Alta Chalets Blog

Working remotely never skied so good. We can all agree this year–and this winter–looks very different than what we’re used to, and there are many things we miss.  But, there are also many things we can find. Like weekday powder turns under Utah’s clear blue skies, all while holding down a big-city job. Or sending your kids to a half-day of ski school in lieu of recess. Because, thanks to...

Our favorite Salt Lake area breweries and distilleries. After a steady daily diet of powder, sunshine, and joy on the slopes of the Wasatch, Alta Chalets guests may not realize how many excellent options they have for washing it all down. Despite a history of pious teetotaling that once gave Utah a dry reputation, the state is now home to dozens of fantastic microbreweries and distilleries, about 30 of which...

Your ski sanctuary: staying pandemic-safe in a private vacation rental. 2020 may have pressed the pause button on many things, but, with a little strategic decision-making, your ski vacation doesn’t have to be one of them. If you find a way to skip the crowded day-lodges, lunch lines, and hotels, you’ve cracked the code. The solution: staying in a peaceful vacation rental with just your family—and a kitchen, complete with...

The Flagstaff and the Baldy Photohaus have a fantastic location, just across the street from the Alta Ski Area. If you are familiar with Alta, these two units are just across the street from the Alta Lodge. So in the morning, you have two options to get to Alta. You can either jump on the Free Alta Resort Shuttle or ski down. The Resort Shuttle stops right by the house...

What is a caretaker? Alta receives over 500 inches of snow per year and there are from time to time road closures due to avalanche danger. Due to this unique environment, caretakers are an integral part of the town of Alta. The jobs of the caretakers are as follows: Shovel snow to allow for access in and out of the house Work with snow removal to insure that driveways are...

Once you are at Alta and Snowbird, there is no need for a vehicle. There are very easy ways to get around the ski areas, during the day or in the evening. Free Day Alta Resort Shuttle (Within Alta along Bypass Road during daytime hours) The Alta Free Resort Shuttle runs continually during the daytime (8:30am to 5:00pm) from mid-December (12/17/21) until to mid-April (4/10/22). This shuttle stops at all...

Many times I will answer a reservation call and a client will tell me they want to stay at Alta and not at Snowbird. Whenever I receive this question, it is an indication to me that the person has probably never visited our area. So, if you are already familiar with Alta and Snowbird, skip this post otherwise read on for my spiel. 1. Yes, the Alta Ski Area and...

I grew up and learned to ski in the Northeast – New Hampshire, Maine, Canada and Vermont. My earliest memories of skiing are at Stowe VT. I was fearless on the slopes but terrified of the T-Bar…at the time my only option for getting up to the top of the beginner area. For every run I took, I had about 5 unsuccessful tries to load the T-Bar with my dad....

Utah’s Wasatch Mountains are known for magnificent alpine scenery, four seasons of epic outdoor recreation, and two of the top-rated ski resorts in the US boasting the best powder on the planet! Nestled at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, the Alta Ski Area has a boozy history and storied past of prohibition but most of the archaic and unusual Utah liquor laws have changed over the years and there...

The View Condominiums are ski in/ski out to Snowbird – arguably the best ski in/ski out there is to Snowbird. You don’t need to be an expert skier but, you do need to be an intermediate skier to be able to take advantage of this access. So, how do you ski to Snowbird? The View is located at the very end of Blackjack Road. The trail to Snowbird starts at...

If you have never been to Little Cottonwood Canyon, you may be confused as to what lift ticket to buy.  Think of it as four different lift ticket choices.  You can get an ALTA-ONLY pass, a SNOWBIRD-ONLY pass, an Alta/Snowbird DUAL mountain pass, or the lift ticket that we offer:  The SkiCity Super Pass.  In our opinion, the Dual Mountain pass is the most expensive pass of all and most...

We are frequently asked if people should rent a car when visiting Snowbird and Alta. Some guests find that they never use their rental cars once they are at Alta while others can’t imagine not having a car. While there is no clear cut answer to this question, there are a number of questions you can ask yourself that will help you to make your decision. Below is a list...

“Interlodge” is a term most visitors to Alta have never heard before unless they have visited our area in the past. Little Cottonwood Canyon, where Alta Ski Resort and Snowbird Resort are located, receives an average of 500 inches of snow each season. While this is what we all want and why we are considered to have the “greatest snow on earth”, it can also create avalanche conditions. There are...

We are asked multiple times if our properties are ski in ski out or if a property is located at Alta or Snowbird. If you have been to Alta and Snowbird before, you will know that this is not a simple explanation. 1. Alta and Snowbird are connected with the bases about a mile apart. Alta is located up-canyon from Snowbird. 2. You can ski back and forth between the...

How do I get from the Peruvian Acres private homes to Alta and Snowbird? The Peruvian Acres private homes are located very close to where the Bypass Road rejoins the State Highway 210 (the main road), below the Alta Peruvian Lodge. The Nicholson Chalet, the Black Bear Chalet and the Fort House are on the upper side of these neighborhoods and The Cabin and The Manley Cabin are on the...

COVID 19 UPDATES To stay up to date with what is happening with COVID-19 in the area, please visit Salt Lake County’s website.   In addition, you can also visit the Alta Ski Area COVID page and the Snowbird Ski Area COVID page. Alta Chalets takes the safety of our staff and guests seriously.  We are continuing to monitor the latest health and safety recommendations and make adjustments as necessary and/or...

A frequently asked question at Alta is “Who took that famous photo of the late Alf Engen jumping over the road, with Mount Superior in the background?” The answer…Tom Plofchan, who has played an important part of Alta’s storied history since the late 1950s. Tom is the owner/proprietor of the Photohaus, across the road from the Alta Lodge and next to the Shallow-Shaft restaurant. He built the building in the...

The last thing you want to be doing while on vacation is grocery shopping, meal planning, and cleaning up the kitchen. You should be out enjoying long days of powder turns at Alta and Snowbird, and come home to cold cocktails and a steamy hot tub. It can be difficult to coordinate restaurant reservations for a large group and ensure that everyone is happy. Let Alta Chalets take care of...

How do I get from the Powder Ridge to Alta? The Powder Ridge properties are the only true Alta ski in/ski out condominiums. From the Powder Ridge driveway, you can ski across a very short cat track to access the Wildcat/Collins base area (please see Aerial Overview video at the bottom – look for “Wildcat Access” on the video – it isn’t marked at the resort area). At the end...

How do I get from the Superior Point Condominiums to Alta and Snowbird? Superior Point Condominiums are located just above the Wasatch Powderbird Heliport right along the Bypass Road, above the Cliff Lodge and Snowbird Center. The Bypass Road starts at Snowbird Entry Four and follows the curve of the mountain on up to Alta. Although technically located in the Town of Alta, these condominiums are physically closer to Snowbird....