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Alta was once the essence of high adventure, living out the Hollywood version of an out-of-control, lawless society in which life was cheap and riotous behaviour was on tap. In-between shooting each other the miners did something constructive - they learned to ski.
Deep powder snow, inexpensive lift tickets, proximity to Salt Lake City and beautiful scenery make this a popular spot, with the added benefit of all-level terrain catering to beginners and advanced skiiers
Located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon in northern Utah, Alta offers 2,200 acres of terrain and 116 runs serviced by a range of lifts including detachable quad chairs, surface tows and a moving conveyor. The resort starts at a base elevation of 2600m, rising to 3216m for a vertical gain of 617m
Apres Ski
If you're after après ski, Alta may not be your best bet. It's family-friendly with excellent childcare facilities, so classic après ski means a hearty meal and an early night.
But while bars don't technically exist in Utah, you'll find places displaying signs like "Private club for the benefit of its members", so just join up and think of the nominal (few dollars) fee as a cover charge. Spots for a bout of nocturnal drinking include the Alta Peruvian Lodge bar, Sitzmark Bar at the Alta Lodge, the Goldminer's Daughter Alpine Lounge and the Eagle's Nest Lounge at Alta's Rustler Lodge.
Dining is usually included in lodging costs, but lodge restaurants are usually open to all