To us, August means just 1 thing: ski areas start announcing their planned opening dates for the upcoming season. We’ve already seen quite a few resorts (especially those owned by Vail Resorts) announce projected dates, and now we’ve got Utah’s Alta Ski Area joining the list. Alta is scheduled to open on November 21st, conditions permitting.
Alta Ski Area 88th Season
Alta Ski Area was among the first ski areas to open in the United States. They kicked off their long run of independent shredding (without snowboarders) in 1938. Once just a little mining town, Alta has stood as a top ski area for decades. This season marks their 88th, celebrating the skiers who’ve pioneered powder skiing and explored the slopes at the legendary mountain.
Alf Engen recommended the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon as a top site for the promotion of winter recreation in the Wasatch Mountains to the United States Forest Service. The deep snow and hanging glacial basins that filled the area were prime for skiers, and he envisioned the creation of jobs by the need to replant and repair the watershed. Soon the sound of mines was replaced by the sounds of explosions for avalanche mitigation, and the history of Alta Ski Area began.
About the Ski Area
Alta Ski Area averages a massive 548 inches of snow every winter. Skiers can enjoy remarkable steep powder runs all winter long, while 45% of their terrain is still suitable for beginners and intermediates. 118 trails dot the mountain, 55% of which the mountain considers expert terrain.
13 lifts serve 2,614 acres of skiable terrain on the mountain. Their largest season ever, which came during the 2022/23 winter, brought 903 inches of snow, or over 75 feet. Season passes and tickets for the 2025/26 ski season are available for purchase here.
