Everyone celebrates Thanksgiving in their own unique ways. Most people include a large turkey dinner, but what goes on before is up to the individual. Maybe you’re a Thanksgiving 5k person, maybe you like to throw on Charlie Brown, or if you’re like us you hit the slopes.
If you plan on spending the holiday in Colorado’s Summit County, there’s a few things you should know going into Thanksgiving week.
Summit County Thanksgiving Ski Preview:
As always, be prepared for traffic. It probably won’t be as bad as mid-winter I-70 traffic, but if you go into it expecting a breezy drive, there’s a good chance you’ll wind up disappointed. A lot of people will have several days off surrounding Thanksgiving, and many will be trying to take advantage of the snow just like you. Plus construction on the Floyd Hill project is still ongoing, and delays, lane shifts, and closures are possible.
As for terrain, most ski areas still have a limited amount of their mountains open as they continue to wait for snow. This often means variable conditions, limited range of difficulty, and a lot of people trying to board one or two chair lifts. Lines and crowds are very possible. Check the status of your favorite mountain ahead of time to know what you’re getting into.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
According to their website, Arapahoe Basin is currently running with just one lift and one trail. Black Mountain Express is open to take riders up the mountain, while the blue High Noon is open for the descent. If you’re looking to get those morning or evening uphill laps in, uphill travel is open before the lifts start spinning and after they close. Uphill access during open hours is currently closed. The area has hinted towards the opening of top-to-bottom skiing in the near future. Make sure you check their conditions before you hit the road.
Breckenridge
Skiing and snowboarding is available on 11 trails at Breckenridge right now, both on Peak 8 and on Peak 9. It’s currently a mix of greens and blues across the two peaks, with mostly greens open on Peak 9. Lots of snow and hard work allowed the resort to open Upper Peak 9 with access via Beaver Run SuperChair on November 22, while the Mercury SuperChair is planned to open on Saturday.
Copper Mountain
Copper opened on Friday, November 22, with nearly double the terrain they had the day before. American Eagle, American Flyer, and Excelerator are all spinning in addition to several surface lifts and the Pitchfork Double for access to beginner terrain. 12 of 46 trails are currently open out of Center Village for a total of 179.1 acres of skiable terrain, while the 4.5 acres of beginner terrain are open right by the base. Plus Copper is giving out rewards based on how many days you ski at the mountain, so it’s probably a good idea to start racking up the ski days as soon as possible.
Loveland Ski Area
Loveland Ski Area is technically not in Summit County, but it’s right next door so we’re counting it. Loveland is currently running with three open lifts, Chet’s Dream, Lift 2, and Lift 7, in addition to the Rainbow Magic Carpet. The Loveland Valley side (home to Lift 7 and the magic carpet) provides several beginner runs for the kids and the new skiers and snowboarders, while Chet’s Dream and Lift 2 currently provide access to green and blue runs. Even more terrain is set to open through the weekend, and an incoming snowstorm should keep the momentum going.
Keystone Resort
Keystone Resort has five lifts and two surface lifts open as of November 22, the River Run Gondola, Montezuma Express, Peru Express, Summit Express, and Ranger being the lifts. Dercum Mountain currently has a host of green and blue trails open to skiers and snowboarders, plus a single black diamond in Ida Belle. In total, 15 trails are currently open across the resort, and there’s a hike-to park at the top of Peru Chair.