Alta Ski Area has announced its opening day

The anticipation has been building all week. And finally, on Wednesday, Alta Ski Area announced it would give the people what they want.

After receiving nearly a foot of snow Monday, Alta managers announced the ski area will open Saturday for the 2023-24 season. The Wildcat and Collins lifts will be running. However, in its press release, the resort warns that those who come should be “expert skiers only given the current conditions. There will be limited groomed terrain available with no access to the Albion Basin.”

The ski area currently has a 21-inch base, according to opensnow.com, which predicts Alta will receive up to a foot of additional snow before Saturday.

Alta becomes Utah’s fifth resort to welcome visitors this season. Solitude kicked things off with an unexpected early opening on Nov. 10. Park City Mountain, Woodward Park City and Brian Head opened last Friday.

Alta had designs on joining the party last week as well but held off after a dry start to the month. At that time, spokesperson Andria Huskinson said the ski area at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon needed about two more feet of snow to “be sure when we do open it will be a good experience.”

Neighboring Snowbird expects to open Nov. 30.

Another resort frequented by Utahns, but outside of the state, has also opted to open this week. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming announced Tuesday that it will open Friday. That could give the resort its longest season ever at 143 days with a projected closing date of April 14.

Jackson Hole limits ticket sales and Ikon passholders must make reservations.

This season Alta will continue to require paid parking reservations Fridays through Sundays and holidays until 1 p.m. and daily before 8 a.m. Reservations will not be required until Dec. 14.

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