Alta is always our favorite resort on powder days if we're lucky enough to get a cold storm moving through during the weeks, we're in SLC! Reserving parking required. We parked by 7:30am and hung out in the lodge until 8:30 AM when we lined up at Collins lift to get first tracks and the powder. Avalanche control going all morning. Today's storm wasn't very cold so the powder was heavy. The bowls didn't open up but skiing was still great! Plenty of terrain to cover even without the bowls. Because the powder was heavy, people were clearing out by 2 PM. read more

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Love skiing at Alta! Many challenging runs, full of powder, trees, mogles, and some grooming. Skiers only which can be nice on more challenging runs. Many lodges to warm up and delicious menus. High altitudes so be careful of sickness! Great views as well. read more

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The scenery is breathtaking. Even the drive up the mountain is like driving through a snow globe. The runs are immaculate and it truly feels magical being here. The drive takes a long time, so be prepared to spend a decent amount of time enjoying the scenery on the road up the mountain. Both Snowbird and Alta are at the top of the mountain so traffic can get really tough. Plan for at least an hour from base to top, and have at least an AWD car! The only complaint I had was that they closed all the bathrooms for cleaning in both buildings at Albion Base at 4:30 so there was nowhere to relieve yourself before making a 1-hour minimum drive down the mountain with no place to stop. read more

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Not sure how to reach the Ski patrol office (just next to the ticket booth) but HUGE shoutout to those individuals on that team. Thankfully, a family turned in my wife's lost phone after she dropped it on the slopes. The team kept the phone charged, safe, and secure. I am thankful to Alta, the benevolent skiers on that mountain, and everyone else who helped return the phone safely to us! Thanks a million read more

Alta Ski Area itself is amazing! The snow conditions are phenomenal, and they really do get the most snow. I am typically a snowboarder who frequents the other resorts, but I have been learning to ski as well and Alta lived up to the hype for me. I am a comfortable blue skier who is starting to dabble in blacks and am learning to do moguls and powder, and Alta was so fun for all of these. We even ventured a little bit into the trees and the trees were not too densely packed. There were multiple gullies that were fun to explore and the snow conditions were consistent no matter where we were on the mountain. The one thing that knocks off a star for me is the parking system. They are really strict about parking and yet they don't label the highway area as reservations required, and because we parked there (due to no signage) we ended up getting a $75 parking ticket at the end of the day. That was a huge scam and there were about 20 other cars that also got tricked like us. I feel like they definitely are trying to milk people for easy revenue and giving parking tickets in a spot that's not labeled as paid reserved parking is just deceitful business practice. Also, be prepared for brutal traffic both up and down the canyon road. It's called the red snake for a reason, and it's one lane each way so if there is an accident ahead of you, you might be stuck for 2-3 hours on that road. read more

Alta Ski Area - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

For the passionate skier, there's no place better than Alta Ski Area; it's Heaven on Earth. Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country, operating its first lift in early 1939. Alta has a skiable area of 2,614 acres and receives more snow than most Utah resorts, averaging an annual snowfall of 545 inches! I've been skiing Alta for 13+ years, and every day at Alta is magical. Whether it's a gorgeous bluebird powder day, a storm day, or sunshine and groomers, skiing at Alta is always fun. Alta is an advanced mountain, but they have beginner-friendly terrain accessible from the Sunnyside lift. There are intermediate runs on Supreme, Sugarloft, and Collins. Skiing the best terrain at Alta often requires traversing, hiking, or bootpacking. Finding a knowledgeable friend to be your mountain guide is critical to learning how to find "the goods." Alta's lift operations do a fantastic job managing the lines, and even on busy days, they keep the lines moving efficiently. The lodges and restaurants at Alta are modest but provide decent food and comfortable places to rest. Alta Java, near the Sunnyside lift, is independently owned and operated and has excellent hot drinks, sandwiches, and other reasonably priced items. We have also been impressed with Alta's Alf Engen Ski School. My son was in their JRX (Junior Explorers) program for two years and loved his instructors. He is now in AYC (Alta Youth Club), and his skiing has advanced tremendously. If you're looking for day lessons or other ski instruction, I highly recommend their ski school. For the past few years, Alta has required parking reservations on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holiday weekends. This change has made the experience of visiting Alta much easier and reduced the morning commute stress. You no longer need to leave at the first light of dawn to secure a parking spot. With a reservation, you can come up whenever it's convenient and be guaranteed a parking place. read more

