Tips for enjoying early-season skiing.
As we approach the holiday season, the snow is falling and Alta Ski Area is open daily for all levels of skiers—beginner, intermediate and expert. With 70-plus runs accessed by four lifts—and Supreme set to open next—it's beginning to look a lot like winter at Alta.
Please remember to slow down on the mountain—we have a full season ahead of us.
Some Tips for Enjoying Early-Season Skiing
- Slow down—snowmaking operations are underway and Alta Ski Patrol will be doing speed checks around the mountain
- Be kind to your fellow skiers—we’re all still trying to build up our ski legs and working off early-season rust
- Limited groomed terrain available—ski in smaller groups in the main groomed corridors
- Expect low-snow conditions—hazards exist
- Only stop where you can be seen from above—including rollovers and behind snowguns
- Look uphill before merging into a groomed run
- Take it easy out there—there’s still plenty of season left to ski
Parking Reservations & Transportation
Starting December 13th, parking reservations are required Friday–Sunday and holiday periods from 8am–1pm. As always, check the weather and Highway 210 conditions before you leave the house and make sure your car complies with the UDOT Traction Law.
Manage your Parking Reservations >
The UTA Ski Bus is now operating the 994 Route and Canyon Service Routes (CS1 & CS2) to Alta Ski Area.
Lifts
Four of Alta's five main lifts are open daily. Supreme lift estimated opening is still TBD as we wait for additional snowfall in the Supreme Area.
- Collins | 9:15am–4:30pm
- Wildcat | 9:15am–4pm
- Sunnyside | 9:15–4:30pm
- Sugarloaf | 9:15am–4pm
- Transfer Tow | 8am–5pm
- Snowpine | 9:15am—5pm
- Alta Lodge Tow | 8am–5pm
- Big Griz Conveyor | TBD
- Little Griz Conveyor | Ski School Only
Terrain
Groomed Runs:
With limited groomed terrain, we have increased speed enforcement in our main groomed run corridors.
- Sunnyside: Sugar Way, Dipsy Doodle, Sunnyside. Crooked Mile and Home Run
- Sugarloaf: Devil's Way, Devil's Elbow, Roller Coaster, Sugar Bowl and East Baldy Traverse
- Collins/Wildcat: Mambo, Collins Face, Corkscrew, Nina's, Meadow and Aggie's Alley
Off-Trail Areas:
Expect low-snow conditions when skiing off-trail.
- Ballroom and Baldy Shoulder are open—weather permitting
- Saddle Traverse and Tower Ten Traverse are open
- High Traverse is now open from 9:15am–4pm via the Sunspot and Race Course bootpacks
- Greeley Bowl and Greeley Hill are open via the High Traverse
- Westward Ho is open
Stay tuned to our social media channels and our Lift and Terrain Status page for the latest terrain offerings and daily grooming report.
Alta 101 : Tips for Skiing Alta >
Food & Drink Offerings
Start your day with breakfast and coffee from Albion Grill, Alta Java or Baldy Brews. Refuel with an on-mountain lunch—Alf's Restaurant, Albion Grill and Watson Cafe are open daily.
Season-To-Date Snowfall Recap
October 2024 | 17.5 Inches of Snow
Our first dusting of the season was on September 17th. Exactly one month later, we experienced top-to-bottom snowfall blanketing the fall colors of Alta.
October 17th: Eight inches of fresh snow | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
After a short break of summerlike weather, winter made its return at the end of October, delivering base-building snow and temperatures that allowed our snowmaking crew to fire up the snowguns.
In total, 17.5 inches of snow fell on the slopes of Alta Ski Area over the second half of October, 66% of our 44-year average (26.5"). October water clocked in at 2.13 inches, 70.5% of the 44-year average for October (3.02").
November 2024 | 66.5 inches of snow
Opening Day of our 87th season at Alta Ski Area was Friday, November 22nd. We opened the 2024–25 winter with a 23-inch base and 50-plus inches of season-to-date snowfall. It wasn’t the deepest or earliest opening in recent memory, but we were able to spin Wildcat and Collins lifts to expert skiers in Collins Gulch and the around-the-world corridor from the top of Collins to the Albion Basin.
November 22nd: Andrew Pollard finds soft turns on Opening Day | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
A quick-hitting storm dropped six inches of fresh snow at the end of Opening Weekend. The fresh snow made for some great skiing and provided additional coverage for expert skiers.
November 24th: Skiers enjoy six inches of new snow | Photo: Photo-John
Thanksgiving week brought remnants of an atmospheric river that delivered over 20 inches of new snow. Wednesday, November 27th was an all-you-can-eat powder buffet under blue skies and sun dogs. Alta Magic was in the air, welcoming skiers to the start of our 87th season.
November 27th: Ana Eyssimont comes up for air | Photo: Rocko Menzyk
The fresh snowfall and subsequent cold temperatures allowed our snowmaking crews and Alta Ski Patrol to expand our current lift and terrain offerings. Sugarloaf lift, East Baldy Traverse and Ballroom opened on Thanksgiving Day and Sunnyside opened on Black Friday—allowing intermediate and beginner skiers to enjoy some November turns and plenty of leftover powder.
In total, November 2024 saw 66.5 inches of snow, 94.1% of the 44-year average (70.7”). November water totaled 5.03 inches, 81.4% of the 44-year average (6.18”).
December 2024 | 23 inches and counting
We entered the first full month of the 2024–25 season under an extended stretch of high pressure. While we waited for the snow to fall, our snowmaking crews took advantage of the cold December nights and added some manmade depth to groomed runs. Our first flakes of the season fell on December 8th and 9th—a smaller storm that helped open the door to a series of storms heading into the middle of the month.
December 10th: An Alta local skis the first snowfall of December | Photo: Tyler Struss
The season has seen a few storms fall short of forecasted totals, so it was quite a surprise when the next storm delivered 11.5 inches of snow on a forecast calling for a trace to two inches. The new snow made for a great day of powder skiing and helped soften up turns around the mountain heading into the weekend.
December 13th: Ryan Mulkerin dives into a sleeper powder day | Photo: Lee Cohen
The next storm arrived from the southwest, the blowing winds and a few dense inches of snow acted as Mother Nature's grooming cats. Skiers flocked to the wind-buffed slopes of Alta as it began to look and feel like winter had made its return to Alta Ski Area.
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