US Ski Areas Set Opening Dates Less Than 3 Months Away
As the last ski area still operating in North America for 24-25 ends its long season, the start of next winter may only be two months away. Some centres have already begun naming their 25-26 season opening dates.
North America’s 24-25 ski season is due to end today in terms of lift-accessed outdoor snow runs, with Timberline in Oregon ending a nine-month run.
But the start of next winter may only be two months away. It tends to start in the latter half of October with ski areas including Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Loveland and Wolf Creek aiming to open, usually with the aid of snowmaking, as soon as it’s been cold enough, long enough at their high altitudes, to open a run. Sometimes they’re beaten to it by ski areas in other parts of the US, with Minnesota’s Wild Mountain one of the contenders.
Because their opening dates are weather dependent though, those centres don’t tend to give an opening date in advance, it’s just “as soon as we can”.
But others have started naming the day, with Southern Utah’s highest area Brian Head set to be one of the first, going for 7 November. They also say they’re going for another six-month season, with daily operations through May 10, 2026, conditions permitting.
During the summer the resort is investing over $1.4 million in enhancing the guest experience, including upgraded snowmaking, new rental equipment, and an improved Bypass Terrain Park.
Thanks to its high elevation at 9,600 feet and strategic investments in snowmaking, the resort aims to provide 184 skiable days during the 2025-26 season. Last winter Brian Head opened with daily operations starting on Nov. 8, 2024, and ending on May 11, 2025, for a record-setting 181 skiable days.
Their opening date is a week earlier than a second Utah ski area, Solitude, which is aiming for the November 14.
That’s the same target date at California’s Mammoth Mountain has announced.
Other ski areas to announce November opening dates include Arizona Snowbowl which is targeting Friday, November 21, weather permitting. Snowbowl only ended its last season less than three months ago, with a rare June 1 closing after 185 days of operation.
