Alta is a wonderful holiday destination because there are a variety of activities available during each season of the year. Although we may be famous for our world class snow conditions, there is also great rock climbing facilities in the area, which are suitable for all ages and skill levels. Utah Mountain Adventures are highly recommended for their climbing activities and they are known for their safe, professional and fun service. Read below for some more information on Alta mountain climbing.

What Alta mountain climbing activities are available during your Alta vacation?

Utah Mountain Adventures offer exciting Alta mountain climbing along the Wasatch range, where you can access Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood, Mt Olympus, Bell’s Canyon and more. Their professional guides know the routes extremely well and have years of experience with rock climbing. Safety is their number one concern and they won’t take you anywhere that you don’t feel comfortable. The team can teach you the latest techniques as well as showing you points of interest along the way and there are some amazing views that you don’t want to miss. Classes include clinics for teens, corporate events and a variety of other courses. There is a rock climbing course available for beginners that teaches many of the basics including how to recognize hazards, how to move on rocks and how to use the technical gear safely. For more experienced climbers, you can take on the MT Superior Classic Alpine Climb. This trip takes you 3000 feat in the air and offers outstanding views.

Many classes are also available in winter too! You can try using your crampons and ice tools to cover dazzling frozen waterfalls and learn effective methods of scaling snow covered mountains.

Looking for the perfect Alta vacation? Book your stay with our Alta resort, the Alta Peruvian Lodge

For many locals and visitors, we are their chosen Alta ski lodge and our excellent accommodation has earned us an outstanding reputation. We have a variety of beautifully designed rooms as well as delicious in-house dining which includes a bountiful morning buffet. Our beautiful mountain backdrops and professional catering facilities also make us a favorite for couples looking for the perfect Alta wedding. Check out our Alta blog for more interesting articles with Alta activities, Alta events, Alta history and more. Contact Alta Peruvian when you are ready to book a wonderful Alta vacation.

Summer is sadly ending, but the upcoming fall season is a beautiful time to experience Alta’s amazing outdoors and explore some of the wonderful hiking trails in the area. There are dozens to choose from for a variety of skill levels and many are only a few minutes from our Alta resort. While taking a hike, you may also spot some of our local wildlife including moose, coyotes, deer, fox, eagles, and more.

During your Alta vacation, try some of these Alta hiking trails recommended by our Alta resort

Collins Gulch to Germania Pass: This track is 2.5 miles each way so make sure to prepare yourself with water and appropriate clothing before you leave. Set off from the parking lot in Goldminer’s Daughter/Wildcat Base on the south side of Highway 210 to access this service road/trail. The walk takes you through beautiful valleys with mild hills and plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities.

Cardiff Pass: Looking for stunning Alta views? This trail is the perfect choice. The steep hike climbs along the ridge opposite the Alta ski area and you’ll see many amazing views along the way. Distance is one mile each way and parking is located on the north side of Highway 210 by the U.S. Forest Service Garage.

Lower Albion Meadows Interpretive Trail: This half a mile walk can be accessed from the Albion Base parking lot and will take you on a relaxed trail with signs discussing the history, wildlife and geography of Alta.

Cecret Lake Interpretive Trail: Walk along Cecret Lake and take this moderately steep track which includes informative signs that have information about geology, hydrology, animal and plant life in Albion Basin.

Catherine’s Pass: Park your vehicle in Sunnyside parking area and then enjoy this 1 mile Alta hiking trail. Highlights include magnificent views of Albion Basin, Big Cottonwood Canyon and access to Lake Catherine.

Germania Pass via East Greeley: This trail is for more experienced hikers and is 2.5 miles each way. You follow an old mining road which goes through lush meadows and takes you to an elevation of 1300ft.

For more information including a detailed map, visit Discover Alta.

