It might sound crazy, but the North American ski season is likely closer than you think. Ski areas could be spinning their lifts in two months or less, with at least one mountain (Loveland Ski Area) set to start making snow in less than 40 days.
At this point, knowing for certain who’ll open first is pretty impossible. It will likely be a Colorado ski area, but we can’t say for certain. That said there are a handful of mountains that sit among the most likely to open. Loveland Ski Area, Arapahoe Basin, and Keystone Resort are traditionally the three mountains competing for the first to open, but there’s a few others that could steal the title.
Loveland Ski Area
Loveland Ski Area has one of the strongest cases to open first. The high-elevation resort has consistently been among Colorado’s earliest openers and has an aggressive snowmaking operation designed for early-season skiing (set to start in early October) . Its base sits at 10,800 feet, giving it a major advantage when temperatures begin to fall. Loveland also has a long history of competing for the first chair of the season, making it the one of the safest picks heading into the 2026-27 season.
Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin is perhaps Loveland’s biggest threat. The resort sits at roughly 10,780 feet and has a reputation for starting seasons in October. Its high elevation allows snowmaking and natural snowfall to stick when lower-elevation resorts are still waiting for colder temperatures. A-Basin is consistently part of the early-season conversation, and a favorable weather pattern in October could put it ahead of Loveland.
Keystone Resort
Keystone Resort proved last season that it should never be overlooked. The resort opened on October 25th, 2025, becoming the first ski area in North America to open for the season. Keystone’s powerful snowmaking system allows it to concentrate efforts on a limited amount of terrain and build a skiable surface quickly. Its lower elevation is a disadvantage compared with Loveland and A-Basin, but a well-timed cold snap could put it ahead.
Wolf Creek Could Be A Sleeper
Wolf Creek Ski Area tends to be the wild card in the race. Unlike the other major contenders, Wolf Creek relies heavily on natural snowfall, making its opening date much more dependent on Mother Nature. However the resort’s location in southern Colorado can produce impressive early-season snowfall. If Wolf Creek receives a major storm in October, it could become a first place contender, particularly if the northern Colorado resorts are struggling with warm temperatures.
Don’t Count Out Winter Park
Winter Park Resort is another potential spoiler. The resort has extensive snowmaking capabilities and sits at a high enough elevation to take advantage of early cold weather. While Winter Park is not traditionally considered the favorite to open first, it has opened in October in recent seasons. A favorable combination of natural snowfall and cold temperatures could put the resort in position to challenge the more established contenders.