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 meetup at Alta
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 Tue, 12:31 PM MDT
- This AfternoonHigh 50°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind S 3 mph
- TonightLow 39°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SSE 5 to 8 mph
- WednesdayHigh 51°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wind SSE 8 mph
- Wednesday NightLow 40°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Wind SE 12 mph
- ThursdayHigh 49°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Wind SE 8 to 12 mph
- Thursday NightLow 35°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance T-storms
Wind SSE 7 to 12 mph
- FridayHigh 36°F
Snow Showers
New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Wind SSW 6 to 14 mph
- Friday NightLow 29°F
Snow Showers Likely then Chance Light Snow
New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Wind WNW 1 to 6 mph
- SaturdayHigh 36°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind N 2 mph
- Saturday NightLow 28°F
Mostly Clear
Wind ENE 2 mph
- SundayHigh 42°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind S 3 mph
- Sunday NightLow 31°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SSW 3 mph
- MondayHigh 43°F
Sunny
Wind S 5 mph
- Monday NightLow 32°F
Mostly Clear
Wind SSW 5 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.