APH Resort Guides at a Glance:
Alta, Utah

Overview
A skiers-only resort that prides itself on its old-school atmosphere. Tucked away in the Little Cottonwood Canyon, about 40-minutes’ drive from Park City – and the same from Salt Lake City – it’s also one of the cheapest resorts in the area. A lift pass costs less than $50 (£30) a day.

Terrain
The philosophy here is ‘ski what you see’ – and there’s a lot to see. There are two bases to start from – Albion (greens lower down; blues and blacks higher up) and Wildcat (a bowl with blues down the middle and blacks off to the side). The quality of the snow is generally excellent here.

Recommended run
Off-piste blacks worth checking out are Eagle’ Nest, North Rustler and Greeley Hill – that run right down into the main car park.

Ski-in, ski-out?
The Alta Lodge is wonderfully old-fashioned, but a bit on the quiet side – as is the Snowpine Lodge. For cheap and cheerful, try the Goldminer’s Daughter.

Cost of living
As with most other places in Utah, Alta is not expensive. It’s more common to eat in here, as it’s a lot quieter than staying in Park City.

Nightlife
Weekdays are pretty low-key here; weekends can get quite crowded, though – giving you a taste of both worlds.

Alternative activities
Head to the spa at nearby Snowbird resort, or take a snow-shoe walk on the trails located further down Little Cotttonwood  Canyon.

Family friendly
There’s a Children’s Centre at Albion base, which looks after youngsters aged three months and above. Ski lessons here are good ski school facilities for all ages.

Findout more about Alta at Ultimate-Ski.com.