Crowd calendar · 2026-27 season
Alta Ski Area
Alta, UtahIkonMountain Collective· Open Nov 20 – Apr 25
Snow in the forecast: Mon, Oct 12 (4"), Tue, Oct 13 (7.2"). Powder days fill up fast, especially on weekends.
Tap a day to see why, then plan a trip around it.
QuietModerateBusyPacked 3"+ snow forecast
November 2026
SMTWTFS
December 2026
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January 2027
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February 2027
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March 2027
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April 2027
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Busy stretches to avoid
- Thanksgiving weekendNov 25 – Nov 29
- Alta peak holiday period (parking reservations required 8am-1pm, peak lift pricing)Dec 19 – Jan 4
- School holidaysDec 20 – Dec 25
- Christmas–New Year peakDec 26 – Jan 1
- Ikon Base Pass / Wasatch Benefit holiday blackoutDec 26 – Dec 30
- School holidaysJan 2 – Jan 3
- MLK weekendJan 16 – Jan 18
- Ikon Base Pass / Wasatch Benefit holiday blackoutJan 16 – Jan 17
- Alta peak day (MLK weekend, parking reservations required, peak pricing)Jan 19
- Presidents' Day weekendFeb 13 – Feb 15
- Ikon Base Pass / Wasatch Benefit holiday blackoutFeb 13 – Feb 14
- Presidents' week school breakFeb 16 – Feb 19
- Alta peak day (Presidents Day weekend, parking reservations required, peak pricing)Feb 16
- Easter weekendMar 26 – Mar 29
Beating the crowds
- Tuesday to Thursday is quietest almost everywhere, and often cheaper.
- Parking reservations are required Friday-Sunday and holiday periods from 8am to 1pm, Dec 11 through Apr 4. Monday-Thursday needs none, so midweek is the easiest day to drive up. Reservations open mid-October, and more are released Sundays at 3pm Mountain time for the following weekend.
- Weekend reservations are only needed until 1pm. Arriving after 1pm on a Friday-Sunday or holiday needs no reservation, so a late-morning or afternoon arrival avoids the 8am scramble.
- Park & Ride lots closest to the canyons are typically full by 8:30am, even on weekdays. The UTA Ski Bus (Route 994, free with Ikon or Alta pass) and the Canyon Service buses avoid the parking problem. UDOT notes Tuesday-Thursday and 11am-3pm are the least crowded windows.
- Canyon traffic peaks around 7-9am and 3-5pm. Check the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons dashboard and Alta's parking status before leaving the valley, and carry chains or AWD with winter tires, since the road can close for avalanche control.
Ski Alta Ski Area for less
Get every cost per person with sources, the cheapest place to stay, quiet dates and a day-by-day plan. Takes about a minute.
Plan a cheap trip herePlaces to stay nearby
The cheapest beds are usually a town or two down the road. Split a whole house with your group.
This is a forecast from patterns: weekdays, national holidays, school breaks, pass blackout dates and events. Resorts don't publish lift-line data, so treat it as a guide. Snow forecast from Open-Meteo.