Alta Ski Area

About

Alta Ski Area sits at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, just 32 miles from Salt Lake City. Since 1938, this independently owned resort has drawn skiers with what locals call the Greatest Snow on Earth, averaging over 500 inches of snowfall each year. It's a place built around one thing: skiing.

Alta is a skiers-only mountain, meaning no snowboarding is allowed. That singular focus shapes everything about the experience, from terrain design to lift operations. The resort offers more than 2,600 acres of skiable terrain across a mix of beginner, intermediate, and expert runs spread over gentle bowls, steep chutes, and wide-open groomers.

For adaptive skiers, Alta partners with Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS), which provides alpine skiing instruction at the resort. WAS offers programs for individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including sit-skiing, guided skiing for those with visual impairments, and three-track and four-track skiing for those with limb differences or mobility challenges. Trained instructors work one-on-one with participants to match equipment and technique to each skier's abilities.

Getting to Alta is straightforward. Salt Lake City International Airport is about 40 minutes away, and the terminal built in 2020 was designed with accessibility as a priority, featuring ADA-compliant restrooms every 150 feet along its concourses. Lodging options near the resort include ADA-compliant rooms with roll-in showers, grab bars, and wide doorways. Several properties offer ski-in, ski-out convenience.

Alta's base area sits at 8,530 feet with a summit of 10,550 feet. The season typically runs from mid-November through mid-April. Visitors should be prepared for cold mountain weather and check conditions before heading up the canyon, as road closures can occur during heavy snowfall.

Accessibility

Alta Ski Area partners with Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) to provide adaptive alpine skiing instruction. WAS offers sit-ski, mono-ski, bi-ski, three-track, and four-track programs, as well as guided instruction for skiers who are blind or have low vision. Lessons are tailored to individual needs with trained adaptive instructors.

Lodging near Alta includes properties with ADA-compliant rooms featuring roll-in showers, grab bars, lowered counters, and wide doorways that accommodate wheelchairs and mobility devices. Some lodging offers ski-in, ski-out access directly at or near the resort.

It's important to note that Alta Ski Area does not allow service animals or emotional support animals on open chairlifts, ski runs, or ski terrain during the ski season. This policy is based on safety requirements determined by the ski area. Visitors who rely on service animals should contact the resort in advance to discuss accommodations.

Salt Lake City International Airport, the nearest major airport, features an accessible terminal with ADA-compliant restroom facilities located every 150 feet along both concourses, with space to park a wheelchair. The drive from the airport to Alta takes roughly 40 minutes via Interstate 215 and State Route 210.

Contact Alta Ski Area directly at (801) 359-1078 for current details on base lodge accessibility, accessible parking, restroom facilities on the mountain, and any additional accommodations. For adaptive skiing programs and equipment availability, reach out to Wasatch Adaptive Sports to schedule lessons and discuss your specific needs.

More accessible places in Utah

• Natural History Museum of Utah (Salt Lake City)
• Arches National Park (Moab)
• Bryce Canyon National Park (Bryce)
• Canyonlands National Park (Moab)
• Red Butte Garden (Salt Lake City)
• Dinosaur National Monument (Jensen)