As summer fades and the leaves begin to turn, it is that time of year again. Who says ‘rentrée’ says autumn, but mainly the promise of winter’s wonders. The first of these is the ski season in America’s more than 500 ski areas, which, judging by appearances, could be starting as early as next month.
The 2025-26 ski season
While the opening of resorts depends on snow, of course, the forecasts are in – including those from the Old Farmer’s Almanac – and the battle for the coveted ‘first chair’ is already heating up.
Colorado has won this title six times in the past decade, with Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) and Wolf Creek splitting the honours almost evenly and usually opening in the third week of October. This year, they are joined by Keystone, which anticipates opening in mid-October, followed by Loveland at the end of October and Breckenridge, which is aiming for an opening in early November.
Wolf Creek, which relies almost entirely on natural snowfall, was the first to open last year on 22 October. A-Basin is renowned for having the longest season, closing only in mid-June last year. The resort has set its opening date as ‘ASAP, depending on Mother Nature’, but it has historically opened in late October or early November, with an exceptional opening on 7 October in 2007.
Loveland, another perennial contender, is known for using snowmaking to improve its chances of an early opening.
Meanwhile, Keystone is banking on its impressive snow-making arsenal and the fresh buzz generated by the brand-new Kindred Resort. Set to open in December at the base of the River Run Gondola, this luxury hotel will feature 107 rooms, a heated pool, a ski valet service and a spa. Vail Resorts, the resort’s operators, are pushing hard to secure the earliest opening in Summit County.
Beyond Colorado
‘First chair’ usually goes to Colorado, and this year looks set to be no different. Most resorts outside the state open later in November. In Utah, Brian Head is aiming for 7 November, while Snowbird and Snowbasin are planning to open at the end of the month. In California, Mammoth is set to open on 14 November, while Palisades Tahoe is aiming for 27 November. On the East Coast, Killington in Vermont hopes to open before Thanksgiving.
Passes and planning ahead
As every year, the battle is not only over who opens first, but also over ski passes. Eager skiers are advised to buy early, as prices rise after 8 October. An Epic Pass costs around $1,097, covers approximately 90 resorts across the US and includes six half-price Epic Friend Tickets. Epic’s main rival, the Ikon Pass, costs around $1,429 and provides access to over 60 destinations, including Aspen Snowmass and Mammoth. Both passes also extend to international resorts as part of their unlimited packages.
Après-ski and tech on the slopes
Who says ski says after-party, of course. Keystone, Vail Mountain, and Beaver Creek already have their weekend concert line-ups ready. Technology is also stepping in with a new app designed to streamline the experience of ski school – from registration and lesson check-in to real-time communication with instructors.
