When Do Colorado Ski Resorts Open? 2026-27 Opening Dates

Odds are somebody in Colorado skis before Halloween. Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Loveland and Winter Park are all racing to open as soon as they can, and most of the big names already have their November dates on the calendar.

Last winter was rough on Colorado ski areas. Not much snow, way too much warm weather, and several resorts had to push back their opening days. This year everybody's hoping El Niño shows up and actually does its job.

Every date below is weather permitting. Last year showed how much that matters.

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Western Slope Ski Area Opening Dates

Powderhorn (Grand Mesa): Friday, Nov. 20 (tentative). It's also turning 60, with a birthday party on Dec. 5.
Purgatory (Durango): Friday, Nov. 20
Crested Butte: Wednesday, Nov. 25
Telluride: Targeting Thursday, Nov. 26 (yes, Thanksgiving), but Telluride's own website still lists its dates as TBD
Aspen Mountain and Snowmass: Thursday, Nov. 26
Sunlight (Glenwood Springs): Second weekend of December
Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk: Saturday, Dec. 12
Silverton Mountain: Thursday, Dec. 31

But Summit County Ski Resorts Could Open in October

Keystone is already selling lift tickets for Saturday, Oct. 24. The resort says that's not an official opening day, so don't call in sick yet.

A winter weather advisory called for 6 to 12 inches in the Summit County mountains this week, so it might not be a long wait.

The Rest of Colorado's Ski Resort Opening Dates

Breckenridge and Copper Mountain: Friday, Nov. 6
Vail: Friday, Nov. 13
Eldora: Expected Friday, Nov. 13, but Eldora hasn't posted an official date
Steamboat: Saturday, Nov. 21
Beaver Creek and Granby Ranch: Wednesday, Nov. 25
Monarch: Early December, no exact date yet
Howelsen Hill: Saturday, Dec. 5 (projected)
Ski Cooper: Wednesday, Dec. 9 (tentative)
Echo Mountain: Mid-December. Echo hasn't posted an official date yet.
Wolf Creek: No date. Wolf Creek doesn't pick one ahead of time; it opens when there's enough natural snow.

Some of these dates will probably move. If they do, we'll update the list.

Colorado Boasts Some of the Longest Ski Runs in North America

These Colorado ski runs are some of the longest anywhere in North America.

Colorado's Best Ski Slopes For Beginners

If you are a beginner skier and wondering where some good places are in Colorado to get on the slopes and experience some mellow terrain to help you hone your skills, you've come to the right place. We got some good advice from zrankings.com on Colorado's best ski resorts for beginner skiers.

A Guide to Colorado's Best Ski Resorts

Check out this quick guide to Colorado's popular ski resorts. We're looking at 13 of our favorite places to ski in Colorado. Find out more about each ski area like the elevation, how many lifts, and how many acres you have to ski on.

Gallery Credit: Wes Adams

Source: Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates for 2026-27: Powderhorn, Breckenridge, Vail and More

Filed Under: Colorado Ski Resorts

Categories: Articles, Colorado Local

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