Alta Ski Area prepares for upcoming ski season

ALTA, Utah (ABC4) — Excitement is ramping up across Utah’s mountain resorts with ski season just around the corner, and crews at Alta are working hard to get everything ready for opening day.

The team at Alta is looking forward to turning the place into a winter wonderland for everyone to enjoy once again. They can’t wait to welcome everyone back, especially because they’ve been in business for nearly nine decades. They told ABC4 that this season is going to be very special.

Snow guns are in full gear this week, as the resort shakes off some dust in preparation for yet another ski season in the best snow on earth. On average, Alta gets about 548 inches of natural snow each season.

Communications manager of Alta Ski Area Lexi Dowdall said, “We’ve got crews working around the clock, be it blowing snow, managing those snow guns. The snow cats are pushing the snow around, making sure that the groomers and the early terrain will be ready to go by late November.”

Dowdall said that Alta can see a thousand skiers a day or more during peak ski season.

Some people couldn’t wait to get out for some good old sledding. Five-year-old Noah is a natural, sledding down the hill. It’s a tradition for his family before opening day.

“Oh, every year,” Noah’s dad told ABC4. “These guys love it. We live right up here, the anticipation of getting the skis on too… The sledding is fun, but the skiing is even better.”

Pretty much anyone in Alta will tell you the same: They can’t wait to ski.

“We’ll be celebrating Alta’s 88th season in business this year. That’s pretty old for a ski area, and kind of as a fun ode to the history of this place, we’re inviting everybody to come ski power eights or figure eights with us whenever the snow is fresh,” Dowdall said.

Alta’s opening day for the 2025-2026 ski season is set for November 21, but that of course will depend on weather conditions and how much snow they get before then. For now, back country skiers are welcome to come by, but Alta is advising them to have proper equipment and know how to self-rescue.