Alta, UT

Tucked at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta is a tiny mountain haven with deep roots. What began as a rugged 1860s silver mining camp has evolved into one of the most famous ski destinations in North America. With only around two hundred year-round residents, the town maintains a quiet, close-knit feel centered around a shared passion for the mountains and some of the greatest snow on earth.

ATTRJeffrey McGrath ( talk · contribs ) / CC BY-SA 3.0

Sitting at nearly 9,000 feet in the Wasatch Range, daily life here is shaped by the elevation and the elements. Winter brings heavy snowfall, cozy evenings in mountain lodges, and the occasional road closure when avalanche control shuts down the canyon highway. In the summer, the snow melts away to reveal hiking trails and fields of wildflowers, offering a peaceful alpine escape just up the road from the Salt Lake Valley.