Wasatch Mountains, United States 🇺🇸
Alta is the powder mecca of North America: a skier-only mountain founded by the US Forest Service in 1938, hidden at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, buried under 14 meters of snow a year. The lodges are deliberately old-school, the locals divide themselves between Wildcat and Sunnyside, and snowboards have never been welcome.
Yes. The base sits at 2613 m and the top reaches 3358 m, which puts snow reliability among the very best on our index (score 97/100).
Most hotels sit right on the snow front, so this is genuine ski-in/ski-out: park once on arrival and ski from the door, with no daily driving or shuttle.
At 175 km of piste on 9 lifts, it is a substantial mountain that rewards a multi-day stay. The terrain is balanced (15 green, 41 blue, 28 red, 32 black), which suits a mixed-level group skiing together.
Alta stands out for demanding terrain for strong skiers.
The season usually runs Nov 23 to Apr 27 (about 22 weeks). For the most dependable cover, the deep-winter window of January to February is the safe bet. The altitude also holds spring snow, so late-season skiing stays good well into spring.
Hotels, piste breakdown, snow month by month, lift and rental info, map and more.
Hotels we like for ski access and value. Prices are indicative; check live availability.
Very good · 423 reviews
Strong value for Alta, with a high guest rating that punches above its nightly price.
Guests rate this hotel as very good (4.4/5 from 423 reviews). It sits about 600 m from the slopes. A mid-range option for Alta, with live nightly rates shown for your exact dates so you always see the best price.
Excellent · 281 reviews
Moments from the lifts in Alta, so you can ski back to the door and skip the morning queues.
Excellent · 159 reviews
One of the highest-rated places to stay in Alta, with guests singling out the service and comfort.
Ratings and review counts from Google Places. We may earn a commission on bookings.