Making the most of the final two months.
The final months of the 2024–25 season are underway at Alta Ski Area. The first half of the season is in the books and we are looking forward to the Spring Semester at the University of Alta.
Tips For Making the Grade This Spring Semester
With less than two months until Closing Day of the 2024–25 season, now is the time to establish good habits to finish the season strong.
REVIEW the first-semester progress report
After a slow start to our first semester that didn't exactly put us on the Dean's List, a stretch of eight consecutive snowy Saturdays has helped us make up some ground. Weekly storms and a steady string of terrain openings have provided excellent skiing conditions. Alta Ski Patrol opened the Main Chute and High Shoulder of Mount Baldy in February and Alta Ski Area has been open wall-to-wall—with the exception of Little Chute and Perla’s.
Our performance has improved significantly. Since February 1st, Alta Ski Area has averaged 4.68 inches of snow per day. Our season-to-date snowfall is currently 444.5 inches and our settled snow depth recently surpassed the 150-inch mark. According to OpenSnow, our snowpack is 99% of average—an A-plus grade with plenty of time for us to bring that grade up to an A-plus-plus.
February 14th: Sam Cohen loves some Valentine's Day powder. | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Take A Deeper Dive Into Our Snowpack >
Plan Ahead
Alta sits at the terminus of Highway 210. This winding mountain 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. There are times when Highway 210—Little Cottonwood Canyon Road—may be closed or restricted to travel.
Our new Getting Here page is a great resource for both local and non-local skiers. Plan ahead and know what to expect before you leave the house.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAMPUS FOR YOU
Alta Ski Area has two base areas to start and end your ski day. The Wildcat and Albion base areas are connected via Transfer Tow or the Town of Alta Shuttle. Each offers unique features tailored to different skiers' needs. Plan ahead to determine which base area is the best starting point for you,
The Albion base area is ideal for beginners, intermediates and families.
- Direct access to Sunnyside lift and Big Griz ski conveyor
- Easy access to both Supreme and Sugarloaf lifts
- Home to the Alf Engen Ski School
- Rentals and gear are available at the Alta Ski Shop in the Albion Day Lodge
- Food is available in the base area at Albion Grill and Alta Java in the Albion Day Lodge
- Alf's Restaurant and Cecret Coffee are accessible from the top of Sunnyside lift
- Childcare is available at the Alta Children's Center
The Wildcat base area is ideal for intermediate and expert skiers—no beginner terrain.
- Direct access to Wildcat and Collins lifts
- Rentals, demos and gear available at the Alta Ski Shop in the Wildcat Ticket Office
- Home to the Alf Engen Ski School satellite office
- Food and coffee are available in the base area at Slopeside Cafe in the Goldminer's Daughter Lodge
- Mid-mountain food and drink can be found at Watson Shelter—home to Watson Cafe, Collins Grill and Baldy Brews
Study the Trail Map
Alta Ski Area has 118 named runs. While it’s not essential to learn individual run names, it’s a great idea to carry a trail map with you at all times and to make a gameplan. Find the lifts and runs that match your abilities.
Don't get caught cheating. Ducking ropes or skiing recklessly can lead to a lengthy suspension or expulsion from the University of Alta.
Hire A Tutor
There’s still time to enroll in the Alf Engen Ski School. Adult and Kids Class Lessons are a great way to make new friends and expand your skill set. If you're looking for individual coaching or tutoring, Private Lessons and Guides are available daily.
Our second Beyond the Blues adult program starts soon. This five-week program for intermediate skiers on Thursday afternoons is a great way to move from beyond groomed intermediate terrain to the vast off-piste and expert terrain of Alta.
Learn from the Alf Engen Ski School >
Pass the test
Alta Ski Area accepts Mountain Collective, Salt Lake Ski Super Pass, Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Plus passes, but not the Ikon Base pass. Use the following study guide and make sure your partner pass is up to the test before your visit to Alta. Several gates connect Alta Ski Area and Snowbird Mountain Resort. Sugarloaf Pass provides the easiest access to Snowbird.
- The Ikon Base-Plus is good for five days of skiing between Alta and Snowbird
- The Ikon Pass is valid for up to seven days of skiing between Alta and Snowbird
- Once your Ikon Base-Plus or Ikon Pass has been scanned, you can ski between Alta or Snowbird without using an additional Ikon day
- The Mountain Collective pass is good for two days at Alta Ski Area and two days at Snowbird—plus 50% off additional days
- If you cross into Alta or Snowbird via Sugarloaf Pass, you will use one day at each
- The Salt Lake Ski Super Pass is accepted at Alta Ski Area
- If you cross into Alta or Snowbird via Sugarloaf Pass, you will use one day at each
Parking reservations are required for Ikon and Mountain Collective passholders from Friday–Sunday from 8am–1pm.
Ikon and Mountain Collective at Alta >
Set Reminders
Parking reservations are required Fridays–Sundays and Holidays from 8am–1pm.
