Alta is the older, quieter neighbor at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. It has skied since the 1930s, it gets more than 500 inches of snow in an average year, and it has kept one rule that sets it apart: it is for skiers only. From Provo it is about an hour away, just past Snowbird, and it is a favorite of powder skiers. It also has more rules than anywhere else nearby, and knowing them is the difference between a great day and a turned-around car.
Skiers only
Alta does not allow snowboarding. It is one of only three ski areas in the United States that are skiers-only, so a family with a snowboarder should plan on Snowbird next door or one of the Big Cottonwood resorts instead.
The parking reservations
Alta limits how many skiers reach the mountain by limiting parking, and for 2026-27 the rules are:
- When reservations are required: Friday through Sunday and holiday periods, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., from December 11, 2026, through April 4, 2027, and on closing day, April 25.
- When they are not: from opening day through December 10, on ordinary Monday-through-Thursday days, and any day after 1 p.m.
- What they cost: $25 a day, or $10 with a lift ticket bought online. Qualifying Alta and Alta-Bird passholders reserve free, subject to availability. Ikon and Mountain Collective holders pay the $25.
- Early morning: an early reservation lets you park at 6 a.m. in the South Flagstaff lot and keep the spot all day, for $25 on Fridays through Sundays and holidays and $15 Monday through Thursday.
- How to book: reservations open in mid-October, and more are released every Sunday at 3 p.m. Mountain time.
- Without one: parking without a reservation when one is required costs $250.
Overnight parking is not allowed anywhere in Little Cottonwood Canyon except for registered lodge guests, private cabin guests and employees.
The Little Cottonwood rules
Little Cottonwood's road runs through heavy avalanche terrain, and Alta sits at the top of it. Three things follow from that.
The road closes. On storm mornings the canyon road can close for avalanche control, and the state's traction rules often require four-wheel or all-wheel drive with proper winter tires, or chains. Check the road report from Utah County before you leave.
Interlodge. The Town of Alta can order interlodge, which prohibits outdoor travel during high avalanche danger and during avalanche control work. Guests staying at Alta's lodges stay inside until it lifts.
There is no gas in the canyon. There are no gas stations in Little Cottonwood, so start up with enough fuel to sit in traffic for a long time.
There is no toll this season. UDOT's plan for winter tolls on the upper canyon, along with more frequent buses, is targeted for the fall of 2028.
The bus
UTA's Ski Bus Route 994 runs up the canyon from Historic Sandy Station to Snowbird and Alta, every 30 minutes at peak times in the 2025-26 season, with extra Canyon Service buses in midwinter. The fare is $5, or free with an Alta season pass or an Ikon Pass. On a reservation morning the bus is the simplest way to reach Alta without booking a parking spot. Check UTA for the 2026-27 schedule.
The mountain
Alta covers about 2,600 acres between two base areas, Wildcat and Albion, which a rope tow links. Its reputation is steep and deep, but it has a dedicated beginner area around the Sunnyside lift at the Albion base, and the renovated and expanded Albion Day Lodge was due to open with the 2026-27 season.
The passes
Alta sells its own season passes and, with Snowbird, the Alta-Bird pass, which covers both mountains. The full Ikon Pass includes seven days shared between Alta and Snowbird, and Alta is on the Mountain Collective. The Ikon Base Pass does not include Alta. For the full comparison, see Ski Passes for Utah Valley Families.
Opening day
Alta had not announced its 2026-27 opening day when this was written. It usually aims for late November, but the snow decides: in 2025-26 it planned to open on November 21 and opened on December 7. Watch Alta's own site as the season approaches.
Practical notes
- Reserve for weekends. From December 11, Friday-through-Sunday and holiday mornings need a parking reservation.
- Ski only. Snowboarders cannot ride at Alta.
- Fuel up in the valley. There is no gas in the canyon.
- Take the bus on reservation days. It needs no parking spot.
Related Guides
- Skiing Near Provo
- Ski Passes for Utah Valley Families
- Backcountry Skiing 101
- Snowbird From Utah Valley
- Brighton From Utah Valley
- Deer Valley From Utah Valley
Frequently Asked Questions
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