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Arthur Haskell is a highly knowledgeable instructor with 23 years of teaching at Alta to his credit. My circumstances are rather unique, having relocated here (senior season pass!) after not skiing for 3+ decades -- needless to say, my approach to balance, weight transfer, and edging was seriously outdated given the vast changes in ski technology. Arthur was courteous and engaging, no B.S., focused on bringing me into the new era. He also videoed my skiing (humbling but instructive) and texted me several excellent videos. Upon arriving at SLC, my thinking was "I really can't afford a private lesson," evolving to "I can't afford NOT to take a lesson" (after a cartilage bang-up and two massive powder wipeouts) to "I need to take more lessons." Highly recommend this gentleman -- and my thanks to Brinnley and Laura in the ski school office. First-class all the way. read more

Alta /Albion basin is my favorite place to hike or ski in the Wasatch. All that's missing is an alphorn. And apfelstrudel. read more

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I have to admit I did not post a review of Alta previously because I don't want to share it with any more skiers then already go there :)) Alta is one of the oldest ski areas in the U.S and opened to skiers for the first time in 1939. Alta is famous for some of the deepest powder snow and challenging terrain in the west. Like the UT license plate states, it gets the best Snow on earth. I have been a long time Alta-holic and luv the challenge and layout of the mountain. You can drop through gates and not have to worry about running into skiers that don't belong in that terrain. Alta has it all if you know where it is and don't mind working a bit to get there, steeps, trees, chutes, and legendary PowDah! You will find terrain percentage as follows: 15% Beginner, 30% Intermediate, and 55% Advanced. If you are looking for fancy amenities, glittering day lodges and a lot of après or non-ski activities, look elsewhere. Alta is for skiing hard, and then skiing some more. Alta has great lodging and dining options available on the mountain, use their web site for info or stay next door at Snowbird and ski both mountains. Alta and neighboring resort Snowbird offer joint day passes and a joint season ticket that allows skiers (boarders not allowed at Alta) access to terrain in both resorts. Access is via Mineral Basin, a large bowl owned by Snowbird on the back of Snowbird's Hidden Peak and Alta's Sugarloaf mountains. Other access points between the two resorts exist off of the Wildcat lift. Being a lifelong skier and having skied at a large number of resorts across the globe, for my time and money, Alta is the place to be for my ski turns. read more

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We love skiing at Alta! I have also taken two adult lessons and they have been great! It was the best deal I could find and did not disappoint. Skiing at Alta is a must if coming to Utah in the winter time! We got the ikon pass and have used it mostly at Alta this season!! read more

Alta Ski Area - Alta ski resort - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

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We have been coming to Alta every year for 7 years now, and we have always loved the mountain until this time we visited. On Thursday January 12th at around 4pm, my friend and I dropped by the Albion ski shop to check out merchandise. After I tried on a shirt, an employee walked up to me and told me that I wasn't allowed to try them on (even though there was no sign saying so and there is a fitting room) and I should take it off immediately. Then she started following me in the store wherever I went. When my friend wanted to try on a pair of ski pants, this employee also insisted that she shouldn't because it would be "a lot of work" since my friend had ski boots on. There were a lot of people in the store since it was 4pm, and everyone got off the mountain, but this employee kept following my friend and I the whole time. When I became irritated with her behavior and was ready to leave, she walked up to me with two empty hangers and asked me if I knew where those clothes were. Then she wanted to check the ski jackets that I was holding in my hands. I had a bright pink ski jacket and a Kansas City Chiefs jersey in my hand. There was nothing in the store that was close to the color of my bright pink ski jacket nor was there any sports jersey, but it didn't stop her from wanting to check. My friend ended up buying a jacket and the ski pants because she loved them so much. However, after my friend made the purchase, this employee refused to give her the receipt. My friend asked politely for the receipt, but this employee kept holding on to the receipt and pretended she needed to check something. My friend waited and waited, but it seemed like this employee had no intention to give her the receipt. My friend didn't want to make a scene, so she gave up and left. Both my friend and I felt deeply humiliated, offended, and disrespected. We were the only two Asian customers in the store, and she wasn't following anyone else but us, so it made us feel we were targeted because of the color of our skin. This is extremely unacceptable and puts a huge stain on our love for the mountain. We sincerely hope a great mountain like Alta would not tolerate discrimination or employ any racist employees. read more

