The countdown to ski season is officially on, and with talk of a , powderhounds are hoping for a long and snowy winter. When will the chairlifts start spinning?
Last year, Keystone Resort and Arapahoe Basin were the first Colorado resorts to open on Oct. 25 and 26, respectively. That was about two weeks after they began making snow.
Both ski areas’ 2026 open dates are yet to be determined, as they famously seek to welcome skiers as soon as they are able and claim the title of first to open in the state. Similarly, places that rely on natural snow, like Monarch Mountain and Wolf Creek Ski Area, don’t set open dates until Mother Nature dumps a healthy helping of powder.
Many of Colorado’s other ski areas and resorts have a tentative date on the books, though, so locals can start planning their days on the slopes. Find all of those dates that have been set below, and know we’ll keep updating this list as more are announced. In the meantime, do a little snow dance and say a prayer to Ullr.
Opening dates for Colorado ski resorts (subject to change due to weather)
Breckenridge: Nov. 6
Copper Mountain: Nov. 6
Eldora: Nov. 13
Vail: Nov. 13
Purgatory: Nov. 20
Powderhorn: Nov. 20
Steamboat: Nov. 21
Beaver Creek: Nov. 25
Crested Butte: Nov. 25
Granby Ranch: Nov. 25
Aspen Mountain: Nov. 26
Snowmass: Nov. 26
Telluride: Nov. 26
Howelsen Hill: Nov. 28
Ski Cooper: Dec. 9
Sunlight: Dec. 11
Aspen Highlands: Dec. 12
Buttermilk: Dec. 12
Silverton: Dec. 31
Arapahoe Basin: TBA
Keystone: TBA
Wolf Creek: TBA
Winter Park: TBA
Loveland: TBA
Monarch: TBA
Echo Mountain: TBA
