WRITTEN BY: CASANDRA KARPIAK
Are you dreaming of your first run down the mountain? Well, get your skis or snowboard out because you don’t have to wait as long as you might think. You’ll be gliding down a beautiful mountain before Thanksgiving or even Halloween! Grab your gear and head out to one of these 20 North American destinations known for early skiing and snowboarding.
1. Keystone, Colorado
2. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
Boosting the longest ski season in Colorado, Arapahoe Basin often opens in October, depending on the weather. Located in the Rocky Mountains, with an elevation of 13,050 feet, it gets cold early, fueling fall openings (even as early as October 9).
3. Alta, Utah
Alta Ski Resort, located in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City, is known for its abundance of natural snow. Alta gets 29 inches of snow in October, 77 inches in November, and 92 inches in December. As a result, by December, over 90 percent of its terrain is open for downhill thrills.
4. Lake Louise, Alberta
The Canadian Rockies near Banff National Park is one of Canada’s premier ski destinations. The resort has a history of opening in the Fall, even as early as late October. Lake Louise consistently earns high marks from skiers for its reliable snow conditions and abundant terrain choices.
5. Sunday River, Maine
Sunday River is one of New England’s leading ski destinations, with an estimated opening of November 6th. As one of the largest snowmakers in the world, they are so confident in their ski conditions that they’ll refund your lift ticket if you’re not happy.
6. Brighton, Utah
With an estimated opening of November 20 and a location only 35 minutes from Salt Lake International Airport, Brighton is one of the most accessible early-ski destinations on this list. In addition, the resort has an elevation of over 1,875 vertical feet and enjoys early-season snowfall, making it an option for a quick weekend trip and flight.
7. Steamboat, Colorado
Its unique location on Colorado’s high plateau allows Steamboat to open its trail to skiers and snowboards around Thanksgiving. As early-winter storms move across the state, it accumulates snow even during the early season. With 93 percent of its terrain open by Christmas, you’ll have great conditions before the new year.
8. Solitude, Utah
Solitude, known for its fantastic powder skiing, opens in late November based on weather conditions. Located in The Wasatch Mountains, on the west side of Salt Lake City, it benefits from one of the world’s best sources of snow. By Christmas, the ski resort has on average 85 percent of its terrain open.
9. Whistler-Blackcomb, British Columbia
Whistler-Blackcomb is another premier Canadian destination for early skiing and snowboarding. The resort first opened in 1966 and has grown into a world-class ski area with terrain for every skier’s ability level. Both mountains of Whistler Blackcomb are known to open early, usually around mid-November. By December 25, 86 percent of its terrain is open and covered in a blanket of white snow.
10. Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
At just over 9,000 feet, the resort’s high-elevation location collects snow early and often throughout the season. Mt. Bachelor has opened as early as October with the right conditions. Over half of its terrain can be skied by mid-November, and by December 25 virtually all of the ski area is open.
11. Wolf Creek, Colorado
Wolf Creek gets so much snow their tagline is The Most Snow in Colorado. With an average elevation of 11,904 feet at the summit and a base altitude of around 10,300 feet, its snow conditions permit an estimated early opening of November 4.
12. Mt. Baker, Washington
With an elevation of 10,780 feet at its summit, it’s no wonder skiers flock to Mt. Baker in the early season. Mt. Baker sees 752 inches of snow on average, with 100 inches in November alone. By December 25, Mt. Baker boasts an average of 88 percent open terrain with at least 200″ of snow depth on the upper half of its mountain.
13. Mammoth Mountain, California
Mammoth Mountain is the largest ski resort in California and sits right next to beautiful Mono Lake. The resort’s terrain varies from beginner to expert, and its seasons are unusually long. As a result, the mountain may rely on snowmakers to get things started in mid-November, but it receives a tremendous amount of snow across 3,500 acres.
14. Grand Targhee, Wyoming
Grand Targhee’s modest pitch, lack of particularly rocky, rough terrain, and constant natural snowfall make it one of the safest bets for snow cover in the early season on the west side of the Tetons. It is usually open by mid-November, weather permitting, and is one of the few destinations that rarely rely on artificial snow. One year, all of its trails was open by November 22.
15. Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie Alpine Resort benefits from Pacific Northwest rainfall combining with drier air and colder temperatures to create some of the best snow conditions in North America. It regularly opens in early December, and by Christmas 88 percent of its trails are open.
16. Copper Mountain, Colorado
Copper Mountain, known for its snowmaking, leverages Colorado’s colder temperatures to cover 331 acres with powder to open in mid-November. With most of the resort open in early December, it boasts some of the best terrain in Colorado and a wide variety of runs to accommodate all skiers.
17. Winter Park, Colorado
Winter Park, the closest major mountain resort to Denver, offers a convenient option for early-season skiers and snowboarders with a mid-November opening. Located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, its 313 acres can also be covered with artificially made snow or some of the state’s finest powder.
18. Killington, Vermont
An East Coast resort known for an early opening is the snow-making king, Killington. Killington is typically open from late October or early November until May, making it a go-to resort in the region. They can cover 80 acres of snow in an hour and enjoy more natural snowfall than any other mountain in the state.
19. Sugarloaf, Maine
Sugarloaf is Maine’s tallest winter resort, the largest ski area east of the Rocky Mountains, and regularly opens before Thanksgiving. Even if there isn’t much natural snowfall at the beginning of the season, Sugarloaf can rely on its snowmaking expertise to cover 600 acres of trails
20. Loveland, Colorado
There’s a lot to love about Loveland’s estimated Halloween opening date, close proximity to Denver, and 1,800 acres. Known for the most dependable early-season conditions in Colorado, they start making snow the last week of September and even offer free snowcat skiing along the Continental Divide.