Alta Ski Resort in Albion Basin is also a beautiful place to hike! If you continue this trek you can end up at the start to cecret lake trail, but this walk up to the campground reminds me of the "sound of music" movie scenery. The hills are alive with wildflowers in July/August! read more

Alta Ski Area - Alta ski Resort - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

Ok. I can die now. I've done the most perfect mountain ever. So many black runs, so many opportunities to hike and ski a powder bowl, so many awesome opportunities to make fresh tracks off piste. It's a ski only resort. Why would this matter? What would make this better than other resorts? Well the people skiing there are more respectful of the rules of the mountain. No one is stopping in the middle of runs to sit down. No one is skidding out the bumps and carving up a fresh powder bowl so no one else can make fresh tracks. You don't have to wait in long lines at the lift because everyone just knows how to board one. Everyone is nice and predictable with their turns and just plain respectful of each other. I noticed a huge difference. The mountain it's self is also really great. There's a backcountry area where you can get to Snowbird. The runs are steep and deep. Lots of gullies and trees to navigate if you want. The on mountain dining options are pretty good, and getting there was a fairly easy riding the UTA ski bus. read more

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While living and working in Utah, I skied Alta and Snowbird almost every week. It is a great place to ski. It is worth getting the Alta Snowbird dual tickets so you can use the connector at the top and ski both mountains. Alta is usually less crowded because they don't allow snowboarders, but Snowbird also has a lot of nice runs as well. It's like two mountains in one. read more

Its good if you are a beginner but why would you pass snowbird to ski alta. They only really have 1 good lift (Colins) and the vertical is barely there. Ski all day and barely get 20k vertical ft. This place is a joke. Run by children that think having no snowboarders is the key to life. Well hate to break it to you but snowboarders are fine ppl and are no different than skiers. I would highly recommend skipping this hill and heading to snowbird. The drive is shorter from town and the drive down will be quicker as well. Really there is no point in skiing alta. Snowbird should just buy the mountain and integrate the whole thing. read more

It's been a few years since I have skied Alta, I forgot how great the terrain is. As everyone knows the allow skiers only no snowboarders. The terrain in general is definitely intermediate to advanced. They have one lift with some beginner terrain. They have a few lodges with places to eat which is great if you want some greasy overpriced food. The parking this year with COVID is challenging and you want to get up there early or come at 1300, or take the ski bus. They have an update online if their lots are full. read more

Heaven on earth. This snowboard free zone offers the best of both worlds. We rode down long groomed blues and also adventured into some fresh powder. Falling is no problem with all the snow fall. The only downfall I would say is the visibility does get limited with the sun clouded by snow clouds. All in all it was an experience I would do over and over again. read more

Alta Ski Area - Heaven on earth! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

My all time favorite ski resort, now my kids' too! Rustic and unapologetically original, this is nirvana for the skiing fanatics. Beautiful scenic backdrop, piss your pants steeps for those that dare, powder skiing through trees and tough terrain everywhere you turn. 'nobird next door is big brash and world class, but there is the one and only Alta of my dreams. read more

They treat out of towners like shit here. Won't honor buddy pass discount at the counter. Girl said the feature is not working, made my friend pay full price despite having the discount in his email. Said to contact ikon. Ikon said to contact ALTA. go somewhere else if you are not from Utah if you want to be treated with decency. The staff at the Albion base gift shop won't answer any questions about retail items. 2 girls. Again take you $ elsewhere. They only want locals here. Come here if you like being treated like shit. I'm all set with this place. read more

