, drop into Snowbird’s Mineral Basin from Sugarloaf.

The ride up Supreme is an experience in itself. From the top you can enjoy a panoramic view of Alta and the beautiful Heber Valley. From here, challenging intermediate and advanced trails such as So Long, Big Dipper and No 9 are favorites. On the front of Alta the Wildcat and Collins lifts provide more blue trails. From the top of Collins you can access Aggie’s Alley, the Meadow and Corkscrew. Wildcat lift runs to the top of the Peruvian Ridge, accessing primarily advanced terrain. Aggie’s Alley provides intermediate access off Peruvian Ridge.

Nearly all of the trails at Alta link to an easy way down, so nervous intermediates can try to test themselves, safe in the knowledge that there is an escape route at hand.

Advanced & Expert Skiing in Alta

Alta’s expert skiing has few peers. 500″ of snow and world-class steeps make Alta’s black diamonds amongst the most fun in the United States.

With 35 percent of the mountain dedicated to black diamond trails, advanced and expert skiers have plenty to choose from at Alta. The Collins quad provides access to a wide variety of advanced terrain. Race Course, Sunspot, Yellow Trail, Greeley Bowl, Lone Pine and Alf’s High Rustler, to name just a few, are for the expert skier.

Advanced trails below Germania triple chair include Nina’s Curve, Schuss Gully and Collins Face. From the top of Wildcat, skiers can choose advanced trails down Peruvian Ridge, Punch Bowl, Rock Gully, Wildcat Face and the Westward Ho Area (which connects with Snowbird resort). The toughest skiing in terms of moguls is Alf’s High Rustler; the steepest slope is Gun Sight; and the best for powder are Greeley Bowl and Yellow Trail.

Any expert skiers visiting Alta would be advised to make the short hike required to ski Baldy Chutes and Devil’s Castle. Favoured by many locals, the chutes are steep, challenging, and in fresh powder – scintillating.

Telemarking and high-altitude ski-touring is available through the Alf Engen Ski School, and heli-skiing is available through Wasatch Powderbird Guides.

Backcountry Skiing in Alta

Experts can enjoy guided backcountry skiing (and boarding) in Grizzly Gulch, located adjacent to the ski area. It’s a unique skiing adventure of guided off-trail skiing. The day starts with check-in at the Albion base area, followed by an orientation and continental breakfast at the Albion Grill. Then enjoy a heated snowcat ride to the top of Grizzly Gulch at 10,500 feet (3,200 m).

The guided off-piste trails take skiers and boarders on pitches with an average of 1,500 feet (457 m) of vertical drop. The group may consist of any combination of up to 11 skiers and snowboarders and two guides. Snowcat skiing is only for advanced and expert skiers and riders with strong off-trail skiing skills and experience. Powder skis are recommended.

Snowboarding in Alta is not allowed

Alta Mountain is for skiings only, snowboarding is not allowed.

Alta Mountain Policy extract reads “Alta Ski Area is for skiers and restricts the use of equipment other than skis for anyone who wants to ride the lifts and ski the mountain or play around the base areas.”

Mountain Restaurants in Alta

Alta has three mid-mountain and six base area restaurants, ranging from cafetarias to sit-down restaurants with waiter service.

There are three mid-mountain and six base area restaurants at the resort. Mid-mountain are the Collins Grill, on the third level of new Watson Shelter, a traditional sit-down restaurant with waiter service; Watson Shelter, a cafeteria offering morning snacks, lunch and a shop; and Alf’s Restaurant at the bottom of Cecret double chair, a cafeteria with lunch and snacks.

At the base there are restaurants at Alta Peruvian Lodge, Alta Lodge, and Rustler Lodge, all offering waiter service. Goldminer’s Daughter has a restaurant with sit-down lunch, breakfast and snacks, and the Goldminer’s Bar serves Mexican food. The Albion Grill at Albion Base has a cafeteria where you can get breakfast, lunch and snacks and then there’s Joanie’s, above Deep Powder House, with made-to-order sandwiches and smoothies. The Shallow Shaft restaurant, opposite Deep Powder House, is more sophisticated.