Member of the Month

profa_212
July, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Should I get an Alta pass or a Brighton pass?

profile picture
Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
As some background, I am a freshman at University of Utah in Salt Lake, and a big reason I came here was to ski. I don't have a car down here, and I don't know many other skiers. I was gonna get an Alta pass because a couple ski homies moved down here right around the time that I did, and throughout the time we've skied together we've always been the most stoked about vids coming out of Alta, whether that's the freeride SLVSH games, the Soup crew, or random vids from the guy who runs the drinkbutter insta page. Recently, my friends who moved down here had a falling out, and the ones I'm still on good terms with are moving out of Salt Lake. Bottom line, I'm having to reevaluate where and what I want to ski.

Alta is sick as fuck, and doing wildcat laps was honestly a factor in choosing to come to Utah. The issue is that I hardly know anyone that is gonna be skiing Alta, so I would be having to worry about finding some people to ski with. Also, since I don't have a car, I would have to bum a ride off of someone, which again I don't know anyone that skis Alta, or figure out how to get from campus to Alta on busses, which I've heard is pretty hard and long.

Most the people I know who ski are getting Brighton passes, I would definitely be able to get a ride up there, and if not, there is a bus that goes from campus to Brighton. I'm more into doing hotlaps on resort lines than park, but for spring slush days the brighton park would be cool to hit. Bottom line, I think I would still rather ski Alta than Brighton.

I don't really have the cash from an Ikon pass or anything more than just a base pass at one of the resorts, so I'm trying to decide between these two options. I made this longer than it needed to be but any advice would be appriciated.
5 years ago
8 1
profile picture
Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5112 - Karma: 18,805
Brighton so you don't have to rely on others to get to the hill.
5 years ago
24 0
profile picture
Liam_j10
Posts: 515 - Karma: 2,472
You're correct that Alta has way better skiing but more kids from the U go the Btown. It comes down to whether you prioritize the skiing or the social aspects. My first two years at the U I went Alta and Ikon which was perfect. The group of people that ski alta is pretty small but any college kid who gets an alta pass will rip and be cool af, so if you do find a few people I bet you'll have a blast with them. Plus I was more than happy with solo days there, Alta hot laps are unbeatable.



The other thing to keep in mind is that so many kids go to brighton and it's a pretty chill resort so I would just borrow passes after my 5 ikon days. I would get like 20 days borrowing passes. One of my friends who's a white chick would legit borrow the pass of our other friend who's a black dude and went a whole season at brighton without any issues hahah
5 years ago
14 0
profile picture
BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9663 - Karma: 71,945
I'd say get Alta, you will find people to ski with, but Brighton does have the vibe down to a T. Just talk to people and take laps.
5 years ago
5 1
profile picture
theorolfs
Posts: 125 - Karma: 105
I go to the U and would def recommend Alta. There's not much question that the skiing is way better. In terms of getting there, there are lots of public transit busses that run up and down the canyon multiple times a day. There are also a fair amount of U students at Alta, and it's super easy to meet people up there. Once you get established its pretty easy to find people to carpool up there with. I'm always down to give somebody a ride!
5 years ago
4 0
profile picture
Obama_care
Posts: 581 - Karma: 2,759
Alta if you get a car soon but if not Brighton it’s dope
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
GayWolf420
Posts: 38326 - Karma: 132,564
I love both. They're awesome, but in their own ways. I do love how both still have that true "ski area" feel because it makes each experience there different and unique.

Go with Alta though if you're looking to just ski your ass off for a season. So many people on here ski there along with tons of people at the U so you'll always find some people to ski with. I finally nutted up on an AltaBird pass and while it was costly, I loved being able to ski both resorts cuz Alta kicks ass and so does Snowbird.


Brighton is a really great resort though, especially with night skiing and having a bar at the base.

**This post was edited on Oct 9th 2020 at 11:31:24am
5 years ago
4 0
profile picture
The.Brentist
Posts: 119 - Karma: 624
Alta
5 years ago
2 0
profile picture
Liam_j10
Posts: 515 - Karma: 2,472
Also I didnt have a car freshman year so fo solo days I would trax down to like midvale and take the lcc bus up from there to alta. Its a pain in the ass but totally doable
5 years ago
4 0
profile picture
BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9663 - Karma: 71,945
I go up LCC Saturdays and Sundays and will likely have an extra seat in my car if any of you guys ever need a ride, just hit me up on the gram, same name
5 years ago
7 0
profile picture
SuspiciousFish
Posts: 2794 - Karma: 16,914
Going to throw down a 3rd option and suggest Snowbird. Alta has some sick terrain but Snowbird is nuts and you literally could spend 5 seasons just exploring the different runs. Alta has more fun knolls to air off and Snowbird has more scary, inbounds heli skiing feel.

Brighton has a really chill vibe through, it feels more like a Colorado resort than a Utah resort and actually has some decent trees and glades. It all really depends on your skill level, what terrain you want and how gnarly your willing to go.
5 years ago
5 0
profile picture
hi_vis360
Posts: 5399 - Karma: 56,087
I would say brighton, its a lot less steep than alta but there are tons of natural jumps and stuff on milly which feels pretty similar to the terrain off of wildcat. It's a little less iconic but there is wayyy more variety at brighton, plus its better early season and the parks are insanely dope.

