North America — While the ski season hasn’t officially begun yet, it’s not too early to start thinking about your first days on the slopes.
As we inch closer to the 2024-25 ski season, we decided to compile a list of five ski resorts that are great to visit during the fall. We’re defining the time period as the Meteorological Fall, which NOAA defines as between September 1st and November 30th. If you’re looking to ski during this period, there’s one sure thing right now, while the others typically open up either in late October or early November.
1. Big Snow American Dream: If you have the itch to ski or ride on snow right now in North America without earning your turns, you’ll have to head to New Jersey. Big SNOW American Dream is an indoor ski center that’s open seven days a week. The 160-foot vertical drop slope features an intermediate trail and a terrain park. On select weekends, they take the moguls out of storage, allowing you to train for the bigger ungroomed pistes.
It may not have an enormous vertical drop, but it’s always the same temperature there, which is something you can’t say about outdoor ski resorts. In addition, it’ll probably have the best snow quality that you’ll find during the early season, as guests rave about conditions.
2. Arapahoe Basin: An obvious pick for this list is the ski resort that’s typically the first to open in North America.
Thanks to its high elevation, Arapahoe Basin has been the first to open many times. A-Basin tends to start with the High Noon trail, which is serviced by the Black Mountain Express. This one trail and one lift setup can lead to long lines, but it’s a memorable experience nonetheless. After their opening, A-Basin tends to open Ramrod shortly afterward, then gets a terrain park operational.
Other early-season contenders in Colorado include Breckenridge, Keystone, Loveland, Winter Park, and Wolf Creek. It’s been a warm start to the fall, but A-Basin and other Colorado mountains have done their obligatory snowmaking tests. A storm that’s currently coming through the Rockies could help expedite efforts to open.
3. Killington: For the Northeast, it’s hard to dispute that Killington is the king of early and late-season skiing. While there are contenders in the Northeast, like Sunday River and Ski Ward, it is hard to compete against Killington’s terrain, events, and culture. If you go first thing, note that reaching and getting back from the North Ridge terrain requires walking through the catwalk. With ski boots, that can be a challenging endeavor.
During Thanksgiving weekend, Killington hosts the Killington Cup, which features FIS Women’s Slalom and Giant Slalom. This weekend also features concerts, vendors, and lots of après.
4. Trollhaugen: If it’s cold enough, a Midwest ski area can be the first to open in North America. Thanks to a comprehensive snowmaking system, Trollhaugen Troll has been the first to open on the continent. They’ve already tested their guns, with a spooky projected opening date of October 31st. Trollhaugen’s already hosted a rail jam this fall and tends to open early, so it’s probably safe to say they’re the best place to ski in the Midwest this autumn. Other contenders for the first to open in the Midwest include Andes Tower Hills and Wild Mountain.
5-7. SkiBig3: If you’re looking to ski early this Fall in Canada and experience one of the most stunning landscapes in North America, head to Banff this November. SkiBig3 (Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine Village, and Mt. Norquay) gets cold weather for snowmaking temperatures and sufficient early-season snowfall to make these three ski resorts worthwhile visits.
The projected opening date for all three mountains is November 8th, but they have moved it up sooner in the past when there’s been enough snow. If you’re looking for a place to ski in Eastern Canada, consider Sommet Saint Sauveur, which tends to open in early November and closes in late May.
Image/Video Credits: Big SNOW American Dream, Arapahoe Basin, Killington Resort, Trollhaugen, SkiBig3, Banff Sunshine Village
