Surprise! Mammoth Mountain Is Now Poised To Be the First Open West Coast Ski Resort

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It’s starting to look a little like Colorado on the West Coast.

Just a day after Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Nevada, confirmed that it would open for the season on Friday, November 6, Mammoth Mountain, California, had an announcement of its own to make: the resort is opening this week, too, but a day earlier on Thursday, November 5, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Mammoth’s cheeky last-second announcement mirrored the back-and-forth that sometimes happens between Colorado’s early-season contenders, most recently the upset that led to Keystone opening just ahead of Arapahoe Basin in 2025.

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Mammoth Mountain, in a release, said more than a foot of new snow and favorable snowmaking conditions made the upcoming opening possible. The resort previously planned to open on November 13.

As for terrain, Mammoth Mountain plans to open the lower Panorama Gondola and Broadway Express (Chair 1) with access to Broadway, Silver Tip and Rusty’s. More terrain is expected to come online as conditions allow.

“Snowmaking teams have also been able to take full advantage of the colder temperatures over the past few days to get the mountain ready for an early opening,” said Emily van Greuning, the communications director of Mammoth Resorts, in the release. “We have some of the best in the business working hard on all the necessary preparations and can’t wait to see everyone for opening day on Thursday.”

To ring in the new season, Mammoth Mountain is offering complimentary coffee and cocoa while supplies last. The first skiers and snowboarders waiting in the lift line can score a free Mammoth beanie. DJ Sendit will supply tunes on the Tusks Sundeck from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with a 2026-27 season toast planned for 11 a.m. The toast, also on the Sundeck, includes small complimentary beverages.

And just like that, we’re off. Still, for many of California’s ski resorts, the waiting game persists.

Mt. Rose and Mammoth Mountain are known for getting the season started early. Other resorts in the state tend to open towards the end of November or in early December. Elsewhere in the U.S., the season is underway, with a few Colorado resorts beginning to offer lift-served skiing.

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.

Related: Skiing Vermont’s Pre-pre-Season Isn’t for the Faint of Heart

This story was originally published by POWDER on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add POWDER as a Preferred Source by clicking here.