Coming for an Alta vacation? Our Alta resort is an excellent option

Guests who stay with the Alta Peruvian get to enjoy rustic charm coupled with modern amenities such as our pool and hot tub. The mountain is located right outside our front door and many of our guests return every year to experience the traditional Alta resort experience. Our friendly staff can recommend you many great Alta hiking trails and we have an exceptional reputation for comfort, service and style. Book your stay at our Alta ski lodge now and you won’t regret it!

No matter which season you decide to visit Alta, there are always plenty of great activities for both tourists and visitors alike! Come enjoy our vibrant local culture and see why so many people choose Alta as their favourite vacation destination. On Saturday September 8, the Alta Peruvian Lodge is hosting the exciting downhill dash at 4pm. Read below for more information on why you should attend this event!

Our Utah vacation accommodation suggests the 8-K Downhill Dash and Barbecue Bash

This event starts at the Alta Peruvian Lodge at 4pm and is a benefit for the Utah Museum of Natural History. Racers will compete to sprint as fast as they can down the nearby Alta hills. Prizes include up to $200.00 in cash, a dynamite T-shirt, a fantastic BBQ and after race relaxation in our hot tub. The top finishers in each age division over 18 will receive from the Fabulous Alta Peruvian Lodge the following: First Place – overnight lodging and $200, Second Place – Dinner certificate and $100, Third Place – breakfast certificate and $50. The top three winners in each age division 18 and under will receive dinner and breakfast certificates. Additionally, there will be random prizes for each runner.

Fees are as follows – $28 (postmarked before August 4, 2012), $30.00 – (postmarked before September 1, 2012); $35.00 – Thereafter. Fees for non-runners partaking in the BBQ are $12.00 each. Please send all registrations by September 6, 5pm. You may register with a credit card online on the Alta Peruvian Website. You may also register for the race by mail by simply filling out the information below, include your entry fee, and mail it to ALTA PERUVIAN LODGE 8K RACE,  P.O. Box 8017, Alta, UT 84092.  Please make checks payable to “Alta Peruvian Lodge Downhill Dash”. Contact Todd at the Alta Peruvian Lodge on 801-328-8589 (Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m) or by email at dash@altaperuvian.com for more information.

Looking for Utah vacation accommodation? Stay in beautiful Alta with the Alta Peruvian Lodge

The Alta Peruvian Lodge has hundreds of satisfied customers, many of whom are repeat visitors. We are actively involved in our community and our staff can recommend many other exciting events like the 8-K Downhill Dash and Barbecue Bash. Choose us as your Utah vacation accommodation and you won’t regret it. Visit our website for more information on our beautiful lodge and room rates.

During Alta’s warmer climates, there’s no better way to experience the great outdoors than to go mountain biking! There are plenty of great spots around and Alta is well known for its excellent biking conditions. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, there is a course for any skill level and you will experience a thrill like none other. You may even spot some of our unique wildlife in their natural habitat! Our Alta Lodge, the Alta Peruvian highly recommends mountain biking next time you visit for your Alta vacation.

Our Alta lodge suggests you try mountain biking during your Alta vacation.

The Albion Basin is a great location up in the mountains with trails also frequented by hikers and horse riders. It is part of the Alta ski area and located at the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon. Take one of the smooth dirt trails with a scenic view of the surrounding mountains and bring a picnic with you when it’s time for lunch. Explore the surrounding areas and you will truly experience Alta’s beautiful outdoors in all of their natural beauty.

Another popular trail is the Wasatch Crest Trail which takes you through the vast forest scenery. This 20 mile section runs through the Great Western Trail, which is 3000 miles in total! Other recommended biking routes are the Mueller Park Trail, Old Ephraim’s Grave Trail, Ridge Trail 157 and Beaver Creek Trail. There are literally hundreds of options for the keen biker.

Remember when you are biking to bring enough water and food, always tell someone where you are going and wear a helmet. Stay on path and help to protect our beautiful natural vegetation.

Coming for an Alta Vacation? Stay with our Alta Lodge, the Alta Peruvian!

