Find the Best Things to Do in Alta
By Christine Balaz
Salt Lake City Local Expert
About Alta
Perched at the very top of Little Cottowood Canyon, Alta is an alpine escape that seems a world away from Salt Lake—just 20 minutes to the west. In winter, this area is covered with an average of 500 snow inches. In summer, this white blanket yields to lush wildflowers and greenery.
See & Do
If you visit Alta in winter, you’re coming to ski. One of Utah’s most legendary ski destinations, Alta is old school and proud. Here you’ll hike or traverse to the mountain’s best powder stashes, and you won’t run into any snowboarders—as they’re not allowed. During the summer, you can hike, check out the annual wildflower festival, or even rock climb at Hellgate or Devil’s Castle.
Eat
Alta prides itself on being a low-key, non-resortish resort. In other words, you’re neither going to find a huge village at the base of this ski area, nor an enormous selection of restaurants. However if you make reservations at the Shallow Shaft, at Alta’s base area, you’re in for a real, New American treat.
Party
As a low-key ski area, Alta doesn’t have the massive resort infrastructure that some of the more commercial operations have. However, you’ll nevertheless find a few comfortable places here and there to kick of your boots and enjoy a beer or two. Consider stopping in at the Goldminer’s Daughter or the bar in the Alta Peruvian Lodge.
Stay
The lodging at Alta seems in many ways directly imported from the Alps. At once comfortable and high-end, the accommodations here exude history, charm and coziness. If you're planning a winter or summer vacation, make reservations (well ahead of time) at the plush Alta Rustler Lodge or the elegantly rustic Alta Peruvian.