Understanding Alta Ski Area Lift Ticket Pricing and Options
So, you booked your Alta ski vacation? Congrats! There are so many factors to consider and logistics to navigate when planning a ski trip – location, lodging, and lift tickets are chief among them. You have obviously already decided to visit Alta, Utah for this ski trip and booked your stay at Alta Lodge (we hope). Now, to figure out your lift ticket options.
When planning a ski vacation, lift tickets are one expense that should be straightforward, but the ever-changing lift ticket prices and expanding third-party pass options make it hard to decide. Day tickets? Season Pass? Gold Card? Ikon? Deciding on the best lift ticket option for skiing Alta depends on a lot of factors: how many days you want to ski, your skier ability, your age, and more. Navigating all the options can be overwhelming.
Before we dive in, here are a few important things to keep in mind when reading this article and evaluating your lift ticket options:
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Prices quoted in this article are from the 2020-2021 ski season and are pre-tax.
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Alta has a no-refund policy; once a pass is purchased, no refunds will be given.
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For any specific questions or updates, please follow the links included or reach out directly to the ticket seller. Prices and policies are subject to change.
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Alta is a skiers-only mountain. Snowboarding is not allowed. Our neighbor resort, Snowbird (located 1.5 miles away and connected to Alta via ski terrain) does allow snowboarding. Alta Lodge welcomes both skiers and snowboarders and offers a complimentary shuttle service between the two resorts for guests who choose to ski or ride at Snowbird during their stay.
Here, we do our best to break down all your options for you when trying to find the best deal on lift tickets to ski Alta Ski Area. We have complied 4 charts that break down the pricing per day, based on age groups:
Chart 1: Ages 18-79
Chart 2: 6 & Under
Chart 3: Ages 7 – 12
Chart 4: Ages 13 – 17
Feel free to jump ahead to the chart breakdowns, but we do encourage you to read through the entire article!
Alta Ski Area Lift Tickets and Pass Products
Alta Ski Area offers a variety of lift ticket options.
- Full-day (9:15 AM – 4:30 PM)
- Afternoon (12:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
- Late-afternoon (2:30 PM – 4:30 PM)
- Child (12 & under)
- Beginner-area (Sunnyside & Albion lifts only)
- Multi-day lift tickets
- Alta-Bird (access to Alta and Snowbird)
Buying day-of, at the ticket window, is always going to be the most expensive option but offers you the most flexibility. You can pre-purchase online in advance for savings on date-specific tickets.
Peak Pricing vs. Off-Peak Pricing
New in the 2020-2021 ski season, Alta Ski Area has introduced a Peak and Off-Peak pricing structure for lift tickets.
Peak Pricing applies
- Weekends (Friday – Sunday) from December 18 through April 4
- Holidays (December 25 – January 3, January 15 – 18, & February 12 – 15)
*Also new this season – tax is no longer included in the listed lift ticket price. Prices quoted in this article as well as on alta.com are pre-tax prices.
Alta Ski Area “Pay-As-You-Ski” Cards
For semi-regular Alta skiers who want to save money, but value the flexibility of skiing when they want, Alta has a few “pay-as-you-ski” cards to choose from.
The Gold Card
Most popular is the Gold Card. A one-time purchase of $189 gets you 50% off the window rate of any Alta ticket type that you ski. Connected directly to your credit card, there is no need to go to the ticket window. Just head out to the lifts and enjoy the skiing! Your pass will track what you ski and charge you accordingly (i.e. if you don’t load a lift until after 12:30 PM, you will receive 50% off the Afternoon ticket price or if you only ski the Sunnyside lift, you will be charged 50% off the Beginner Area ticket price).
Pro-tip: The Gold Card is one of Alta’s best-kept secrets! Our pricing analysis shows that is the most economical option for skiers who plan to ski for 4-5 days (or more). At Alta Lodge our guests stay an average of 4 nights, making the Gold Card one of our top recommended lift ticket options.
Honorable Mention: Sunnyside at 3 Cards for Adults or Children
Similar to the Gold Card, the Sunnyside at 3 Card comes with a one-time purchase (in this case, just $59). The card includes unlimited skiing on the Sunnyside lift after 3:00 PM, and offers 20% off any other Alta ticket type you might ski. This pass is intended for beginner skiers who will spend most of their time skiing Sunnyside after 3 PM. This is a great option for parents traveling with young kids who plan to do most of their skiing together in beginner terrain.