We release additional week-of parking every Sunday at 3pm MST. Consider this your reminder to set a reminder on your phone to make a parking reservation. We also see a lot of night-before and morning-of cancellations. Pay close attention to AltaParking.com as these cancellations are automatically added into our reservation pools.
If you need a lift ticket and parking don't sweat setting alarms or reminders. With the online purchase of an Alta lift ticket, you will receive a parking code that provides a $15 savings at checkout when you make a parking reservation.
Manage Your Parking Reservations >
Don't Miss the Bus
If you don’t have a parking reservation, you can still plan to ski after 1pm when reservation periods end or you can ride the Utah Transit Authority Ski Bus to Alta. Hop on at a UTA Ski Bus park-and-ride lot to skip canyon hassles on busy days and help reduce emissions by taking cars off the road.
Your 2024–25 Alta Season Pass, Ikon Pass and Salt Lake Ski Super Pass include the UTA Benefit—giving you free ridership on all UTA Ski Bus Routes and Trax lines.
head Start PROGRAM
Due to seasonlong snow removal operations, Alta parking lots do not open until 7:30am. If you are looking to backcountry ski before the lifts open, please make an Early Morning Parking Reservation.
Early Morning Parking Reservations >
Finish Strong
Join us Sunday, April 20th for Closing Day of the 2024–25 season. Our closing weekend is typically an all-you-can-eat buffet of sunny groomers, slush bumps, goggle tans, glitter and hot dogs. Plan ahead, and don't miss out on finals weekend.
Alta's Spring Semester Course Catalog
Some highlights from the Spring Semester Course Catalog at the University of Alta.
Winter Driving School 210
It snows a lot in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Highway 210 can be an intimidating place to drive. Please make sure your vehicle complies with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traction Law. Failure to comply with the Traction Law often creates hazardous driving conditions, traffic-related delays and accidents.
Brush up on some helpful Winter Driving Tips. Know before you go and make sure your personal vehicle—or rental car—complies with the UDOT Traction Law.
Alta 101
Skiing Alta for the first time can be a memorable and life-changing experience. The hallowed ground for powder skiing in North America has sculpted the lives of skiers who chase that ethereal feeling of arcing down the mountain in a weightless snow globe.
Typically at ski resorts, skiers unload the chairlift and glide onto the best trails on the mountain. At Alta, this isn’t always the case. Here you may find sidesteps and traverses that lead to the most popular runs. The main access point is the High Traverse, aka the ‘High-T,’ which is located at the top of the Collins chair. Once you learn the tools of the trade you’ll quickly find that traverses and sidesteps are an extremely efficient way to access terrain.
Alta 101: Tips For Skiing Alta >
Philosophy 903
The Soul of Alta is a film that sets out to answer the enigmatic question "What is Alta?"
The beauty of that question is that there is no singular answer—Alta is a place that represents something unique to each of us. The snow, the Alta community and the spirit of the mountain captivate each of us in different ways.
Cozy up by the fireplace, warm up your favorite mug and immerse yourself in the history of Alta, deep powder skiing sequences from the record-setting 903-inch winter, connect with Alta's natural mountain environment and reconnect with the mountain and the sport that we all love.
Anthropology 1938
Alta Ski Area was founded in 1938. The lifts, lodges, and ski gear have changed with the times, but there is a timeless spirit to Alta. Perhaps it is because generations of skiers have been able to pass on their love for the mountain. Alta is a place that many local and destination skiers choose to call home.
Alta has teamed with local filmmakers Sweetgrass Productions to tell these stories.
Explore the Steeped In Tradition video series >
Ecology 2008
The Alta Environmental Center (AEC) was created in 2008 to guide the ski area's sustainability efforts and look after the natural environment in which we operate.
The AEC invites everyone to join us on the slopes as we turn the great outdoors into our classroom with weekly on-mountain tours led by local non-profit organizations. These tours are free, family-friendly and perfect for anyone curious about the land they are recreating on. Grab your skis and snowshoes—class looks different at Alta.
Ski With a Ranger | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
Winter Education Programs with Alta Environmental Center >
Geology 1890
Explore the rich history of Little Cottonwood Canyon on a snowshoe tour led by the Utah State Historic Preservation Office and the Utah Cultural Site Stewardship Program. Discover how Alta's landscape has transformed over the past century—from a thriving mining town to a renowned skiing destination. Participants will snowshoe through the historic grounds of the old Town of Alta, exploring mine tailings and viewing vintage photos and artifacts highlighting the area's legacy in outdoor recreation.
Join us February 28th from 2–4pm.
Journey Through Historical Snowscapes >
Backcountry Basecamp 2025
The Backcountry Basecamp Tour is heading back to Alta. Backcountry Basecamp will make its annual visit to Alta to offer free demos and educational workshops at the base of Collins lift on March 8th and 9th.
Backcountry Basecamp at Alta >
Thanks for enrolling in the Spring Semester at the University of Alta. We'll see you on the slopes—our year-round classroom in the mountains.
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