If you’re coming to visit Alta, summer is a great time to experience the great outdoors and see what our region has to offer. The Alta Peruvian lodge is a stylish and comfortable resort and the perfect way to relax after spending the day exploring. Unwind in one of our two lavish hot tubs or grab a drink at the Alta Peruvian Bar. Read about our upscale rooms, helpful amenities and  more on the Alta Peruvian website.

Alta is a quaint resort town which is surrounded by beautiful scenery and world quality skiing conditions. This is a perfect vacation spot for lovers of the outdoors with wild life spotting, hiking, mountain biking and many more activities on offer. Our friendly Alta Peruvian Lodge staff can help you discover some excellent locations that only the locals know about and also help you find transport, but in the meantime here are five stunning reasons to visit Alta.  

Five stunning reasons to visit Alta recommended by our Alta Hotel

Alta Ski Resort: Hundreds of thousands of skiers visit Alta every winter to sample some of the excellent local skiing conditions. Our annual snow fall is over 500 inches and Alta is one of the premier skiing destinations in the world. The United States Ski Team has its headquarters nearby and many talented skiers have honed their talents on the surrounding mountains.

Snowbird: Alta Ski Resort doesn’t allow snowboarding, but luckily Snowbird does and is just minutes away. It is of equal quality and there are also several package deals available for both mountains.

The Sundance Film Festival: This is the largest independent film festival in America and brings many celebrities to the area, some of whom purchase properties and return annually.  Directors including Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh and Kevin Smith have received their big breaks from the festival. The event is held in January annually and is the perfect time to visit for any movie fan or celebrity spotter.

Albion Basin: Some of the most beautiful scenery Utah has to offer is located on the Albion Basin Trail. This is a great camping spot and there is always plenty of wildlife to be seen in the area. A range of mountain biking and hiking trails are also available for a variety of skill levels.

Alta Memorial Grove: About 1.5km up the Albion Basin Road is this lovely minimalistic monument with a vast view of the surrounding valley. It is the perfect spot for some reflection and tranquility while enjoying your stay in Alta, Utah.

Visiting Alta? Why not stay with our Alta hotel

We have all the amenities and services to make your stay as relaxing as possible. The Alta Peruvian Lodge was built in 1948 and offers ski rental, transport and ski lift tickets. Check our website for more information on lessons, trail maps and more. The Alta Peruvian Lodge also has delicious dining options and a hot tub for some much-needed relaxation after a day of hectic outdoor exploration.

There are many great things to see in and around Alta, Utah and our Alta resort but one of the most amazing to visit, especially if you love the outdoors, is the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which covers most of Utah and parts of both Idaho and Wyoming. The forest is 2.1 million acres and is filled with stunning lakes, trees and views which will appeal to every outdoor enthusiast.

The forests name is derived from several different historic locations:

Uinta – The native word for “Pine Forest” or “Pine Tree”
Wasatch – An Ute Indian word meaning “low place in high mountains”
Cache – A French word referring to caves where trappers used to hide their furs

What to see near our Alta Resort: Highlights of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Park

There are several beautiful recreation areas and wilderness areas within the parks grounds. While all of them are beautiful, we recommend visiting the Twin Peaks Wilderness Area, which can be found just to the East of Salt Lake City. Originally carved by glaciation and currently remodeled by erosion, this area consists of narrow canyons and high peaks (including Twin Peaks, Superior Peak, and Dromedary Peak) that combine to form a rugged and spectacular display. Much of the higher terrain is classified as alpine and characterized by large cirque basins and exposed rocky ridges.

If you’re just looking for a stunning scenic drive, State Route 190 follows Big Cottonwood Creek along the northern boundary and separates this Wilderness from Mount Olympus Wilderness to the north. State Route 210 follows Little Cottonwood Creek along the southern boundary and stands between Twin Peaks and Lone Peak Wilderness to the south. The canyons of both these creeks are highly scenic, and you’ll find trail heads along both routes.

What to do in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Park?