If you love powder skiing this is the area. I belong to the San Antonio Los Amigos Ski , Travel and Social Club. There were incidents of skiers getting stuck in powder snow up to their waistline. read more

Such a great spot for skiers (not so much for snowboarders tho). The backside trees were my favorite. read more

Alta Ski Area - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

Alta Ski area is fantastic for beginners, intermediate and for the advanced. It's been awhile since I've gone skiing and my family signed us all up for their lesson and kudos to Henry, our awesome instructor. He was so patient as we had tons of kids with us including us novice adults who kept falling and couldn't get up. Hahahah Love that there is an abundance of space, it's never crowded, and they will give you free range depending on your ability to ski. I took a higher elevation and ended up flipping over several times but I had a blast. It's all about a great experience, time spent with family, and enjoying the winter out and about. Oh one cool thing about Alta Ski is that they provide a drop off parking in case you decide not to ski. You can also go along with your kids or family and friends and watch while they learn to ski all at no charge. I do recommend you wear a snow boots or waterproof gear as it gets very cold. Cheers! read more

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Had 2 half day ski lessons with Sylvie, and I was skiing down the lifts after only an hour! Sylvie has 40 years of experience as an instructor, and 15 at Alta. She was so encouraging and knew exactly what I needed to fix. I highly recommend Sykvie if you're an adult wanting to learn how to ski. Sylvie gets five stars. Bob was also super awesome and positive with my other half. We are grateful for these instructors at the Alf Engen Ski School at Alta. One less star was for the food. It was expensive and low quality, pre frozen, fried food. We packed a lunch the second day. read more

As part of a week-long Utah vacation, my friends and I ventured into Little Cottonwood Canyon for two days of skiing - day one at Alta, and day two at next-door Snowbird. Talk to just about anyone at Alta, be it in the historic/rustic lodges or on the lift lines, and you'll immediately realize Alta's seemingly cult following. Open since 1938 (and celebrating their 75th anniversary this year), we came across plenty of ski bums that have been skiing here for 30, 40..even 50 years. Because of the narrow canyon geography, both Alta and Snowbird are lacking in development. This means no "town" ; no off-mountain condos, shopping, bars, restaurants, or really anything. Take that how you will, but for my friend and I, both avid skiers, this was perfect. We got plenty of runs in, witnessed non-existent lift lines, and enjoyed great conditions - all on MLK day, a holiday that usually has East coast resorts packed to the brim. On to the mountain itself - while not quite as STEEP as it's neighbor to the west (Snowbird), there's plenty of challenging terrain. On the trail map, almost 80% of the trails are labeled as blue or black, with no "double black" (expert) trail designation. When you're actually on the mountain skiing though, you won't find too many trail signs or thick trees dividing things though. There's a very "backcountry" feel here, where you can pretty much ski anywhere you want, get funneled into a spillway, and end up back at a chairlift without fear of being lost in the woods! For those that have skied Vail, expect a more difficult Blue Sky Basin experience. We spent most of the morning doing hike-to terrain off the Supreme lift, looking for some untracked powder in the trees, then ventured towards the other side of the mountain (Baldy Chutes & Wildcat lift) as the day progressed. For a mountain out west that hasn't seen snow for two whole weeks (I know, RIGHT?! haha) conditions were pretty sweet, and we skied all the way 'till happy hour at Goldminer's Daughter Lodge. There, we enjoyed some commemorative 75th Anniversary specialty Alta brews (pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alta-ski-resort-alta?select=HApwN55HmMWq0LPR9bjbJw#HApwN55HmMWq0LPR9bjbJw) to top off our great day! If you're rocking skis and looking for a rustic experience, good snow, and relatively light crowds, Alta definitely deserves a day or two on your ski itinerary. P.S. (...and I copied/pasted this from my Snowbird review), here are some travel/discount lift tickets tips: If you're skiing for two or more days, snag a set of "Salt Lake Super Passes" (http://www.utahtravelconnection.com/lifttickets/skisaltlake). Not only are they heavily discounted lift tickets, but you also get access to the UTA "Ski Bus" and TRAX Light Rail (info here: http://www.rideuta.com/mc/?page=RidingUTA-SkiService), which will get you slopeside for free from just about anywhere in/near Salt Lake. If skiing Snowbird, you also get free use of their tram, whisking you from base to summit in 6 minutes. The tram is normally a $10-$12 upsell ON TOP OF the cost of a standard lift ticket, but unlimited rides on the tram are included gratis with the Super Pass. read more

