Seasonal Stoke: Resort Opening Dates 2017

It's what we've all been waiting for. Opening day is sooner than you think, so get your skis waxed and that season pass ready.

"Aspen Snowmass fall first snow featured"

Photo credit Jeremy Swanson / AspenSnowmass

Updated December 4, 2024 03:28AM

Note: The following information includes projected opening dates that are subject to change subject due to mountain conditions.

October 13, 2017

Arapahoe Basin, CO

For years, Arapahoe Basin and their neighbor resort Loveland have competed to lead the nation’s ski season. Both ski areas are working hard to be first, but A-Basin has officially announced an opening date on October 13th. Read more about their opening day.

Opening Mid-October:

Loveland, CO

loveland ski area snowmaking 2017 — This photo was taken on September 26th at Loveland Ski Area, and nearly a foot of fresh has fallen since then.Courtesy of Ski Loveland

Opening October 28:

Killington, VT

It’s not known as the Beast of the East for nothing, consistently the first resort on the East Coast to open, and last to close.

Opening November 9:

Mammoth Mountain, CA

After a 270 day season last year, Mammoth is projected to be the first resort in California to open in 2017. This will be our first chance to see Mammoth under new ownership after being bought by Aspen KSL this summer.

Opening November 10:

kokomo express lift installation copper mountain 2017 — Copper Mountain is installing a new Kokomo Express lift for this upcoming winter.Courtesy of Greg Bejian / Copper Mountain Resort

Breckenridge, CO

Keystone, CO

Copper, CO

Friday, November 10th looks like it will be a big day in Summit County, Colorado, with three major resort scheduled to fire up chairlifts for the public. If you’re planning on heading up from the Front Range, remember to leave early and carpool all weekend long.

Opening November 15:

Winter Park, CO

If you don’t want to spend all day waiting in the lift lines, head to this Colorado-favorite on a Wednesday.

Opening November 17 (in th:

Heavenly, CA

Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows, CA

Squaw was one of two California resorts to remain open past Independence Day this last summer. Will Mother Nature make it happen again?

Vail, CO

Park City, UT

park city sign and snow — Park City and Brian Head are scheduled to be the first Utah resorts to open in 2017, but with all the natural snowfall in Utah that started in late September (when this photo was taken), all bets are off on who will be first.Courtesy of Ski Utah

Grand Targhee, WY

One of America’s best kept secrets, it’s got snow, but no crowds. This year, skiers were earning their turns at Grand Targhee in September. Here’s to hoping most of the mountain will be open when the chairlifts are!

Opening November 17 (in the East):

Stowe Mountain, VT

Opening November 18:

Sugarbush, VT

Second to open in the east, and second in our reader-chosen Resort Guide 2018 rankings, too.

Opening November 20:

Bretton Woods, NH

Opening November 22 (in the West):

Snowbasin, UT

the road to opening day at snowbasin — The road to opening day at Snowbasin is looking sweeter with each new snowflake.Courtesy of Ski Utah

Northstar, CA

Beaver Creek, CO

Alta, UT

Snowbird, UT

Opening November 22 (in the East):

Sunday River, ME

Remember that contentious race that Loveland and A-Basin are always running for the honor of being first in the country to open? In 2010, Sunday River snuck in and opened a day before either of them, leading the nation for the first time in its history.

Loon Mountain, NH

Mount Snow, VT

Okemo, VT

Stratton Mountain, VT