These passes are non-transferable, so each member of your family will need their own pass (children will receive 20% off the child price window rates). An added benefit of the Alta pay-as-you-ski cards is that you can use choose to link them directly to your credit card so you can pay for purchases at all on-mountain restaurants and retail outlets that are owned by Alta Ski Area (Alf’s, Watsons, Albion Grill, Alf Engen Ski School, & all Alta Ski Shop locations).
Alta Ski Area Pre-Paid Cards
Pre-paid cards, also known as 10-day cards, are simple. A one-time purchase of $749 gets you 10 days of skiing at any point in the season. The best part about this option is that the pass is transferable between users (but limited to one user per day).
This is a great option for guests who either enjoy an extended stay or visit Alta for 2-3 shorter stays throughout the season and expect to ski for a total of 9-10 days. Note – unused days will not roll over into the following season.
Alta Ski Area Season Passes
Depending on the length of your visit, your age, or military status, an Alta Seasons Pass might actually be the best option for you! If you are traveling as a family, the family season pass package ($3,099 includes 2 adults and 2 children) is worth looking into. Season pass benefits include not worrying about peak vs non-peak days, no blackout dates, more flexibility with your ski time, Wasatch benefit (1 day included at Deer Valley, Snowbird, and Brighton), UTA bus pass, and more!
*Reloading your pass or card. Purchase a reload card (or bring one with you if you saved it from last season) to save $5 on any ticket price. You can even reload online!
Convenience Card
Available exclusively to our lodging guests (*not for sale by Alta Ski Area online or at any ticket windows), the convenience card offers multi-day pricing without an advance purchase. The convenience card links directly to your credit card and works on a charge-as-you-go model. With the convenience card, you pay the applicable day pass rate only for the areas and days skied.
While this option does not come with any additional discount (it can actually still be cheaper to purchase a multi-day pass in advance for the dates you will be skiing), its greatest benefit is that you only get charged for what you actually ski! If you injure yourself or cut your trip short unexpectedly, or are just unsure of how many days you plan to spend on the slopes, you eliminate the risk of pre-purchasing a ticket that you might not use.
All multi-day tickets (either purchased in advance or via the convenience card) come with 1 “rest day” built-in. So, for example, a 3-day lift ticket can be used over the span of 4 days, giving you the flexibility to choose a day to take a break from the slopes.
So, What is the Best Deal on Alta Lift Tickets?
In the following charts, we break it down for you. The prices listed are the average price it will cost per day to ski Alta. These recommendations are assuming a full day of skiing all of Alta Ski Area lifts and are based on full-price tickets or passes. Discounts are available the earlier you purchase! Please visit alta.com for up-to-date pricing.
Adult (Ages 18 – 79)
| Days of Skiing | Best Value Lift Ticket Option | Price Per Day Off-Peak | Price Per Day Peak |
| 1 Day* | Alta 1 Day Lift Ticket | $129 | $149 |
| 2 Days* | Alta 2 Day Lift Ticket | $126.50 | $146.50 |
| 3 Days* | Alta 3 Day Lift Ticket | $122.30 | $142.60 |
| 4 Days | Gold Card | $111.75 | $121.75 |
| 5 Days | Gold Card | $102.30 | $112.30 |
| 6 Days | Gold Card | $96.00 | $106.00 |
| 7 Days | Gold Card | $91.50 | $101.50 |
| 8 Days | Gold Card | $88.12 | $98.12 |
| 9 Days | Pre-Paid Card | $83.22 | $83.22 |
| 10 Days | Pre-Paid Card | $74.90 | $74.90 |
| 13+ Days | Season Pass (Age 18 – 25, Midweek Only, or Military) | ≤ $76.85 | ≤ $76.85 |
| 15 Days | Gold Card | $77.10 | $87.10 |
| 15 Days | Season Pass (Age 65-79) | $76.60 | $76.60 |
| 20 Days | Gold Card | $73.95 | $83.95 |
| 20 Days | 2 Pre-Paid Cards | $74.90 | $74.90 |
| 21+ Days | Season Pass | ≤ $73.76 | ≤ $73.76 |
*Discounts available if purchased online, in-advance for date-specific tickets.
Reminder: Alta Tickets and Passes are non-refundable once purchased. Prices listed are pre-tax.
