Alta Ski Area will charge skiers $100 for missing a parking reservation this ski season, part of a tighter system aimed at managing limited space in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The resort announced several changes to its parking reservation system for the 2026-27 season, as first reported by ABC4. The first missed reservation earns a warning. Every no-show after that triggers a $100 fee, according to Alta's parking page. Skiers must cancel by 8 a.m. on the day of their reservation to avoid the charge.
The first miss is free.
Alta is also capping accounts at four active reservations at a time, whether free or paid. Same-day reservations, if available, do not count toward that limit. The resort will send a text reminder 24 hours before each reservation.
Alta's website describes parking management as one of the biggest challenges for both the resort and the Town of Alta, citing the canyon's limited space.
When reservations are required
Parking reservations are required Fridays through Sundays and during holiday periods from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 11 through April 4. The ABC4 report lists holiday periods as Dec. 18 through Jan. 3, plus Jan. 18 and Feb. 15, though Alta's own website shows slightly different dates in a separate section. Skiers should check the resort's parking page for final holiday dates. Closing day, April 25, also requires a reservation from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
No reservation is needed from opening day through Dec. 10, or on Mondays through Thursdays after 8 a.m. outside holiday periods. After 1 p.m. any day, no reservation is required, though a spot is not guaranteed.
What it costs
Non-passholders pay $25 per day for parking. Skiers who buy lift tickets online qualify for a discounted rate of $10. Qualifying Alta and Alta-Bird passholders can reserve parking for free.
Parking without any reservation carries a $150 fine, according to Alta's website.
Early-morning backcountry skiers who want to park before 8 a.m. in the South Flagstaff lot need a separate reservation: $25 on Fridays through Sundays and holidays, $15 on weekdays. Those early-morning reservations run through April 4, 2027.
Weekly reservation releases
Alta releases additional parking reservations every Sunday at 3 p.m. Mountain time for the following weekend or holiday period. Cancellations also open spots daily.
Alta is set to open for the 2026-27 season on Friday, Nov. 20, weather permitting. Reservations opened in mid-October at Alta's parking reservation site.
