Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has officially confirmed that it will open for the 2026-27 ski season on Friday, November 6, making the Nevada ski area the first resort on the West Coast scheduled to welcome skiers and snowboarders this winter.
The resort’s latest mountain conditions report confirms that the Lakeview Express chairlift will begin operating at 9 a.m. Friday, providing access to several intermediate trails on the Main Lodge side of the mountain. The announcement follows weeks of snowmaking and a recent round of natural snowfall that helped prepare the slopes for opening day.
“We’re excited to get winter started, and to again offer skiers and snowboarders another six-month season. Mt Rose – Ski Tahoe can boast one of the longest ski seasons in Tahoe with operations from early November until almost May.” -Mt. Rose Marketing Director Mike Pierce
What Will Be Open at Mt. Rose on Friday?
Opening-day terrain will include Kit Carson Traverse, Kit Carson Bowl and Ponderosa, with additional runs potentially becoming available as snowmaking continues throughout the week.
Beginner skiing and snowboarding will be limited to the Show-Off area near the Main Lodge, where the resort expects to operate its Magic Conveyor lift. The Lakeview Express will primarily serve intermediate terrain and will not provide access to beginner runs.
Chairlifts are scheduled to operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lodge facilities opening at 8 a.m. Parking will be available at the Main Lodge, along with equipment rentals, lessons, food service and the resort’s tuning center.
Mt. Rose is advising visitors to expect early-season conditions, including limited terrain, marked and unmarked obstacles and ongoing snowmaking operations. The resort’s Wildslide Tahoe snow tubing attraction is not expected to open until Thanksgiving Day, November 26.
Tahoe’s Highest Base Elevation Helps Deliver an Early Opening
Mt. Rose has the highest base elevation of any ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region at 8,260 feet, providing an advantage when temperatures begin dropping in the fall.
The resort began snowmaking in mid-October, using its high elevation and extensive snowmaking infrastructure to establish coverage on opening-day terrain. Recent natural snowfall supplemented those efforts, allowing the mountain to move forward with its November 6 opening.
Most other major Tahoe ski resorts are targeting openings later in November, including Heavenly and Northstar on November 20 and Palisades Tahoe around Thanksgiving.
Additional terrain at Mt. Rose is expected to open as conditions permit. Advance lift tickets and season passes are available through the resort’s official website.
