Colorado Ski Resort Opening Days 2026-27: Every Date You Need

If you're already looking up opening dates in September/August, you're my kind of person.

Here's where things stand for the 2026-27 ski season. Some dates are confirmed. Some are projected. A couple of resorts won't tell you until about 48 hours before they open. That's just how it goes up here.

Late October: A-Basin vs. Keystone
No official dates announced. Watch their socials.

Every fall, Arapahoe Basin and Keystone run their own quiet competition to see who opens first. Neither resort announces an opening date far in advance. When conditions are right, one of them drops the news and the other follows within days. Last season A-Basin opened October 26. Keystone has made it clear they want to open as early as possible and be among the first in North America.

If you want to catch opening day at either resort, set alerts, follow their Instagram accounts, and keep your October weekends loose. These announcements move fast.

November 6: Breckenridge + Copper Mountain
Confirmed

Two Summit County resorts opening on the same day. Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are both targeting November 6 for the 2026-27 season. That's a big week for the county.

Breckenridge typically opens on Peak 8 first, with terrain expanding through November as snowfall allows. Copper is known for solid early-season conditions because of how the mountain is laid out, so it's worth considering even if Breck gets more attention.

November 13: Vail
Confirmed

Vail is about an hour west of Summit County on I-70. If you're already up here, it's a straightforward day trip. November 13 is the planned opening for the 2026-27 season.

November 20: Steamboat Springs
Projected

Steamboat is a different kind of mountain than Summit County's resorts. It's about two and a half hours northwest, worth the drive if you're looking for a weekend away with a different vibe. The 2026-27 projected opening is November 20.

November 25: Beaver Creek
Confirmed

Beaver Creek opens November 25, right around Thanksgiving. It sits next to Vail in Eagle County, about an hour from Breckenridge. Thanksgiving week at Beaver Creek is a tradition for a lot of mountain families.

Winter Park: TBD
Opening as soon as conditions allow

Winter Park hasn't set a date yet for the 2026-27 season. They're opening as soon as conditions allow, which is typical for them. Winter Park is about 90 minutes from Summit County over Berthoud Pass. Sign up for their email list if you want to catch the announcement.

The Full Cheat Sheet

Late October: A-Basin and Keystone (no announcement, watch socials)
November 6: Breckenridge and Copper Mountain
November 13: Vail
November 20: Steamboat (projected)
November 25: Beaver Creek
Winter Park: TBD

A Note If You've Thought About Owning Up Here

The people who know these dates by heart are usually the same ones who eventually stop renting and start owning. If you've been thinking about what it would look like to have a place in Summit County instead of booking a spot every season, I'm happy to walk you through what the market looks like right now. Reach out anytime.

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