Tragic news for Colorado skiers and snowboarders hoping to get up to Breckenridge Ski Resort this weekend.
Breckenridge will not be opening for the 2026-27 winter season this Friday, November 6th, as originally planned. The Colorado ski area announced the delay on Thursday, citing warmer-than-expected overnight temperatures that have prevented snowmaking crews from building the deeper base needed to welcome skiers and snowboarders.
The resort said recent snowfall has helped provide a good start on the mountain, but temperatures have remained just warm enough to prevent snowmaking operations from running at full capacity. Rather than open with limited terrain and a thinner snowpack, Breckenridge wants to establish a stronger foundation before allowing guests onto the slopes.
“Every Kingdom is built on a strong foundation, and ours needs just a few more inches.“ – Breckenridge Resort
Snowmaking is particularly important during the early weeks of the Colorado ski season, when natural snowfall alone often isn’t enough to provide adequate coverage for opening day. Resorts rely on sustained cold overnight temperatures to operate their snow guns and build a base that can withstand the heavy traffic of opening weekend. Even relatively small temperature differences can affect how much snowmaking can take place.
Breckenridge has not announced a replacement opening date. Resort teams are continuing to work on snowmaking operations and will open as soon as conditions allow. The mountain plans to provide another update once a new date has been determined. For those eager to get their season started, neighboring Keystone Resort is already open for the season and accessible with an Epic Pass.
It’s quite a bummer to see another ski resort delay their opening day (Utah’s Brian Head Resort postponed theirs as well), but it’s also not all that surprising. Snowmaking teams can work harder than every, but nothing can be done if the temperatures won’t cooperate. Big props to the Breckenridge teams for putting in the work nonetheless. Hopefully opening day isn’t too far away.