Alta Ski Area facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alta
Alta Location in Utah Show map of Utah Alta Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Alta, Utah, U.S.
Nearest city	Sandy, Utah, U.S.
Coordinates	40°34′51″N 111°38′14″W / 40.58083°N 111.63722°W / 40.58083; -111.63722
Vertical	2,538 ft (774 m)
Top elevation	11,068 ft (3,374 m)
Base elevation	8,530 ft (2,600 m)
Skiable area	2,614 acres (10.58 km2)
Runs	116+ total 15% easiest 30% more difficult 55% most difficult
Lift system	7 chairlifts 1 high speed six pack 3 high speed quads 1 fixed grip quad 1 triple 1 double 5 surface tows.
Terrain parks	0
Snowfall	545 in (45.4 ft; 13.8 m)
Snowmaking	yes
Night skiing	none
Website	Alta.com

Alta is a famous ski area in the western United States. It is located in the town of Alta in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains of Utah. This area is part of Salt Lake County.

Alta has a large skiable area of about 2,614 acres. Its lowest point is 8,530 feet high. The highest point reaches 11,068 feet, giving skiers a thrilling drop of 2,538 feet. Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in the country. It first opened its ski lift in early 1939.

Alta is well-known for getting a lot of snow. It receives about 545 inches of snow each year. Many people say it has the best snow in North America. Alta is also special because it is one of only three ski resorts in the U.S. that only allows skiers, not snowboarders. The other two are Deer Valley nearby and Mad River Glen in Vermont.

Alta Ski Area: A Winter Wonderland

A Look Back: Alta's History

Alta is one of the oldest ski areas in the United States. It is also one of the few places where only skiers are allowed. The resort is located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. This area has a special climate that brings over 547 inches of light, fluffy snow every year.

Alta is famous for its long, straight ski runs. Some well-known runs include Alf's High Rustler and Stone Crusher. Even though it's known for challenging slopes, Alta has always been a place for families and local skiers.

How Alta Began

The town of Alta started in 1871 because of silver mining. A big fire destroyed most of the town in 1878. Then, a huge avalanche in 1885, along with less mining, made the town quiet for a while. Mining picked up a little in the 1900s, but the town soon became empty again. Only a few tough miners stayed to look for silver.

In 1935, the U.S. Forest Service asked a famous skier named Alf Engen to check out the area. They wanted to see if it would be a good place for a ski resort. Engen said it had great potential. He suggested buying more land to create the ski area. In 1937, a lawyer from Salt Lake City, Joe Quinney, and other business people started the Utah Winter Sports Association. Their goal was to build the ski area at Alta.

The next year, they began building the first Collins chairlift. It was made from an old mining tramway. This lift had single-seat chairs and was the second of its kind in the U.S. The first was at Sun Valley. Alta opened to skiers on January 15, 1939. A single ride on the chairlift cost 25 cents.

Modern Upgrades and Changes

Alta has continued to improve over the years. In 1991, they added their first triple chairlift. They started making their own snow in 1996, and they still work to make this process better. The late 1990s and early 2000s brought many new changes.

In 1999, the Sunnyside lift was replaced with a faster, detachable triple chair. Two years later, the Supreme chair was upgraded to a triple. The Sugarloaf chair was also replaced with a detachable quad. In 2004, the Collins and Germania lifts were replaced with one new, faster quad lift.

For the 2007–08 season, Alta started using a new electronic lift ticket system called Axess RFID. In 2008–09, they added a conveyor belt to help skiers get on the Supreme lift. Safety bars were added to Sunnyside in 2010, and to Collins, Sugarloaf, and Supreme in 2011. In 2017–18, a new high-speed quad lift replaced the Supreme and Cecret lifts. Most recently, for the 2022-23 season, a new high-speed six-pack lift replaced the Sunnyside and Albion lifts.

Alta is always planning for the future. They are looking at ideas like a tram to the top of Mt. Baldy. They also plan to improve parking.

In 2014, a group tried to challenge Alta's rule against snowboarders in court. However, Alta Ski Area won the case. It continues to be a resort exclusively for skiers.

What's the Weather Like?

Sugarloaf Mountain (Utah), which is 11,051 feet high, is a tall peak within the Alta Ski Area. This mountain has a cold, snowy climate, similar to what you'd find in high mountains. It gets very cold in winter, with average low temperatures around 9-10 degrees Fahrenheit in January and December. Summers are much milder, with July seeing average high temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The area receives a lot of precipitation, especially in winter months, which contributes to its famous deep snow.

Exploring the Ski Area

The Alta ski area is owned by several people. The Laughlin family owns the largest part, followed by the Quinney family and the Bass family. The hotels at the base of the mountain are owned separately and are not part of the Alta ski area company.

Elephant Butt rock in the White Squaw Area

Skiing with Snowbird

Since the winter of 2002, Alta and its neighbor, Snowbird, have offered a special pass. This pass lets skiers use all the slopes at both resorts. This started when a new lift opened in Mineral Basin. This large area, owned by Snowbird, connects to Alta's Sugarloaf mountain. There are other ways to get between the two resorts too. Remember, because Alta only allows skiers, this special pass is not for snowboarders.

Lifts to the Top

Alta currently has eight main lifts to take skiers up the mountain. Three lifts are in the Albion Basin area, and two are in the Collins Gulch area. One lift helps skiers travel between these two main base areas. The last two lifts provide access to the hotels.

Where the Snow Falls

The ski area's terrain faces different directions. About 53% of the slopes face north, 17% face east, 29% face west, and 1% face south. This variety helps keep the snow in good condition across the mountain.

Images for kids

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  Snowbird ski resort is accessible from Mount Baldy at Alta ski resort

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  Summit of Point Supreme

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  A view of Alta from near White Squaw Area