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Alta skiing is FANTASTIC; however, if you don't reserve the $10 parking in advance, on the day of, you will get a $75 ticket plus $3 admin fee. For those of us from out of town, we made this mistake. Plenty of parking when we arrived, but even so, we got the $78 ticket with no option for a lower amount. BE AWARE, they're making a pretty penny capitalizing on this approach! read more

This review is for Alta in the SUMMER, not in the winter. Alta is my favorite spot for hiking in the valley, and if you live in the area and have not been, you are missing out. The wildflowers start blooming in early July, but I'd say the best time to visit is late July/early August. The flowers are out of this world!! On one of my hikes, I heard people singing songs from The Sound of Music. It's THAT beautiful. This summer, Alta started a new service that replaces the shuttle bus to the trailheads with a ski lift ($10 fee but definitely worth it!) on weekends until 5:30/6pm. If you're not a hiker, I'd recommend taking the ski lift and then going back down the mountain on the Albion Meadows trail. It's downhill the whole way and meanders through fields of wildflowers and hummingbirds. It is difficult to capture the true beauty of this area with a camera, but that doesn't seem to stop me (and everyone else!) from trying. If you're up for a hike, take the ski lift up and then hit the trail for Catherine's Pass to Lake Catherine. It's incredible! Also lots of wildflowers, but far fewer people than Albion Meadows. It's a moderately difficult hike, at about 1100' elevation gain and 4 miles from the trailhead and if you go all the way around the lake. I usually hike to the viewpoint for the lake, which is probably more like 2.5 miles (I'm not quite sure). The Cecret Lake trail is also located at Alta, at the top of the summer road. Parking is hard to come by (and now has a fee), so I'd again recommend the ski lift to get to the trailhead. Cecret Lake itself is beautiful, but I found the trail to be CRAZY busy when I visited. It felt like more of a tourist spot as opposed to a hike in nature. The trail is listed as 1.7 miles with 460' elevation gain. It felt like most of that elevation gain was in the last part of the trail; the steepness and rock scramble wasn't my favorite part, but many families with children seemed to be having a great time with it, so maybe I'm in the minority here. I would highly recommend visiting on a Sunday and avoiding the live music noise that echoes throughout the valley (I could hear it all the way up the lift and halfway up Catherine's Pass). On weekdays, the ski lift isn't running, so you could either hike up the Albion Meadows trail to get access to the trailheads, or drive up the long, dirt summer road and hope to find parking. I really can't stress enough how incredible Alta is in the summer!! read more

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Alta is the best ski area that I've been to. Everything about Alta is/was better than every other ski area that I skied at. Equipment rental was easy and quick. The rental employees were friendly and did a great job. Lift tickets were average in price, about $100. Discount ticket are available at local ski shops. During the holiday when I visited, we had less than a five minute wait for the lifts. There was real snow, not like the man made stuff with rocks in Southern California. It was a great experience. Why do I have to be so far away? read more

THE BEST!!! No Snowboarders (ref later below...) This is the best all around ski mountain in country. Its gnarly, has rugged terrain, its a skiers mountain. You're pretty much guaranteed good snow quality / good conditions any time you go there.. ***** Dear Alta Ski Area CEO / Executive Planning Staff: The absence of snow boarders really makes a difference... there is better snow quality on the mountain throughout, the ease of lift service, and overall its more efficient with no "unwanted interruptions" in the ski experience. Please continue your policy of a skier's only mountain. I wish more mountains were like you. Highest Regards, Uncle C-Note. ***** read more

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I love everything about this resort! Great, long runs.. a good combo for all skiing abilities. I started skiing 2 years ago and I went from barely getting down Mambo to skiing the POW on Extrovert! The staff is friendly and helpful; and strict with the covid protocols which I can appreciate. Food options are adequate and tasty. Can't wait to come back! read more

