When skiers talk about Silver Fork Canyon, we immediately think about the Meadow Chutes near Solitude Mountain Resort. Quick access from Solitude and quality skiing just outside the resort’s boundary make the open faces and steep, aspen tree filled lines hugely popular for anyone seeking a short tour. But there’s a lesser traveled side to Silver Fork in her upper reaches, where wide bowls and sheltered pine-covered slopes await.
Upper Silver Fork Canyon has more in common with a tour in Little Cottonwood than Big, especially since it’s accessed from Grizzly Gulch and Emma Ridge above Alta. Backcountry skiing in Silver Fork is very similar to tours in neighboring Days and Cardiff Forks, where the dawn patrollers sneak in powder runs before work at Alta and Snowbird. But Silver Fork remains less crowded thanks to the fact that it’s not along the Cardiff Pass skin track, leaving more untouched powder for those who are willing to traverse the ridge a bit to receive the goods.
A typical way to ski Upper Silver Fork Canyon is to park at the end of the road in Alta at the winter gate. Skin up Grizzly Gulch while keeping an eye out for a skin track on the left that leads to the top of Davenport Hill or Emma Ridge (between Flagstaff Peak and Davenport Hill.) Once you’ve summited, Silver Fork Canyon spills down to the north, offering up many aspects and lines to choose from.
Other ways to get there include a skin to the top of Flagstaff Peak, followed by a traverse to the east of Emma Ridge. Another easy way is to follow the groomed track up Grizzly to Twin Lakes Pass, then up to the top of Honeycomb Canyon. From here, a ridge traverse to the west brings you to the west face of Silver Fork Canyon where many open lines await including the notorious avalanche path called Flannigans.
The great thing about Upper Silver Fork is that there is so much variety to make your ski tour any way you like it. Depending on conditions, you can choose from west, north and east facing runs, trees or open bowls, ridgelines, shoulders, small cliff jumps and natural features begging to be skied on. Popular descents include the north face of Davenport Hill, the West Bowl and the aforementioned Flannigans. Plus, safe ascent routes exist to get you back to the top in several keys areas so you can go back for more.
As always, bring a beacon, probe, shovel and a buddy when venturing into the backcountry, and go with a knowledge of avalanche safety. Upper Silver Fork Canyon is dangerous avalanche terrain and can be deadly during unstable snowpack conditions. Check the Utah Avalanche Center’s daily report before heading out.