When Will the Lifts Start Spinning? 2025-26 Projected Resort Opening Dates

In just a couple months we’ll be chasing fresh POW(Daze), toasting cold ones on the mountain, and hitting the town with the crew, so we figured it’s time to give you the scoop on when the season officially kicks off ❄️ Here’s your 2025-26 forecast for when some of your favorite resorts are expected to open. As always: these dates are projections - weather, snowmaking, and conditions can shift things. (Pro tip: check the resort’s own site as you get closer to the season 😉)

PROJECTED DATES:

ROCKIES

Keystone, CO 10/31

Winter Park, CO 11/8

Copper, CO 11/7

Crested Butte, CO 11/26

Steamboat, CO 11/22

Aspen, CO 11/28

Big Sky, MT 11/26

Jackson Hole, WY 11/28

Breckenridge, CO 11/7

Telluride, CO 11/28

WEST & NW

Mammoth, CA 11/14

Tahoe, CA 11/21

Schweitzer, ID 11/21

Mt. Bachelor, OR 11/28

Big Bear, CA TBD

EAST

Stowe, VT 12/3

Stratton, VT 11/26

Jay Peak, VT 11/28

Killington, VT 11/21 

CANADA

Whistler 11/22

Mont Tremblant 11/28

Revelstoke 11/29

Banff 11/7

Let’s be real: Mother Nature still holds the final say (if we did there would already be plenty of powder), but based on current projections, many of the destinations you care about are eyeing early-late November launches this season 😁 Whether you're heading to PowDaze, College Ski Week in the mountains, or traveling solo, you’ll want to keep these timelines in mind as you build your trip road map. Winter is right around the corner, so make sure you follow @outsidelifetravel on Instagram for all the updates 🔥