Another Colorado Ski Resort Confirms Opening Day as More Snow Approaches

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Put it on the calendar. 

Vail Mountain, Colorado, opens for the season tomorrow, Friday, November 13, 2026, at 9 a.m.

The resort broke the news in a social media post, sharing what skiers can expect when they first click in. Ramshorn, an upper-mountain intermediate trail, will be open, accessible via the Mountaintop Express and Gondola One. Swingsville, a green trail in the same area, isn’t ready for prime time yet, so no beginner terrain will be available.

Still, Vail added, the top of Swingsville will have a hike-to terrain park for some early-season stunts. A DJ at the Express Lift will supply the tunes from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Skiers in line can score giveaways and food.

“A huge thank-you to our snowmakers and mountain teams for making opening day happen,” Vail wrote in the post.

The opening comes at the tail end of a dry spell for Colorado’s ski resorts. After some early-season atmospheric momentum, the powder faucets shut off, prompting a few mountains, like Copper and Breckenridge, to briefly delay their openings (both are now spinning their lifts). Per Vail’s webcams, a robust snow base has yet to arrive.

That could change in the coming days, though. Forecasters are keeping an eye on a widespread pattern shift for the West that’s set to bring snow to resorts from California to Colorado. For Vail, the first leg this weekend looks modest, but bigger totals could start stacking up next week depending on how the forecast shakes out. 

The weather’s a fickle business, of course, so we wouldn’t get too far over our skis. Still, the storm cycle could be just what Colorado needs.

Elsewhere in the state, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Loveland—along with Breck and Copper—have opened, joining a few others across the West. It’s been a modest start to the 2026-27 season so far, but keep your eyes on the sky. Winter’s thinking about making another appearance.

The 2026/27 print issue of POWDER Magazine is here. Click here to have a copy shipped to your front door. Copies can also be found on newsstands at major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and more.

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This story was originally published by POWDER on Nov 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add POWDER as a Preferred Source by clicking here.