Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah
Alta Ski Area
Alta is a ski-only mountain in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Its two base areas matter to a first visit: Albion is the starting point for beginner and family terrain, while Wildcat is geared toward intermediate and expert skiers.
- Skiing only
- Albion beginner terrain
- Wildcat intermediate and expert start
Terrain and ability at Alta
Sunnyside serves green and blue runs from Albion. Collins and Wildcat do not provide beginner terrain. Alta also has steeper terrain and traverses, so matching your group's comfort with the actual route is more useful than describing everyone simply as experienced.
Alta Ski Area is a ski-only resort; snowboarding is not permitted. Read the resort's policy.
Arrival, bases and lessons
Choose Albion or Wildcat before arranging a carpool. Read Alta's current parking guidance and road updates, and check the current ski-bus service if you plan to use public transport.
Plan a Alta meetup
Put the base area and a specific public lodge landmark in the invitation. Beginners and friends skiing Collins should plan a later regrouping rather than assume their first lift will be the same. Snowboarders need a different mountain.
Use the meetup message planner to agree on your date, terrain, pace and meeting point.
Alta snow forecast
Forecast
Updated Sun, 12:31 AM MDT
- OvernightLow 41°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind S 14 mph
- SundayHigh 47°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind S 14 mph
- Sunday NightLow 38°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Isolated T-storms
Wind SSW 18 mph
- Columbus DayHigh 40°F
Scattered T-storms
Wind SSW 7 to 17 mph
- Monday NightLow 31°F
Snow Showers
New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Wind S 7 mph
- TuesdayHigh 33°F
Snow Showers
New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
Wind WSW 5 mph
- Tuesday NightLow 28°F
Snow Showers
New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Wind W 5 mph
- WednesdayHigh 33°F
Snow Showers Likely
New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Wind W 3 mph
- Wednesday NightLow 28°F
Chance Snow Showers
New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Wind W 2 mph
- ThursdayHigh 40°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind NW 3 mph
- Thursday NightLow 29°F
Mostly Clear
Wind ENE 5 mph
- FridayHigh 45°F
Sunny
Wind S 3 mph
- Friday NightLow 33°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SSW 0 to 5 mph
- SaturdayHigh 47°F
Sunny
Wind SSW 2 to 6 mph
Forecast for the resort’s coordinates from National Weather Service (opens in a new tab). Conditions vary with elevation. It is a weather forecast, not an avalanche or terrain assessment.
Forecast source: National Weather Service. Check the update time and the resort's current operating report before confirming your day.
Official sources for this mountain guide
Guide reviewed . Use these resort sources for current maps, lesson meeting points and visitor information. Confirm tickets, reservations and open terrain for your date.
- Official first-visit guide (opens in a new tab)
- Official base-area guide (opens in a new tab)
- Official equipment policy (opens in a new tab)
Ride Alta with SkiBuds
Find people to ski Alta with
Start with the date, terrain, pace, and a public meeting point. Confirm lift access and the resort's current report before the day. SkiBuds' rebuilt app is coming soon, with rider discovery and conversations to help you plan with ski friends.
Use the snow forecast guide and powder-day group plan to confirm the weather together. Explore more Utah mountains and riding meetups.