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Surrounding Area

From powder days in “The Greatest Snow on Earth” to wildflower hikes on the alpine trails, the world-class resorts of Alta Ski Area & Snowbird Resort and the scenic Little Cottonwood Canyon boast an abundance of year-round activities for the whole family. Whether you’re cruising Snowbird’s alpine slide or seeking solitude in the Wasatch Mountains, you are spoilt for choice.

The Alta/Snowbird resorts are nestled at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and are within easy driving distance from Utah’s largest metro areas and the beautiful Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take a scenic day trip from Alta and discover Utah’s top attractions, natural wonders and a touch of the old wild-west.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is backdropped by the Wasatch Mountains with easy access to world-class ski resorts, outdoor activities in Utah’s wild west and famous national parks. Salt Lake City has grown up over the past few years and is a dynamic city with a lot of fun. There’s a diverse craft culture and vibrant farm to table movement with world-class restaurants, microbreweries and hidden speakeasies emerging on the Salt Lake City dining scene almost daily. Salt Lake City also delivers the finest bean-to-bar craft chocolate on earth, earning the accolade of America’s craft chocolate capital. Caputo’s Market & Deli in downtown Salt Lake gives you a chance to sample the best chocolate in the USA!

Salt Lake City is well-known as the global headquarters of the Mormons with impressive religious attractions in the historic Temple Square including the sacred Salt Lake Temple, the Tabernacle Choir, the Joseph Smith Memorial and Church History Museum. Other top Salt Lake City attractions include Capitol Hill, Red Butte Gardens, Hogle Zoo and Liberty Park. If you’re taking a day trip from Alta to Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake Trolley Tour is a fun, educational way to learn more about this great city.

Aside from the world-famous attractions, Salt Lake City boasts miles of world-class hiking and biking trails and premier fly-fishing on the Provo River or Weber River. Visit Antelope Island State Park on the Great Salt Lake with hiking, biking and horse-riding trails through the lush forests and salt flats or relax and sunbathe at Bridger Bay Beach. The mountains surrounding Salt Lake City are a haven for outdoor adventurers.

Park City

Park City

Who hasn’t heard of the world-class mountain town of Park City? Park City is well-known for the Sundance Film Festival, Stein Erikson’s famed lodge at Deer Valley and a historic Main Street with an authentic old wild-west ambiance. You’re already on vacation in the #1 Ski Resort in North America and the best place for skiing, but a day trip from Alta to Park City is a fun way to spend the day.

Park City is easily accessible on the highway, however we suggest a fun diversion through the scenic Big Cottonwood Canyon. Stop for a beer and a burger at the historic Silver Fork Lodge overlooking Honeycomb Canyon, pass Solitude Ski Resort and veer left over Guardsmans Pass (open only in the summer months) to Park City. The Park City downtown area is the heart and soul of this vibrant town with the historic Main Street, the Old Town and mountain base area featuring unique shops, galleries, breweries, world-class restaurants and the alpine-inspired High West gastro-distillery. (Unfortunately, tours are currently on hold due to Covid but the Saloon is open for fine whiskey sampling!).

Travel north to the Utah Olympic Park, a 400-acre adventure center built for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Visit the Alf Engen Ski Museum and Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Museum or enjoy year-round adventures with an alpine slide, ziplines, adventure courses and the summer bobsled experience. Park City boasts scenic golf courses, miles of hiking and biking trails, streams and rivers for fishing and the beaches of Jordanelle State Park with Aqua Zone for hours of floating fun. The three world-class resorts, Park City Resort, Deer Valley Resort and Canyons Resort, offer year-round resort activities for the entire family.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon

The Cottonwood Canyons lie in the upper reaches of the Wasatch Mountains above the Salt Lake Valley. The canyons differ with unique landscapes so a scenic drive to Big Cottonwood Canyon is a must-do activity for your vacation in Alta. Little Cottonwood is narrow with steep towering granite walls carved by an alpine glacier – Big Cottonwood is a wider canyon with gradual inclines, carved by the meandering Big Cottonwood Creek. Big Cottonwood Canyon is home to both Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Ski Resort and the historic Silver Fork Lodge.

Alta Chalets have been welcoming visitors to the Cottonwood Canyon for over 30 years and represent some of the most exclusive properties in the area. Trust us for a safe, secluded and memorable vacation in Alta and Snowbird.