Goodbye, Winter. Hello, Summer.
Hiking the Albion Basin
Plan on hiking the Albion Basin? Please note that due to construction and infrastructure improvement projects the Albion parking lot will be closed this summer as well as Sunnyside lift-served hiking. However, Alta's 15 miles of summer hiking trails can be accessed from the Wildcat base area.
Due to an awesome winter with 626" of snowfall, expect snow to cover hiking trails well into summer. Take a look at our Mountain Cams page to view current conditions.
Wildcat Basecamp
The Wildcat base area is your Alta summer Basecamp; providing all of the essentials—from snacks, beverages, bathrooms, free parking, knowledgeable mountain hosts and more. Mountain hosts will be on-hand to provide summer information as well as shuttle passes to the Cecret Lake Trailhead.
Basecamp Concession Hours (July 4th–September 2nd):
- Weekdays: 11am–5pm (weather conditions permitting)
- Weekends & Holidays: 10:00am–7pm (weather conditions permitting)
Shuttle (July 20th–September 2nd):
- Weekends & Holidays: 9am–6pm
Summer FAQs
- What are the important summer dates? Summer starts July 4th and runs through September 2nd, 2019 (conditions permitting).
- The summer road is OPEN!
- Where can I park for free? The Wildcat base area.
- Where can I buy food/snacks? The Wildcat lot, or as we're calling it this summer, the Wildcat Basecamp. The Gulch at the Snowpine Lodge is open daily from 3–9pm, while Swen's restaurant at the Snowpine Lodge is serving brunch from 8am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch at Alta Lodge.
- Where is the best place to access hiking trails? You guessed it, the Wildcat base area. Parking and hiking trail access to the Albion Basin via the Wildcat base area is always FREE! If you don't have the energy to hike from the Wildcat Base Area, you can pay $5 to ride a shuttle or pay to drive into the Albion Basin.
- Why is the Albion parking lot, Sunnyside lift, Albion Grill and Alta Java closed this summer? Due to construction projects and infrastructure upgrades in the Albion lot and Sunnyside lift maintenance.
- Can I bring my dog? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is a Salt Lake County protected watershed area that supplies drinking water to Salt Lake residents.
- Why is vehicle access limited into the Albion Basin? In recent years the basin has been over-loved. Vehicle access into Albion Basin is being limited to balance visitor use with available amenities and natural resource protection as the ultimate goal.
- Why is there an $8 Amenity Fee per vehicle to drive into the Albion Basin? This money helps fund maintenance of the summer road, parking lots, trash removal, hiking trails and maintenance to bathroom facilities on-mountain. In past summers, Alta was not responsible for maintaining the summer road.
- What's the deal with the shuttle? Starting July, 20th the shuttle will operate on weekends and holidays from the Wildcat base area to the Cecret Lake trailhead. The shuttle will leave the Wildcat base every half hour on weekends and holidays. The cost will be $5 per person.
- How can I reserve a campsite at the Albion Basin Campground? Campground reservations are available online via the Recreation.gov website.
- Will there be mountain hosts available to provide information on hiking trails and the mountain? Yes, knowledgeable mountain hosts will be available at the Wildcat base area.
- Can I purchase a winter season pass this summer at Alta? Yes, winter season passes, information and public restrooms will be available at Skier Services at the Wildcat base area.
- Business Office Hours: Monday--Thursday, 7:30am--4:30pm.
Photography and Permits
- A film/photography permit is needed for all individuals being compensated for their work. Permits may take up to a week to process and can be obtained through the Salt Lake Ranger District at (801) 733-2686 or email pollyanna.bergseng@usda.gov. All permit money goes directly back to your Wasatch National Forest.
- There is no roadside parking allowed on the Albion Basin Summer Road. All vehicles must park in designated parking lots only. Illegal parking may be fined.
- All vehicles that drive up the summer road are required to pay an amenity fee. The fee booth at the entry to the summer road is staffed from 7am–8:30pm and vehicles are limited based upon available parking. Self-pay at the fee booth is required between 8pm–7am, and available parking is not guaranteed during these hours.
- All permits issued by the Forest Service require the permittee to stay on designated roads and trails. Trampled flowers are not designated trails.
Alta’s Stewardship Programs
All summer long, there’s a lot to love and myriad ways to give back by volunteering with Alta's Environmental Center stewardship programs.
Alta Events Calendar
From yoga classes to trail running races to volunteer opportunities, there is no shortage of ways to stay cool at Alta even when the snow's not falling.
Alta Summer 2019 Trail Map
