Copper Mountain may have raised some eyebrows last month when officials there said they expected to remain open for skiing and snowboarding until April 26, even as other resorts were closing early due to warm temperatures and lack of snow.
Here’s another surprise: Copper announced on Thursday that it now plans to remain open a week longer than previously scheduled. The new closing date is May 3. This will be the fourth consecutive season that Copper will make it into May.
Copper Mountain credits the resortap high elevation and north-facing slope aspect with successful snow preservation. “Additionally, the terrain the resort plans to operate through closing day has a strong base due to early-season snowmaking,” the resort said. “Several late-season snowstorms and a cooler forecast over the next several weeks have also contributed to the decision.”
Breckenridge, however, won’t make it to May. Resort officials announced on Thursday that it will close on Sunday.
Aspen and Winter Park will also close on Sunday, while Loveland will close on April 26. Loveland’s closure will mark its earliest closing day since 1981 — excluding the pandemic closure ordered by Gov. Jared Polis in March 2020 that ended the ski season statewide — according to resort records.
Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Crested Butte, Steamboat, Snowmass and Eldora are among the resorts that have closed.
“We want to give our guests the opportunity to keep skiing and riding as long as possible,” said Dustin Lyman, Copper’s president and general manager, as quoted in the release. “Our mountain operations team has worked tirelessly throughout the winter to optimize conditions. We are still able to ski top to bottom and give people more time to enjoy the mountain.”
Copper will sell $49 lift tickets for the final week of the season through . The resort will host “Party Laps” on Friday, May 1, when anyone with a lift ticket, Copper pass or Ikon pass will be able to go for after-hours laps from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on the American Eagle and Excelerator chairlifts. The mid-mountain Aerie food hall will be open for food and drinks, and a DJ will provide music on the deck.