Alta Ski Area - Christmas Tree on a good powder day! - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

We have an Ikon pass and a friend in Salt Lake City so we decided to come out and try Alta Smi Area. We were not disappointed! Wife took a private lesson the first day and daught and I worked the ski are over. Started at the eastern most lift, Albion. This side had beginner terrain mostly, but so some intermediate as well. The 3 days we were there it snowed on us. Last day we skied the western lift. This is where the intermediate to advanced terrain is located. Long runs, but was crowded. We were there on the last day of the season. Theocals dress up in costumes and ski.. Lots of runs. Variety of terrain for all levels. It is connected to Snowbird, however, at the time we went, the gate was open and we could not ski there. read more

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The ticket office is terrible! Roberta was extremely rude with any question. I spent $170 for my day pass and left feeling awful about myself. Skiing should be an upbeat enjoyable adventure and Roberta lives off ruining days. read more

After skiing at Park City for a few days, we'd thought we'd mix things up and take the short road trip to Alta (about 45 minutes away). It was also the warmest day of the week, so with the higher altitude of Alta, we figured the snow might be better. Though my two friends had been here before, I was an Alta virgin. Things you should know about Alta, right off the bat: -- This is a no-frills ski area. Nothing fancy; just basic lodges and amenities; no wi-fi or high-end eateries. It was sort of like skiing in the 1990s again -- Cheaper than expected. At just under 100 bucks for an adult, singe-day ticket, it's less expensive than most ski areas in Tahoe or Colorado -- No Snowboarders Allowed. Though I don't have a strong bias against boarders (my youngest daughter is one of them), it was kind of nice not to have to keep "my head on a swivel" to watch out for those high-speed shredders -- Want more terrain? You can pay more for a dual-park pass for Alta and Snowbird (next door) -- It's a decent place for beginners. Though Alta has a reputations as an expert skier haven, there was a surprising amount of beginner terrain too It was also smaller than I expected. Alta had always been a somewhat mythical place for me, and so I had envisioned steep drops, powdery glades and cornice-topped ridges as far as the eye could see. But it was really a medium-sized ski resort, comprising two parallel canyons feeding into two parking areas about 1/4 mile apart. And though Alta had its share of expert runs, there was a pretty normal mix of other terrain as well. Part of the mythos of Alta is the great snow, especially powder. But with the warmer weather, this was not the case on our visit. Still, we found some good snow underneath the upper half of Collins lift, so we hung out there most of the afternoon (until this little area got "discovered" and the lift lines exploded). After that we explored a bit more of the mountain before heading back to parking. In short, we didn't get to enjoy the very best of what Alta has to offer, but I still had fun skiing here. The staff were also super helpful and friendly. I hope to return on a powder day! read more

Alta Ski Area - ski friends on Razorback - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

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Great snow and terrain. The problem is that management is now completely focused on raising prices. Prices on lockers and passes have more than doubled within the last five years. Alta's season passes are now the most expensive season passes in Utah, except for Deer Valley. I know of several season pass holders that have pointed this fact out to them, but they do not respond. They simply refuse to communicate with loyal pass-holders. So, if you are looking for a skier friendly place, you should probably look elsewhere. read more

This is for the Alta ski shop. Do not buy ANYTHING from them. Bought a boot glove that did nothing other than collect snow and is clearly a bad design. Had it for all of about 4 hours and the stoner supervisor told me that's not his problem and wouldn't give me a refund. They will not stand behind anything they sell! read more

Meh... it's just park city at this point without any of the amenities that park city has. It's a pain in the ass to get up LCC, and once you're up there you can pay to park and overpay for a lift ticket to ride outdated lifts on okay terrain. It's fine... but good grief Alta has a stick up their butt with the prices they charge these days. read more

Fantastic ski area. Snow was incredible. Great service at rentals, easy and convenient, plenty of lockers to store your things, and good options for food and drinks. Expensive all around but worth it. Difficult to reach Alta without a car but there are excellent shuttle services to/from the airport that are very reliable. read more

