Overview
Little Cottonwood is one of the most avalanche-prone roads in the U.S., with many steep chutes lining north side of the road. Most of these south-facing chutes are skiable and offer quick road-side access. The south side of the road has access to big drainages with major features at their heads, such as the Pfeifferhorn (aka Little Matterhorn). Lower in the canyon there are some great north-facing chutes just off the road. Some terrain in Big Cottonwood Canyon more easily accessed from Little.
Two major ski resorts are squatting on some prime snowpack at the head of the canyon, with Alta allowing access to it's terrain (technically leased from the Forest Service) both before and after the resort season. Main Chute on Mt Baldy is one of the first couloirs to fill with snow and one of the last to melt. Snowbird has a few great lines and will let you take a few runs after they close, which is unfortunately very late in the spring when you might expect to be hiking to the snow line.
Skier access
Access to backcountry skiing LCC couldn't be easier. Cruise up Highway 210 from Wasatch Blvd or 9400 S, and start rubber necking at all the possibilities. If there's enough room created by the plows and signs don't forbid it, you can park anywhere along the road. If the banks are high, look for lots near the base of the "Y" Couloir and the major White Pine trailhead for access to most of the terrain south of the road. You can usually squeeze into some spots near the base of Tanners gulch, tucked into the sharp bend just above the gulley proper. Higher up, there is plenty of parking above Alta for access to the Emmas, Grizzly Gulch, and Pole Line pass. Lots of folks ski into BCC from up here, and you can also access Solitude / Brighton sidecountry.
