Arapahoe Basin First Ski Resort To Open In North America

Colorado’s 2017-18 ski season launched today with a crowd of delighted skiers and snowboarders celebrating the first runs of the season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. At 9 a.m., atop an 18-inch base of packed powder, the Black Mountain Express lift began spinning, delivering skiers and riders to the top of intermediate High Noon trail.

Colorado ski resorts across the state received double digit snow totals during the first week of October with many taking advantage of the cold nighttime temperatures to make snow. Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin started their snowmaking operations on Sunday, September 24. Recent natural snowfall and cold temperatures along the Continental Divide created good snowmaking conditions, allowing Arapahoe Basin to win the friendly #RaceToOpen this year.

Following a successful 2016-17 season in Colorado, and a summer and fall of major upgrades and improvements at Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts, A-Basin’s opening has skiers and riders across the country and around the world looking forward to enjoying Colorado’s dependable world class winter conditions.

“Skiers and snowboarders everywhere look forward to the ski season kicking off in Colorado,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “Our snowmakers, groomers and operations crews work tirelessly to make this day a success, and it’s great to see the skiing community come together to celebrate the start of another season. Our resorts have spent the summer and fall preparing for this season’s guests by upgrading equipment, installing new lifts, opening new restaurants and preparing on and off mountain attractions.”

The race to host Opening Day is a highlight of the early ski season, a title often held by either Arapahoe Basin or Loveland Ski Area. Both resorts are perched atop the Continental Divide, which provides higher elevations, earlier frosts, and colder temperatures, allowing them to stay open long into the spring, giving Colorado one of the longest ski seasons in the country.

Below is a current list of scheduled opening dates for CSCUSA member resorts*.

Listed by Resort Name:

Arapahoe Basin:                                   October 13, 2017 - Early June 2018

Aspen Highlands                                   December 9, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Aspen Mountain                                    November 23, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Buttermilk                                             December 9, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Cooper                                                 December 9, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Copper Mountain                                   November 10, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Crested Butte                                        November 23, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Echo Mountain                                      November 21, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Eldora                                                  November 17, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Granby Ranch                                       December 15, 2017 - April 1, 2018

Hesperus                                              December 15, 2017 - April 1, 2018

Howelsen Hill                                        November 25, 2017 - March 11, 2018

Loveland                                               Mid-October 2017 - May 6, 2018

Monarch                                               November 22, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Powderhorn                                          December 15, 2017 - March 25, 2018

Purgatory                                              November 18, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Silverton                                               December 28, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Snowmass                                            November 23, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Steamboat                                            November 22, 2017 - April 15, 2018

Sunlight                                                December 8, 2017 - April 1, 2018

Telluride                                                November 23, 2017 - April 8, 2018

Winter Park                                           November 15, 2017 - April 29, 2018

Wolf Creek                                            November 3, 2017 - April 1, 2018

Listed by Opening Date:

October 13                                            Arapahoe Basin

Mid-October                                          Loveland

November 3                                          Wolf Creek

November 10                                        Copper Mountain

November 15                                        Winter Park

November 17                                        Eldora

November 18                                        Purgatory

November 21                                        Echo Mountain

November 22                                        Monarch

November 22                                        Steamboat

November 23                                        Aspen Mountain

November 23                                        Crested Butte

November 23                                        Snowmass

November 23                                        Telluride

November 25                                        Howelsen Hill

December 8                                          Sunlight

December 9                                          Aspen Highlands

December 9                                          Buttermilk

December 9                                          Cooper

December 15                                        Granby Ranch

December 15                                        Hesperus

December 15                                        Powderhorn

December 28                                        Silverton