Lift Access Backcountry Skiing & Riding

Wasatch Mountains – Salt Lake City, Utah

6+ hours Group: 1–3 standard (contact us for 4+) From $250 per person

Note: Benegas Brothers Expeditions strives to provide the highest quality logistics, giving you the best climbing experience possible. For this expedition, we are working through our partner, Wasatch Mountain Guides.

Some of the best skiing in the Wasatch lies just outside resort boundaries. By combining the resort lift system with short hikes and traverses through designated backcountry gates, we gain fast, efficient access to high alpine terrain and the Wasatch’s uppermost elevations — without long approach skins. This is the format that lets you maximize vertical, reach remote powder stashes more efficiently, and ski lap after lap of untracked terrain with considerably less uphill effort.

Whether it’s a quick one-up ride to gain altitude before dropping into an untouched bowl, or multiple lift laps linking sidecountry stashes at Alta or Brighton, lift-access backcountry delivers the perfect balance of convenience and adventure. Your guide knows exactly which gates open to what — and when to use each one based on the day’s snowpack, wind, and conditions.

All Utah backcountry trips are operated through Wasatch Mountain Guides (WMG), co-owned by IFMGA-certified guide Willie Benegas.

About the Guides

All Wasatch programs are operated by Wasatch Mountain Guides (WMG) — one of Utah’s most trusted guide services, co-owned by IFMGA-certified Mountain Guide Willie Benegas. Willie brings over 30 years of high-level guiding experience across the Wasatch, the Alaska Range, the Andes, and the Himalaya. Every day in the field is led by AMGA-trained and certified guides who know these mountains in every season and condition.

Benegas Brothers Expeditions acts as the sales and marketing partner for these programs. Clients sign a WMG release form prior to the trip and make payment directly to WMG. The same standards, the same guide team, the same caliber of experience you find on every BBE program worldwide.

Duration: 6+ hours

Meeting Time: 8:00 AM

Meeting Location: Park & Ride lots at the mouths of Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon, or resort accommodations

Venues: Alta (Little Cottonwood Canyon) · Brighton (Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Difficulty: Intermediate to expert (tailored to ability)

Group Size: 1-4 standard — contact us for 4+

Season: December – March

Minimum Age: 10 (ages 10–16 with parent; 16+ independent)

Lift Tickets: Multi-lap days: valid Alta or Brighton lift pass required (not included) · Single-lift passes: up to 2 at Alta or 1 at Brighton (weekdays) provided by WMG

Required Gear: Touring skis/boots or splitboard, skins, beacon, shovel, probe

Rentals Available: Avalanche kits through BBE/WMG · Ski/board touring setups through SLC partner shops

Lift-access backcountry is ideal for skiers and riders who want to minimize uphill travel while maximizing powder turns. If you want the best of the resort’s lift infrastructure combined with the quiet and quality of backcountry terrain — this format is built for you.

Ability Level

Strong intermediate to expert downhill ability required. You should feel confident on all blue and most black runs including ungroomed terrain. Lift-accessed sidecountry terrain is often steeper and less predictable than groomed resort runs — your guide selects lines appropriate for your actual ability.

Hiking

Typically 30 minutes to 2 hours total depending on your goals and how many sidecountry zones you want to reach. Lift access dramatically reduces skinning time compared to full backcountry touring days.

Age

Minimum age 10. Ages 10–16 may join with a parent present. 16+ may join independently.

Do I need a lift ticket?

For single-lap outings, WMG provides up to two single-ride passes at Alta (no restrictions) or one single-ride pass at Brighton (weekdays only). For multi-lap sidecountry days, a full lift ticket or season pass for Alta or Brighton is required and not included in the trip price.

Do I need avalanche gear?

Yes. Leaving resort boundaries requires beacon, shovel, and probe regardless of how brief the sidecountry segment is. Rental kits are available through BBE/WMG.

Can we focus on education?

Absolutely. Your guide can incorporate avalanche awareness, route-finding, or ski-touring technique into any day. Many clients use this format as an introduction to backcountry travel with lift assistance for efficiency.

What if the backcountry conditions aren’t safe?

Your guide conducts a full snowpack and avalanche assessment at the start of every day. If backcountry conditions are poor, routes are adjusted to ensure a safe, rewarding day — which may mean staying on resort terrain. Safety always governs route selection.

What is the cancellation policy?

Deposits non-refundable. 121+ days: 75%; 90–120 days: 50%; 60–89 days: 25%; 59 days or less: no refund. All cancellations in writing.

Rates — 6+ Hours

1 person: $500 · 2 people: $300/person · 3 people: $250/person

Groups of 4+: contact us directly.

Included

Professional AMGA/IFMGA-certified guide
Avalanche assessment and daily safety planning
Up to 2 single-ride passes at Alta or 1 at Brighton (weekday, single-lap outings)
Avalanche rescue kit rental (if needed)

Not Included

Full lift tickets for multi-lap sidecountry days (Alta or Brighton pass required)
Transportation to/from meeting location
Canyon parking fees
Touring ski/splitboard rental
Food and beverages
Guide gratuities

Getting Here

All Wasatch programs meet in Salt Lake City, Utah. The drive from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to the mouths of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons is approximately 30 minutes. From downtown Salt Lake City, allow 20–25 minutes.

Most programs meet at the Park & Ride lots at the mouths of Big or Little Cottonwood Canyon, or directly at resort accommodations in the canyons. Your guide confirms the exact meeting location prior to your program date.

Canyon parking: most lots in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyon require a paid parking permit or UTA Canyon Service bus pass during winter weekends — check current restrictions at udot.utah.gov. Riding the free UTA Canyon Shuttle from the Park & Ride is the simplest option when canyons are busy.

Cancellation Policy

Deposits are non-refundable. Remaining balance refund schedule: 121+ days: 75% refund; 90–120 days: 50%; 60–89 days: 25%; 59 days or less: no refund. All cancellations must be submitted in writing.

Insurance

Rescue and activity insurance is recommended for all Wasatch programs. We recommend Spot Insurance for activity-specific daily coverage — available to purchase at the time of booking for a fraction of the cost. For full travel insurance details, see the BBE Travel & Rescue Insurance page.

Maximum Vertical. Minimum Uphill.

The Wasatch's best terrain sits just outside the resort boundary. Lift access gets you there fast — then your guide takes you somewhere most skiers never go.

Book Trip

Location:

Utah

Group:

1–3 standard (contact us for 4+)

Duration:

6+ hours

Skill:

Easy to Hard (tailored to ability)

Dates:

December – March