The park is known for its great hiking trails (although many are considered to be quite strenuous) and beautiful cycling routes as well as:

• Fishing in the lakes
• Climbing
• Picnic areas for day outings
• Nature viewing
• Hunting

And much more!

If you’re looking for a great place to bring the family during your next trip to Utah, our Alta Resort, the Alta Peruvian Lodge, definitely recommends stopping by this stunning park. Whether you’re interested in viewing the scenery, getting some exercise or looking into doing some hunting, fishing or horseback riding excursions, the park and the surrounding areas have everything that you’re looking for. For more information on the park, visit the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Park website.

Weddings in Alta Utah – Services 

Since our hotel is officially closed for the season starting in April, we’re unable to offer lodging for you or your weddings guests. However, there are rooms available at the nearby Cliff Lodge allowing for you to spend a few days enjoying all that Alta, Utah has to offer in the summer.

As part of our Alta, Utah wedding package that includes a ceremony and reception at the lodge (available for a fee of $2,500.00) we can provide you with:

• Use of our dining room, the Alf Engen Meeting Room and our outdoor grounds
• Chairs and banquet tables as needed for both the ceremony and reception
• Full use of our public restrooms near the reception area
• Changing rooms for you and your guests
• Access to the lodge a few days prior to the event for you to set up decorations and furniture, as well as access to the lodge for a few days after the wedding for decoration and furniture take-down
• Access to the reception area and lodge for without a time-limit the evening of your reception. You can celebrate with your guests as late into the evening as you see fit! 

Weddings in Alta Utah – Suggestions for the best Alta Wedding at Alta Peruvian Lodge

Without our regular hotel staff available, we cannot provide food or catering services, however, we can make our kitchens and spaces available to a catering company of your choice for food preparation and staging. To have the best wedding in Alta Utah possible, we suggest hiring a caterer who can provide the appropriate serving and bartending staff as well as their own dishes, silverware, linens, serving utensils, alcohol and can operate independently of a functioning kitchen. If that is an option for you, then our large kitchen-space offers the ideal staging location for your wedding banquet.

If you’re interested in finding out how the Alta Peruvian Lodge can help you have the wedding of your dreams, call our hotel’s General Manager, Todd Collins, at 801-742-3000. Todd can answer all of your questions about staging, what Alta, Utah wedding services we can provide as well as available dates for 2012.

Alta Events You Can’t miss in March

March 13^th – 17^th – The Subaru World Freeskiing Championships are coming to Snowbird Ski Area and spectators are encouraged (a valid lift ticket and ski equipment is necessary to access the spectator area). This is sure to be one of the many Alta events put on that are not to be missed by ski enthusiasts. Stop by and check out the great skills of some of the world’s best skiers and show your support.

March 17^th – Join Steve Young, the former San Francisco 49er as well as a group of NFL athletes and Olympians for the Steve Young Celebrity Ski Classic on March 17^th at Snowbird Ski Area, where they will be raising money for Wasatch Adaptive Sports programs. Presented by the Forever Young Foundation, Snowbird Ski Resort and American Airlines, this fundraiser is a great Alta event that combines the love of skiing with a good cause.

March 22^nd  – 23^rd – If you’re coming to Alta with your kids for some spring skiing, we highly recommend stopping by The Living Planet Aquarium for OffSpring Fling from March 22^nd to 23^rd an Alta event that’s all about baby animals! With interactive activities, hands-on games, crafts and prizes, this is certain to be a fun day for your whole family and the event is free with public aquarium admission.

March 22^nd – 25^th – The 26^th Annual ACE SnowFlake Festival & Chili Cookoff is being held from the 22^nd to 25^th of March this year, and will be four days of celebration all about the Town of Alta. One of our top Alta events, the festivities include:

• A kickoff dance party
• Mustache competition
• Snowshoe tours
• Games including: a gnome hunt, tug of war, fly casting contest, potato sack race and more
• Bingo night
• Annual chilli cookoff with prizes in both vegetarian and on-vegetarian categories

Where to stay for Alta Events – The Alta Peruvian Lodge

There are a lot of Alta events going on in March, and when you combine them with the great spring skiing we’re expecting, how can you not book a trip to an Alta lodge today? If you’re looking for a classic ski lodge with great amenities, why not try out the Alta Peruvian Lodge? We’ve been in Alta for over 60 years and we know exactly how to help you get the most out of your spring skiing trip.

