All the Opening Dates for the 2023–24 Ski Season

Ski and snowboard season is officially here. Colorado’s first ski resort has opened with more on the way soon. Here are all the opening dates for the 2023-2024 season.

First chair at Arapahoe Basin on opening day of Colorado ski season 2023-2024 — Skiers and snowboarders celebrate opening day at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (Photo by Jack Dempsey for Colorado Ski Country USA)

The 2023-2024 ski season is open in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin won the annual race to be the first to open when it fired up its Black Mountain Express lift on Oct. 29, making The Legend the first resort to open in Colorado. It’s also the first resort in North America to open chairlift service for the winter — Ski Ward in Massachusetts opened its magic carpet on Oct. 22 for skiing on a short run of manmade snow. As always, A Basin’s opening scene was festive, with lots of costumes, doughnuts, live music and hard-core skiers and snowboarders lined up early to get first chair. Arapahoe Basin is now open seven days a week for the winter.

With more than a foot of snow hitting many resorts this past weekend and cold temperatures for snowmaking, more resort openings are on the way soon. Keystone is set to be the next to open on Nov. 1. The resort’s signature Schoolmarm and Spring Dipper trails will be open, plus access to learning terrain at the top of the River Run Gondola and a hike-to terrain park off of Spring Dipper. Guests who arrive early will be treated to free doughnuts and coffee, as well as prizes for the first in line. DJs at the River Run base area and the Summit House at the top of the gondola will keep the party going throughout the day.

And as the Official Training Center for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, Copper Mountain opened terrain for alpine ski racing training on Oct. 29. The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is expected to arrive in November to train on the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, the only full-length downhill training venue available in the world this time of year. Copper will open to the public on Nov. 13.

What about everybody else? Here’s a list of all the Colorado resort openings for the 2023-2024 season. Of course, all opening dates are subject to change, depending on conditions, so keep up those snow dances. For info on new lifts, terrain, lodges and more, see What’s New at Colorado Ski Resorts for the 2023-2024 Season.