Each year, there's an unofficial race to see which ski resort will be the first one in the U.S. to start turning its lifts. It's partially bragging rights, but it is also a big milestone that all in the ski community cheer as it means the ski season is upon us.
We now have our winner for 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 as it is the first major ski resort to open in the U.S. It started turning its lifts from 3 - 6 p.m. on Oct. 25, and $5.50 hot dogs and beer were available, all priced to commemorate the resort's 55th year of operation.
It will begin full-day operations from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. today, Oct. 26. Keystone is known not only for its early opening but also for its long, easy 3.5-mile Schoolmarm run and family-focused approach, including its kids ski free offering (for kids 12 and under when parents book two nights or more of lodging through Keystone Resort).
TPG tip: There is also a Category 4 Hyatt Place at Keystone Resort, which can be a great place to use your Category 4 Hyatt certificates or points for a ski trip.
But it's not just Keystone that started the season this weekend; nearby Arapahoe Basin also started full-day, seven-day-per-week operations today, losing out on the first-to-open title as Keystone snuck in an afternoon opening the day before.
If you are prepping for your first ski trip, you may want to wait a little longer, as the early season is not a very beginner-friendly time to ski due to very limited terrain available.
Limited paths are open at both resorts, and it will likely remain that way for at least several weeks or until Mother Nature provides a greater assist to supplement the mountains' snow-making capabilities.
Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado, Copper Mountain in Frisco, Colorado and Brian Head Resort (where you can ski from just $14) have announced Nov. 7 opening dates.
By mid-November, many additional resorts, 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, plan to open. You'll want to pay attention to the social media pages for these and other resorts to get a real-time feed of the first tracks of the season.
Related: Best ski resorts in Colorado for everyone from beginners to experts
On the East Coast, you'll likely have to wait a few more weeks before ski resorts are really open. Some — such as Killington Resort in Vermont, Sunday River in Newry, Maine, and Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont — often try to open in mid-November, while others likely won't be open until December. From what we've seen in past years, many of these projected dates can get pushed back as well. Similarly to what we're seeing with out West, the terrain will likely be extremely limited at first.
Not too late to ski for less with a season pass — even if you only take one trip
Whether you're able to get an early start on the season or not, if you are hitting the powder this year, make sure to lock in your ski season pass now, as they will start to go off sale soon.
Day lift tickets can cost between $100 and $200 per day, if not more. Pricey resorts like Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, typically charge at or over the $300 per day mark for passes.
However, the Epic Pass will give you a head start at Keystone, Vail, Breckenridge and Heavenly Mountain Resort in California, to name a few; the Ikon Pass will come in handy at Winter Park, Mammoth, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain and others. With these passes, you can pay under $100 per day at many big-name resorts, even if you are only taking one short trip.
If you're planning a family ski trip, it's not too late to get some discounted ski days if you have a child in third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade.
Through many "ski passport" programs, you can get a limited number of ski days at participating mountains within the respective state. This includes programs in Colorado (kindergarten through sixth grade), Utah (fourth, fifth and sixth grade), Idaho (fifth and sixth grade), the Northwest Rockies (fifth grade), Minnesota (fourth grade), New York (third, fourth and fifth grade), Vermont (fifth grade) and New Hampshire (fourth and fifth grade).
For several of these passport passes (including Colorado), residency within the specific state is not needed, so kids throughout the U.S. can ski at a significant discount.
Related: Best credit cards to use on ski trips
With the ski season starting, you'll want to dust off your skis or boards and make a game plan for winter. With all the ways you can use your points to book that ski-friendly hotel, you can be on the mountain in no time.
Fingers crossed for a snowy winter and that many more resorts see opening day sooner rather than later.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
