Alta, UT – For many years, Utah’s Alta Ski Area has allowed patrons to ride its Sunnyside chairlift free of charge from 3 to 4:30 p.m., providing a way for lapsed skiers and large families to get out on the slopes. The success of the program has on occasion led to lengthy lift lines at Sunnyside after 3 p.m., providing bottlenecks for paying guests and “Free After 3” participants alike, so resort officials are pulling the plug on the program following Valentine’s Day this winter.

Starting Wednesday, Feb. 15, “Free After 3” will be reborn as “Ski After 3” on Alta’s Sunnyside, Albion and Cecret chairlifts. Skiers will purchase passes and use Alta’s RFID-enabled access gates. Tickets will cost $10 including a reloadable Alta Card, $5 to reload the card for another day, or $25 for an entire season of skiing these three lifts after 3 p.m.

“We hope the change will improve the quality of the skiing experience for all Alta skiers,” states Alta’s general manager, Onno Wieringa.

Alta’s three base area tows — the Grizzly and Alta Lodge handle tows, and the Transfer rope tow — will still be free of charge to use all day, every day.