Did you know? It's not necessary to rent a vehicle to travel to ski Alta Ski Area.
- If you're staying in Little Cottonwood Canyon it is highly recommended that you arrange for a shuttle rather than renting a car.
- A private shuttle will deliver you to your lodging and the Alta Town Shuttle will ferry you around the Town of Alta and Snowbird.
- Pro tip. You don't want to shovel on your vacation. Leave the driving to someone else so you don't have to dig out your rental car.
- If you're staying in the Salt Lake Valley near Little Cottonwood Canyon, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Ski Bus is a great option to get you from your hotel or Airbnb to the slopes of Alta.
- If you're staying in Park City, a private shuttle company will do the driving for you.
- Uber and Lyft provide ride-share service to Alta Ski Area—just make sure they accommodate skis and vehicles comply with Traction Law requirements.
If you choose to drive to Alta Ski Area in a rental car, please plan for inclement winter weather driving in a steep and winding canyon.
Alta sits at the terminus of Highway 210. The dead-end road is 13 miles long, crosses 64 avalanche paths and has the highest highway avalanche hazard index of any major road in the United States. It’s a stunning and beautiful ride, even for the most seasoned local, but needs to be treated with respect during the winter months.
Highway 210 frequently closes for avalanche mitigation. And it's not uncommon to find yourself queued in line driving to and from Alta—a phenomenon known locally as the Red Snake.
UDOT Traction Law
In order to keep unprepared vehicles from attempting to navigate snowy and icy roads, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traction Law requires that all vehicles in Little Cottonwood Canyon are equipped with proper—and functioning—traction devices.
- AWD/4WD: M + S or M/S tires is the minimum requirement. Traction devices such as chains, snow socks, etc. or 3 peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) tires are also acceptable and provide the most reliable traction in severe winter conditions.
- 2WD: 3 peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) tires (on all four tires) is the minimum requirement. Traction devices such as chains, snow socks, etc. are also acceptable.
In order to combat unprepared vehicles in Little Cottonwood Canyon, UDOT created the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program. Vehicles with a UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker have passed voluntary inspections and will pass Traction Law inspection sites.
If you choose to drive a rental car to Alta Ski Area, please consider renting from rental car companies that participate in the UDOT Cottonwood Canyon Sticker Program.
The following rental car companies are participating in the UDOT sticker program:
- Rugged Rentals
- Go-Rentals
- Budget Car and Truck Rental
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car
- National
- Alamo
Parking Reservations for rental cars
Parking reservations are required Friday–Sunday and holiday periods from 8am–1pm.
Did you know? You can book parking reservations without knowing your rental car's license plate number. Simply enter "RENTAL" as your plate number and update your reservation when you pick up your rental vehicle.
Rental Cars and Ski Bus
If you are unfamiliar with winter driving or want to leave the driving to the professionals, the UTA Ski Bus is a great option. UTA offers free parking for transit users, with single-day or multi-day options at designated Park and Ride lots.