The biggest difference for me is skiing at alta is an insane adrenaline rush all the time where you can hit gigantic jumps, whereas brighton is just cruising and boosting mellow side booters with log and rock jibs everywhere
5 years ago
1 0
profile picture
BigPurpleSkiSuit
Posts: 9663 - Karma: 71,945
You also get max bang for your buck at the bird. We are open till late may-july 4th depending on snow. Also you can find me there
SuspiciousFishGoing to throw down a 3rd option and suggest Snowbird. Alta has some sick terrain but Snowbird is nuts and you literally could spend 5 seasons just exploring the different runs. Alta has more fun knolls to air off and Snowbird has more scary, inbounds heli skiing feel.

Brighton has a really chill vibe through, it feels more like a Colorado resort than a Utah resort and actually has some decent trees and glades. It all really depends on your skill level, what terrain you want and how gnarly your willing to go.
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
hi_vis360
Posts: 5399 - Karma: 56,087
this is a kinda old snowboard edit but its the best example of resort skiing at brighton I know

https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/975505/BRIGHTON-SCOUTS--Lone-Pine
5 years ago
1 0
profile picture
SFBv420.0
Posts: 2539 - Karma: 3,126
you will spend at the least an equivalent of an 8 hour day, sitting in traffic waiting to git to alta vrs. the bigger cottonwood canyon
b right on has way better bc access and a way less agro vibe and no interlodge nonsense
5 years ago
5 1
profile picture
Idahoe
Posts: 1027 - Karma: 7,539
The.BrentistAlta


bet
5 years ago
0 0
profile picture
JWillySkeez
Posts: 424 - Karma: 1,100
Get an Alta pass you wont regret it. Also shoot me a PM I live in SLC and go to the U, I'd certainly be down to carpool sometimes.
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61974 - Karma: 126,970
SFBv420.0you will spend at the least an equivalent of an 8 hour day, sitting in traffic waiting to git to alta vrs. the bigger cottonwood canyon
b right on has way better bc access and a way less agro vibe and no interlodge nonsense


Traffic is bad in both canyons ever since the ikon pass... Just got up at 6am and there's no traffic in either canyon.
5 years ago
4 1
profile picture
JWillySkeez
Posts: 424 - Karma: 1,100
theorolfsI go to the U and would def recommend Alta. There's not much question that the skiing is way better. In terms of getting there, there are lots of public transit busses that run up and down the canyon multiple times a day. There are also a fair amount of U students at Alta, and it's super easy to meet people up there. Once you get established its pretty easy to find people to carpool up there with. I'm always down to give somebody a ride!


He speaks the truth!
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
K-Dot.
Posts: 3790 - Karma: 8,349
both mountains are great in their own ways but given your situation I would say get a brighton pass. it's going to be more fun as a freshman to ride with friends that you're going to school with and being able to take the bus is a huge plus for you
5 years ago
1 0
profile picture
J_Mendez2001
Posts: 91 - Karma: 565
I am also a freshman at the U and I got the PC pass and the Brighton pass, but I almost only ski park. From what I here there are a good amount of people that are going to Alta but the majority of people I know are going to Brighton.
5 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Crispy.
Posts: 6127 - Karma: 7,764
If you get a Btown pass, hit me up and let's take some laps.
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
Liam_j10
Posts: 515 - Karma: 2,472
^ and if you get an alta pass hmu
5 years ago
3 0
profile picture
ATLskier
Posts: 8203 - Karma: 406
If it was 5 years ago, I would say Brighton since the traffic was way better. Now it sucks in both canyons and the only difference is canyon closures in lcc for acts.

My vote is Alta. You're stoked on Alta (for good reason) and you'll find tons of homies to grab a ride by November/December. It's also your first season out here, and I think you'll like the terrain at Alta way more. Much better fall line terrain and a good amount of sidestep/hiking terrain and delayed openings for pow if you can't make in time for openings on big pow days. I'm not fond of the attitude but Alta isn't snowbird either.

Brighton is rad though. I love the vibe and it's super fun with friends, but when you consider the terrain, the fallline is not great. There's decent continuous skiing off great western for about 600 vert, but several areas at Alta exceed that. Milli is a sick fun playground but overall Alta is better. I'm more partial to solitude myself but ikon doesn't seem to be an option for you (and ikon has fucked solid to an extent regardless).

You'll have fun no matter where you end up, and you have several years to try different spots and find your "place" and then there's always the backcountry...
5 years ago
2 0
profile picture
J_Mendez2001
Posts: 91 - Karma: 565
Get Alta, lift lines at B-town are so bad. And if you are looking for a park Woodward or pc is the obvious choice, Brighton is a jack of all trades but one that isn’t really good at it. Also the pictures tend to seem more cracked out/on edge, that’s kinda a part of the park skiing experience tho lmao.
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5408 - Karma: 22,549
J_Mendez2001Get Alta, lift lines at B-town are so bad. And if you are looking for a park Woodward or pc is the obvious choice, Brighton is a jack of all trades but one that isn’t really good at it. Also the pictures tend to seem more cracked out/on edge, that’s kinda a part of the park skiing experience tho lmao.


This thread is a year old homie.
4 years ago
8 0
profile picture
drew.ski
Posts: 67 - Karma: 597
alta + brighton night skiing pass for weekdays
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
itsblind2oclock
Posts: 132 - Karma: 370
I've got both hmu if you wanna take some laps!

Brighton would probably be more ideal because of transportation though. There's a lot more college aged folks at Brighton as well, good vibe fo sho
4 years ago
1 0
profile picture
Liam_j10
Posts: 515 - Karma: 2,472
drew.skialta + brighton night skiing pass for weekdays


This guy gets it
4 years ago
1 0
All times are Eastern (-4); Currently it's 12:09PM