Alta Ski Resort, Utah

Alta Mountain is one of seven ski resorts within 40 miles of the Salt Lake City airport -- read more about Salt Lake City skiing.

Alta is a skiers-only mountain! This includes nordic skiing.

Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the US; its first ski lift was operating as far back as 1939.

Alta has plenty of wide swathes that make excellent ski runs for intermediates. Though beloved by advanced skiers, "Alta is a mountain for everyone" (- except snowboarders, that is.)

Alta ski resort has 2200 skiable acres. Base Elevation is 8,530 ft., and top Elevation is 10,550 ft. How's your math? (Vertical Drop is 2,020 feet.)

This high wall of snow gives an indication of how much of the white stuff falls at Alta. Average annual snowfall is 500 inches.

Above: Bird's Nest run is at the Snowbird ski resort. Buy an Alta-Snowbird ticket, and you can ski both areas, increasing your ski zone to 4700 acres.

Alta doesn't have a big ski village with posh resorts: rather, a handful of lodges and condos are scattered at the base of the ski area. Alta Lodge is a "lodge" in the old-fashioned sense: no tv's; big fireplace; get to know other guests over dinner.

(Note the bus sign, above: public buses run from the airport to the Alta ski slopes.)

*Always check destination web sites for updates!

Rooms are simple, at the Alta Ski Lodge. Meals, however, can be surprising: such as chocolate whisky mousse dessert.

Alta Lodge offers kids' programs, including apres-ski, kids' dinner, and evening activities.

See the Alta Lodge site for more info.

Always check destination websites for updates!

Just below Alta Lodge, we found a ski shop and the casual Goldminer's Daughter lodge and restaurant, close to a large parking area. At the left, above, is a "transfer tow", to take skiers to the Albion Base, which has ski school, day care, Children's Ski Adventure Center, rentals, restaurant, etc.

*Always check destination websites for updates!

Check Alta.com for updates about the area and for all the details about Utah's Alta ski resort.