With close to 120 named runs, Alta offers a huge amount of terrain for any type of skier. -Matt Roberts
Utah boasts the "Greatest Snow on Earth," and skiers agree that the greatest of the great graces the slopes of Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. High elevation, dry air, primarily north-facing aspect, and lake-effect snowfall on the Wasatch Mountains makes the perfect combination, dumping an average of 551 inches of fluffy powder per season. Adding to Alta’s allure is the excellent terrain for all types of skiers. The area is huge, featuring nearly 120 named runs, so it can be hard to figure out where to go and make the most of your day. To help, here is a description of the 11 best runs at Alta, who will love them, and how to get to there.
Beginner
Crooked Mile: A gentle, groomed slope undulating beneath Albion and Sunnyside lifts that makes the perfect introductory run at Alta. It is fairly wide open, but it narrows in some places. This is good for practicing speed checks and tighter turns, while leaving space for sweeping arcs on the wide corners.
Home Run: This fun run connects the base of Supreme lift with the base of Albion and Sunnyside lifts. Get to it from the top of Sunnyside by taking Dipsy Doodle. Home Run is a wide open path that sweeps through the lower Albion Area. Near the bottom, it has a short S-bend constriction between some trees to maneuver.
Rabbit: This is the easier way down from Cecret chair, but is worth doing laps on to build your skills. The run is groomed, but you should practice skiing the ungroomed perimeter to get familiar with powder. Parts of this run give the feeling of real tree skiing, though there is plenty of room between obstacles for maneuvering.
Intermediate
Devil’s Elbow: This is one of the longest blue runs at Alta, snaking a path from top to bottom of Sugarloaf lift. A fairly steep but wide open section at the very beginning dictates some strong turns, but soon the angle relaxes to a long, broad run out. This pattern continues through a few more steep to less-steep sections until the bottom. The perimeter areas offer excellent practice for powder turns, brief tree skiing, and even low rock jumps. Unsure intermediates should ski Devil’s Elbow on their first trip to the top of the ski area.
Rock N Roll: This is the best run for taking your first real turns in Utah powder. You’ll find mogul practice in some places, and it has trees scattered about to keep things interesting. To get to it, exit Supreme lift to the right and ski Upper Big Dipper, but instead of following the easiest way down (Big Dipper), fork left onto Rock N Roll.
Ballroom: This is Alta’s best intermediate powder bowl. Located high on the mountain, above Wildcat Area and below the steep crown of Mt. Baldy, it holds perfect snow and is just hard enough to access to keep out some traffic, though it is frequented by powderhounds for good reason. To get to it, exit Collins lift to the right and follow the traverse track, then choose your own adventure in the wide open bowl. As you travel further, the tracks become thinner and the snow fresher, but the slope becomes steeper as well, allowing for a chance to step it up into easier black diamond terrain.
Advanced
So Long: This is an easier black diamond that requires a short side step traverse from Supreme lift. It is, as the name implies, a very long run, but also extremely varied in terrain. Steep shots, low-angle run outs, deep powder, moguls, trees, drop offs--So Long has it all, and you can pick your path to make it easier or harder. This one is worth doing again, especially if you are just starting to break into expert terrain.
Catherine’s Area: This is an under-visited powder cache on the shoulder of Point Supreme. A side step traverse to a brief hike is required to access it, which deters some and leaves untracked freshies free for the taking. This is your best bet for getting the coveted "facial" of powder flying in your face as you float through the turns. Traverse past So Long and Sunset, and keep going until you spot the perfect line.
Westward Ho: This is arguably the best tree skiing at Alta (dependent on conditions), with perfectly spaced glades and good snow. The pitch is pretty steep, but not heinous, allowing for advanced skiers of various abilities to enjoy it. Take Wildcat lift and traverse toward the end of the ridgeline, following signs to Westward Ho, then find a gap in the trees that suits your fancy and drop it.
Gunsight: This is a must-do for expert skiers, and makes a lofty goal for ski warriors cutting their teeth on Alta black diamonds. This famous run features a super steep entrance slot that demands hot turns and a cool head. The initial drop is brief but intense, and the angle lessens only slightly as the run gradually broadens and empties into a wide gully below. To find it, take the High Traverse from Collins lift for about 2 minutes and follow a side-step track up and over the ridge. Tucked in a sheltered chute, Gunsight holds snow better than anywhere else on the mountain, but it is also one of the first runs to get tracked out, so hit it early on a fresh-powder day.
Alf’s High Rustler: No overview of Alta would be complete without mention of "High Boy"—the most famous steep in Utah. It begins at a harrowing 45 degrees and gradually lessons on a long, straight shot to the canyon floor below. You’d be crazy to straight-line it though, or you’d be Alf Engen, skiing legend who lent his name to the run after reportedly doing just that in the old days. It was also one of his favorite runs at Alta, which he helped establish as a ski area. This run remains a favorite today, holding good snow, amazing views the whole way down, and finishing near the Sitzmark Bar at Alta Lodge, providing a perfect end to a perfect the day at Alta.
Written by Jesse Weber for RootsRated in partnership with Alta Ski Area and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network.
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