Stunning Photos Show Alta Ski Area's First Major Snowfall of the Season

by admin in RSS Social News. Posted October 14, 2026

Fall colors. Plenty of white. This is October at Alta Ski Area, Utah, where a recent storm produced the most coverage the resort’s seen so far this season.

As of 4:15 p.m. on October 13, the resort was measuring 13 inches of settled snowfall, a number that, per the snow report, hasn’t grown so far but may have increased by the time you read this. Either way, just over a foot was more than enough to transform the slopes of Alta.

Other resorts benefitted, too. Alta’s neighbor Snowbird got hit hard. So did their counterparts in Big Cottonwood, Brighton, and Solitude. The wide-ranging snow reached as far south as Brian Head, which, conditions permitting, plans to open on November 6 and take the title of first lift ride in Utah.

The next few days look mostly quiet for Alta. At the resort, sunny but brisk weather is expected through the weekend. Still, per the National Weather Service, another opportunity for snow could arrive as soon as Monday night. While these flakes may or may not contribute to Alta’s base, the ski area has plenty of time before it really needs to start building coverage. It plans to open on November 20.

In the meantime, you may be wondering: is anyone skiing yet? DailyPow, a skier known for getting out before anyone else, has the answer, and the answer is maybe. Well, it is yes, but only yes if you’re deeply unafraid of core shots. This was a day for rock skis.

If you’d prefer to look admiringly from afar and wait until there’s actually enough snow to avoid blowing an edge, you’re in the right place. Alta shared a trove of recent snow photos with POWDER, and they definitely do the trick.

All photos taken by Photo John on October 13, 2026, courtesy of Alta Ski Area.