Days Fork, located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, is the place to be on a powder day when the snowpack is stable… but you have to get there early. The upper cirque of Days Fork is part of the Valhalla that is the Alta backcountry, which includes Cardiff Fork, Silver Fork, Grizzly Gulch, etc. Because of this, the area tends to get crowded and tracked out (hence the need for a pre-dawn start for first tracks) but provides some of the best bang for the buck when farming turns over and over again.
Upper Days Fork is filled with short chutes, wide open bowls and tree-covered aspects that provide plenty of descent choices. In fact, when standing below the upper cirque, you can scan your eyes from east to west and discover dozens upon dozens of skiable lines all in a row stretching from Emma Ridge to Reed and Benson Ridge. But the most popular lines are the ones that fall from the top of the skin track on Flagstaff Mountain. The north-facing slopes here are the first runs touring parties see of Days Fork, and the lines are steep and tasty.
Upper Days Fork sees much more skier traffic thanks to the easy access from Alta, but the lower section of the canyon also has decent, more moderate skiing. You can find good turn in the trees along lower Reed and Benson Ridge. Access to this area is best done from the Spruces Campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
But upper Days Fork is usually where the action is, and when the skiing is good, you’ll find yourself part of a backcountry scene that includes Alta and Snowbird employees, beginner tourers, casual backcountry fiends, Wasatch Powderbirds, and maybe even a film crew shooting pro skiers for next year’s ski movies. Upper Days Fork and the surrounding areas is arguably the heart of backcountry skiing in the Wasatch Mountains, but most definitely is not the place to be if you’re looking for solitude.
The fastest, easiest and most popular way to get to upper Days Fork is by skinning up the south side of Flagstaff Mountain. To get there, park at Alta on the side of the road and find the skin track behind the Town of Alta administrative office building. From here, the track goes straight up to the top of Flagstaff in a series of switchbacks. Once at the top, you can drop right into Days Fork, or traverse to Emma Ridge and Reed and Benson Ridge to seek out more remote lines that will keep fresh tracks longer than the obvious lines in the cirque.
As always, bring a beacon, probe, shovel and a buddy when venturing into the backcountry and go with a knowledge of avalanche safety. Days Fork is filled with avalanche terrain and can be very dangerous during unstable conditions. Check the Utah Avalanche Center’s daily report before heading out.
Related posts:
Backcountry skiing Flagstaff Mountain
Photo essay: Creamy turns in Cardiff Fork
A contrast of conditions in Grizzly Gulch