Alta has decent terrain. But the resort has a lot of problems: 1) They rarely start lifts before 9:30 am. Seriously, it doesn't matter if it is a snow day, or if it hasn't snowed for two weeks. Alta never opens their lifts on-time. By the time they let skiers on, the lines have 1000s of skiers waiting. This is even more problematic as they have only a few lifts at the base of the mountain 2) The new parking pass system absolutely sucks. The Honk system is terrible. It constantly errors out. And $25 for a day after spending hundreds on passes is ridiculous. Also, they don't offer any discounts for Ikon or Mountain Collective pass-holders 3) The customer service leaves a lot to be desired. It is as though Alta knows they have limited competition. So they don't care how they treat their skiers read more

Used to be about the skiing and snow. Now it is all about the $$$. That's it. We renewed our passes and despite assurances (when they answered the phone finally) that we'd get information as to our "free parking", they didn't deliver. Their eventual response was to deny responsibility and shift blame. No apology. We had paid multiple thousands of dollars in passes and they couldn't take care of business despite me asking well beforehand. Life at this quirky area before was far from perfect and we'd previously shrug because "it's old fashioned Alta." Now they want to be in the big leagues and charge a lot of money for passes and parking. The blissful and arrogant ignorance by their employees and management is not at all becoming considering that it's more expensive and the service sucks even worse. They sold out. It's just another crowded ski area now with terrible service (but mysteriously at least two very expensive website upgrades). Go elsewhere. read more

I have lived in Utah for 15 years, and I learned to ski at another resort. However, Alta is a great hidden gem for all ages. My daughter started to learn to ski at the age of five, and Alta has a positive atmosphere with a large terrain for beginners. The tow rope and small hills make it easier to learn and practice the fundamentals. I also like the fact of no snow boarders. If you have children or even for adults try this majestic, spacious resort with breath taking views. You won't be disappointed. read more

Alta Ski Area - Ski Resorts Near Me - Alta, Utah

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The first time I skied at Alta was one of the signature moments of my life. My friends and I, college students in Colorado, set off by car just before midnight, drove 10 hours through a blizzard in Wyoming and arrived at the parking lot at Alta, just as the lifts were opening on a powder day. We skied our brains out, and I spent the day racing after my expert friends, across mogul fields, plunging down chutes and gliding into powder bowls. I had been skiing all my life but never like this, in such a raw, unspoiled environment. My life and skiing would never be the same. Last week I returned to Alta (pronounced "Al-TAH", not "All-TAH") after all those years, and I was joined by one of the other guys on that trip, who now lives in Jackson and drove down to join me. "Ever since that trip during college, I've had this funky attachment to the place," he said when I asked him to explain what Alta means to him. Alta hasn't changed much over the years and I'm thankful for that. With all due respect, this is not Vail or Whistler or Aspen. The hardy skiers at Alta are the same types of people you see at places like Bridger Bowl, Jackson Hole. Mad River Glen or Revelstoke in BC. The diehards. Another thing I love about Alta is that, just like a beautiful woman, it doesn't reveal its secrets easily -- it isn't the kind of place where you just get off the lift and start skiing. You certainly can do that, but most of Alta's best runs are accessed via "secret passages" -- aka hikes of varying lengths (all of them are tiring!) or a traverse on some spiny steep ledge. (Don't look down, that's a cliff!) The payoff is worth it, though, to ski classic runs like Eagle's Nest, Fred's Trees, Glory Hole, Vail Ridge, Sunspot and Westward Ho. These ski runs are the stuff dreams are made of, the moments that you will cherish for years to come. Trust me, Alta got into my blood and it's there to stay. I'm not alone. Chances are it'll be a powder day when you finally make it to Alta -- there are certainly many of those, with the lightest, driest snow in the US -- when you can feel the stillness in the air and hear the wind whistling through the trees. If you don't know where to go, just follow someone who looks like they do. You'll probably wind up on Another Long Traverse Ahead (get it: A-L-T-A), but you may discover what it's about. Alta is more than just a great ski mountain, it's like a state of mind. After my recent return to Alta, I'm more convinced than ever that this gem is America's best pure ski mountain. Just make sure you pronounce it correctly. read more

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