Postcard of romantic Alta, Utah. The "Ski-nic" center of America, Near Salt Lake City, 1940-1945

Alta Ski Resort, Ut

Alta Ski Area

“The Town of Alta is a small mountain community located at the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Little Cottonwood Canyon is a west-facing break in the Wasatch mountain range which rises from an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level at the mouth of the canyon to over 11,000 feet at the top of the watershed.

State Highway 210, a designated Scenic Byway, provides access to Alta from the Salt Lake Valley. The Town itself ranges in elevation from 7,500 ft to 9,500 ft. above sea level.

The Town harbors aspen, spruce, high alpine meadows and lakes, long-lasting snowfields and rocky tundra on granite cliffs. The vast display of over 170 varieties of wildflowers offer a colorful sight between July and September. There are over 40 varieties of birds in the canyon. Deer, moose, coyotes, and a rare mountain lion are the largest of the animals that roam the high country during the year.

An annual average of 500 inches’ snowfall provides for enthusiastic powder hounds and spectacular downhill skiing extending from November into May. Cross country skiers enjoy an even longer season. Hikers and bikers use the extensive network of trails through meadows and forests to lakes, snowfields, mountaintops and over passes.” *

Alta Ski Area fans-up the mountains from Alta’s center. This blanketed, heaven of snow has made quite the name for itself. Alta welcomes skiers and skiers only. The ban of all snowboarders is a main draw to Alta (unless you are a snowboarder of course), as it is one of the three left in the US with this enacted regulation. However, snowboarders have fought this regulation in the past, but all attempted lawsuits failed with Alta coming out on top. The regulation stands still today.

Snow, snow and more snow. Alta has no shortage of it each year. With the surrounding climate, the snow is dry, making prime snow skiing conditions.

Alta was originally a mining town that produced silver in 1871. From a massive fire to a cataclysmic avalanche Alta declined until just a few prospect miners remained.

Eventually in 1935 the US Forest Service scouted out the area surrounding Alta, determining it to be extremely promising, the area was claimed over the next few years. Even though Alta’s first lift was constructed out of old mining equipment, the Alta Ski Area was opened 1939. Claiming third on the list of resorts that had made use of chairlifts at the time in the US.