Every year, an informal competition is held to see which ski area will be the first in the United States to start turning lifts. It’s partly bragging rights, but it’s also an important milestone that everyone in the ski community cheers because it means the ski season is almost here.
Now we have chosen the winner of the first ski resort to open for the 2025-2026 ski season – and it was a very close race.
Keystone Resort is this year’s winner by a snowflake because it was the first major ski resort to open in the United States. It’s running lifts on Oct. 25 from 3 to 6 p.m. and offering $5.50 hot dogs and beers, all priced to commemorate the resort’s 55th anniversary in operation.
It will operate all day from 9am to 4pm on October 26th (today). Keystone is known not only for its early opening, but also for its long, easy 3.5-mile Schoolmarm run and its family-focused approach, which includes kids skiing free (for children 12 and under when parents book a stay of two nights or more through Keystone Resort).
TPG Tip: Keystone Resort also has Category 4 Hyatt Place hotels, here is where to use your Category 4 Hyatt gift certificate or Points for ski trips.
But it’s not just Keystone that kicked off its new season this weekend; nearby Arapahoe Basin also began full-day, seven-day-a-week operations today, but lost the title of first-to-open due to Keystone’s sneaky opening the afternoon before.
If you are preparing for your first ski trip, you may have to wait a little longer as the early season is not very suitable for beginners as the terrain is very limited.
Both resorts are open with limited roads, a situation that will likely continue for at least a few weeks, or until Mother Nature provides greater help to replenish the mountains’ snowmaking capabilities.
Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado, Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Frisco, Colorado, and Brian Head Ski Resort (skis for only $14) have announced Nov. 7 openings.
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By mid-November, many other resorts are scheduled to open, such as Vail Ski Resort in Colorado, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in California, Winter Park Resort in Colorado and Eldora Mountain Resort in Nederland, Colorado. You’ll want to follow the social media pages of these and other resorts for live updates on the first tracks of the season.
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On the East Coast, you may have to wait a few more weeks for ski resorts to actually open. Some of these resorts, such as Killington Resort in Vermont, Sunday River in Newry, Maine, and Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont, typically try to open in mid-November, while others may not open until December. Judging from what we’ve seen over the past few years, many projected dates may also be pushed back. Similar to what we’ve seen outside of the west, the terrain can be very limited at first.
It’s not too late to ski for less with a season pass – even if you’re only doing one trip
Whether or not you’re able to start the season early, if you’re heading out on the slopes this year, be sure to lock in your season passes now as they’ll be going away soon.
Day lift tickets can cost between $100 and $200 per day, or more. At expensive resorts like Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, passes often cost $300 per day or more.
However, the Epic Pass will give you a head start at places like Keystone, Vail, Breckenridge, and Heavenly Mountain Resort in California; the Icon Pass will come in handy at places like Winter Park, Mammoth, Arapahoe Basin, and Copper Mountain. With these passes, you can pay less than $100 per day at many well-known resorts, even if you only take a short trip.
If you’re planning a family ski trip and your child is in third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade, it’s not too late to score some discounted ski days.
Through many “ski passport” programs, you can get a limited number of ski days at participating mountains within your respective state. This includes programs in Colorado (K-6), Utah (4th, 5th and 6th grade), Idaho (5th and 6th grade), Northwest Rockies (5th grade), Minnesota (4th grade), New York (3rd, 4th and 5th grade), Vermont (5th grade) and New Hampshire (4th and 5th grade).
For some of these Passport Passes (including Colorado), residency in a specific state is not required, so kids across the U.S. can ski at deep discounts.
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As ski season begins, you need to dust off your skis and come up with a game plan for the winter. There are a number of ways you can use points to book ski-friendly hotels that will get you to the mountain in no time.
Fingers crossed for a snowy winter and more resorts opening soon.
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