Child (Ages 6 & Under)
| Days of Skiing | Best Value Lift Ticket Option | Price Per Day Off-Peak | Price Per Day Peak |
| 1 Day* | Alta 1 Day Lift Ticket | $65 | $75 |
| 2 Days* | Alta 2 Day Lift Ticket | $62.50 | $72.50 |
| 3+ Days | Season Pass | ≤$43 | ≤$43 |
*Discounts available if purchased online, in-advance for date-specific tickets.
Reminder: Alta Tickets and Passes are non-refundable once purchased. Prices listed are pre-tax.
Child (Age 7 – 12)
| Days of Skiing | Best Value Lift Ticket Option | Price Per Day Off-Peak | Price Per Day Peak |
| 1 Day* | Alta 1 Day Lift Ticket | $65 | $75 |
| 2 Days* | Alta 2 Day Lift Ticket | $62.50 | $72.50 |
| 3 Days* | Alta 3 Day Lift Ticket | $61.66 | $71.66 |
| 4 Days* | Alta 4 Day Lift Ticket | $61.25 | $71.25 |
| 5 Days* | Alta 5 Day Lift Ticket | $61 | $71 |
| 6 Days* | Alta 6 Day Lift Ticket | $60.83 | $70.83 |
| 7 Days* | Alta 7 Day Lift Ticket | $60.71 | $70.71 |
| 8 Days | Season Pass | ≤$56.12 | ≤$56.12 |
*Discounts available if purchased online, in-advance for date-specific tickets.
Reminder: Alta Tickets and Passes are non-refundable once purchased. Prices listed are pre-tax.
Age 13 – 17
*This is a tricky age group. For day tickets, 13 and over falls into the “Adult” category, but for season passes, there is a “Child” option that covers this age range.
| Days of Skiing | Best Value Lift Ticket Option | Price Per Day Off-Peak | Price Per Day Peak |
| 1 Day* | Alta 1 Day Lift Ticket | $129 | $149 |
| 2 Days* | Alta 2 Day Lift Ticket | $126.50 | $146.50 |
| 3 Days* | Alta 3 Day Lift Ticket | $122.30 | $142.60 |
| 4 Days | Gold Card | $111.75 | $121.75 |
| 5 Days | Gold Card | $102.30 | $112.30 |
| 6 Days | Gold Card | $96.00 | $106.00 |
| 7 Days | Gold Card | $91.50 | $101.50 |
| 8 Days | Season Pass | ≤$81.25 | ≤$81.25 |
*Discounts available if purchased online, in-advance for date-specific tickets.
Reminder: Alta Tickets and Passes are non-refundable once purchased. Prices listed are pre-tax.
Age 80+
You can ski for FREE! To ski Alta without paying a penny, go to the ticket window every day you wish to ski to receive a complimentary lift ticket (proof of age required). Alternatively, and to save the hassle of visiting a ticket window every day, you can purchase a Season Pass for $50 and head directly to the lifts all season long. BONUS: When you are picking up your pass, ask for an 80+ pin.
RFID Technology – Understanding How Alta Lift Tickets Work
All Alta lift gates operate with RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. Each ticket has a chip inside that is programmed accordingly based on the type of lift ticket purchased. As you enter any gate at the bottom of the lift, the gate will detect and scan your pass to allow entry to the lift.
To avoid problems detecting your ski pass, keep your pass in a zipped pocket (between shoulder and knee-height), away from cell phones, wallets, credit cards, etc. Even though other items (such as a trail map or chapstick) won’t interfere with the RFID chip, we still recommend keeping it in a pocket all by itself to avoid the risk of it falling out if you reach into that pocket to grab something else.
Skiing Somewhere Other Than Alta?
All recommendations above assume that Alta is your one-stop for skiing this winter. Utah is home to the “Greatest Snow on Earth,” and there are so many amazing resorts to explore in our State alone. If Alta is just one stop on your ski travel list and you plan to visit other ski areas or resorts this winter, one of these additional ski pass options could be right for you.
$999. Includes 7 days at Alta/Snowbird. No blackout dates.
Base pass: $729. Includes 5 days at Alta/Snowbird. Blackout dates apply.
Adult: $499
Teens (13 – 18): $399
Child (12 and under): $129
Includes:
- 2 Days at Alta
- 2 Days at Snowbird
- No blackout dates
- 50% Off any additional days
The Super Pass is a discounted lift ticket to all four ski resorts in the Cottonwood Canyons: Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton with no blackout dates. You can purchase between 3 and 10 days to use at any of the 4 Cottonwood Resorts.
