Your 5 Best Bets to Ski Powder on Thanksgiving Weekend

It’s been an early-season of surprises. Arizona has more snow than Colorado and Utah; heck, even Hawaii got some flakes. And while ski resorts across the country are slow to start spinning their lifts, fret not: Storms are on the way.

Our friends at weather site Meteo 365 shared their Thanksgiving week roundup with SKI, highlighting the regions of North America that are outpacing the rest when it comes to snowfall. Here’s a snapshot of where eager skiers are most likely to find the best conditions on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday weekend.

5 Resorts Serving Up Snow This Thanksgiving

Banff Sunshine, Alb.

• Lifts Open: 10/12
• Runs: 79
• Total Inches: 78

Although Whistler Blackcomb opened earlier this week, Alberta’s Banff Sunshine claims the best current snow conditions with the most runs open. And there’s more of the white stuff on the way, with a weekend storm set to dump powder over the Canadian Rockies, along with gusty wind and cold temps.

Mammoth Mountain, Calif.

• Lifts Open: 15/25
• Runs: 63
• Total inches: 40 (at Main Lodge)

Although it was a week later than originally planned, Mammoth was the first California ski area to open. Thanks to a storm that dumped several feet at once, the resort was able to open with around 50 runs and continues to add more. A weak midweek storm and a stronger weekend event should help the cause.

Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz.

• Lifts Open: 5/8
• Runs: 29
• Total Inches: 58

A storm that deposited 35 inches of snow led to the northern Arizona ski area opening ahead of schedule. It’s worth noting that Snowbowl’s open terrain is on the upper mountain, and there are limited beginner slopes open at the moment.

Stowe Mountain Resort, Vt.

• Lifts Open: 4/12
• Runs: 30
• Total Inches: 54

The Northeast made out well with early-season precipitation, which allowed several Vermont ski areas to open already, most with considerably more terrain than their Western counterparts. Stowe has been able to open over a third of its trails, with more snow expected this weekend for both Vermont and neighboring New Hampshire.

Wolf Creek, Colo.

• Lifts Open: 10/10
• Skiable Acres: 1,120 
• Total Inches: 33

It’s pretty bare across Colorado at the moment, but Wolf Creek leads the way with snowfall and skiable terrain, reporting 1,120 acres of their 1,600 open for skiing and riding at press time. The forecast for the state’s southern mountains, where Wolf Creek is located, is feast or famine for the weekend, with a storm track that could drop the goods … or miss entirely. If you’re inclined to pray to Üllr, now is the time.