Why Stay at our Alta Lodge?

1. 1.       History and Charm. Our Alta lodge has been around for a long time, over 60 years in fact, and because of that, the Alta Peruvian Lodge has developed a unique character that’s hard to find anywhere else. With a classic ski lodge vibe, combined with great “new-world” amenities, our lodge has everything you need to experience a ski vacation, the way it’s meant to be.
2. 2.       We have everything you need for a fun vacation. From a games room and nightly movie to comfy common room and a great bar (for adult guests) we provide you with the means to create a fun, relaxing ski vacation for your entire group, regardless of age.  
3. 3.       Perfect for relaxing.  Looking to kick back after a long day on the slopes? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. With our amazing outdoor pools and hot tubs (which overlook the mountain), sauna and cozy common rooms, we guarantee that you have everything you need to relax after a great day of skiing.
4. 4.       We feed you! Having your breakfast, lunch and dinner included in your stay (as well as après ski treats) isn’t a common occurrence in the world of traditional ski lodges anymore, but luckily, the Alta Peruvian lodge as well as the other lodges in Alta have clung to the tradition of keeping our guests full and satisfied!
5. 5.       Great Staff (if we do say so ourselves).  Our staff is made up of people who love to ski. That means that we have the passion, expertise and skills to help you get the most out of your trip to Alta. We’ve experienced it all when it comes to Alta, which makes us some of the best resources you can find and we want to share our knowledge with you.
6. 6.       In-house ski shop.  Alta is known for its powder snow and having the right equipment is necessary to get the most out of your ski trip. Our in-house Alta Peruvian Lodge ski shop, is staffed with experienced skiers who know their gear and can help outfit effectively for our ski conditions.

Basically, we love skiing, we love Alta, and we think that if you like either or both of those things then you’ll love staying at the Alta Peruvian Lodge. If you agree why not try our Alta Lodge for your next ski vacation? 

Alta Events in February

February 4^th – During weekends in February in the Alta Ski Area, they’re holding Ski with a Ranger days one of their most popular Alta events where a highly trained volunteer from the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation will offer kids a fun learning experience on a groomed run while discussing local history, the environment and winter ecology. The event runs on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 pm and meets at the bottom of the Cecret Chairlift.

February 14^th – What would February be without some great Valentine’s Day Alta events? On Tuesday February 14^th at Our Lady of the Snows there will be a wine, chocolate and cheese tasting starting at 7pm. The event runs till 9:30 and is put on by the Alta Community Enrichment program and costs $15.00. The even requires pre-registration so if you’re coming to town with you sweetheart this Valentine’s day why not book early to make sure you can take part in this fun Alta event?

February 18^th – 24^th – Teen Freeride Camps are on during President’s Week in the Alta Ski Area. The camps are for teens aged 13-17 and help them improve their skills and get a better understanding of Alta’s great ski conditions. Skiers are not asked to commit to a certain number of days, making this Alta event perfect for vacationers. Check-in is at 8:30 am in the Ski Adventure Center and the camp runs till 4:30. The event cots $120 a day and includes lunch (doesn’t include lift tickets).

February 24^th – 25^th – The Telluride Mountainfilm Tour is coming to Alta this February. This informative event which is held at Our Lady of the Snows at 5:30pm on the 24^th and 25^th costs $5.00 per night and showcases some of the best films of the year from the Telluride MountainFilm Fest. Tickets are available at the door, and since you’re able to bring your own food, why not make a family picnic night out of it?

We still have Alta accommodations available for February but we’re filling up fast, so make sure you book quickly and don’t miss out on any of these great events.