Ski resort opening days for the 2026/27 season
By Broski · Published
Opening day is one of the best days of the year to meet people on the mountain: everyone is excited, the lift lines are full of locals, and nobody minds that only a few runs are open. Here are the planned opening days for 33 ski resorts in the United States, Canada and Japan for the 2026/27 season, each linked to the source it came from.
Every date here is planned, scheduled or targeted, and subject to snow. Resorts can and do open later (or occasionally earlier) than announced, so check the resort’s own updates before you travel.
How to read these dates
Each date comes from the resort’s own website, a resort press release, or the opening-date announcements from Vail Resorts or Alterra Mountain Company, and was checked before this guide was published. The second line under each date is the resort’s own wording for how firm it is:
- Planned: the resort has published an opening date, usually “conditions permitting”.
- Target: the resort or its operator has announced a target date.
- Tentative or Projected: the resort calls the date tentative or projected.
Opening-day terrain is usually limited to a few lifts and runs, often on man-made snow. Lift times and which lifts open first are often confirmed closer to the day.
United States opening days
Colorado has the earliest dates on this list. Note that Alta and Deer Valley are skiers only (no snowboards).
| Opening day | Resort | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Target | BreckenridgeColorado | breckenridge.com |
| Planned | Copper MountainColorado | coppercolorado.com |
| Planned | Mammoth MountainCalifornia | mammothmountain.com |
| Target | VailColorado | vail.com |
| Planned | AltaUtah | alta.com |
| Target | HeavenlyLake Tahoe | Vail Resorts |
| Target | NorthstarCalifornia | Vail Resorts |
| Target | Park CityUtah | Vail Resorts |
| Target | SolitudeUtah | solitudemountain.com |
| Planned | SteamboatColorado | steamboat.com |
| Target | SugarbushVermont | Alterra Mountain Company |
| Target | Beaver CreekColorado | beavercreek.com |
| Planned | Big SkyMontana | bigskyresort.com |
| Planned | Palisades TahoeCalifornia | palisadestahoe.com |
| Planned | SnowshoeWest Virginia | snowshoemtn.com (winter schedule, PDF) |
| Projected | StrattonVermont | stratton.com |
| Planned | Aspen SnowmassColorado | aspensnowmass.com |
| Planned | Jackson HoleWyoming | jacksonhole.com |
| Tentative | SnowbirdUtah | snowbird.com |
| Target | Mount BachelorOregon | Alterra Mountain Company |
| Target | Stevens PassWashington | Vail Resorts |
| Planned | Deer ValleyUtah | deervalley.com |
Canada opening days
From the Rockies at Lake Louise to the Interior of British Columbia and Quebec’s Mont Tremblant.
| Opening day | Resort | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tentative | Lake LouiseAlberta | skilouise.com |
| Target | Whistler BlackcombBritish Columbia | Vail Resorts |
| Planned | Sun PeaksBritish Columbia | sunpeaksresort.com |
| Planned | Big WhiteBritish Columbia | bigwhite.com |
| Planned | Mont TremblantQuebec | tremblant.ca |
| Planned | RevelstokeBritish Columbia | revelstokemountainresort.com |
Japan opening days
Hokkaido’s big resorts start the Japanese season in late November. In Hakuba, Iwatake has published its date; check the other Hakuba Valley resorts’ own sites for theirs.
| Opening day | Resort | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Planned | FuranoHokkaido | princehotels.co.jp (Japanese) |
| Tentative | Niseko Grand HirafuHokkaido | grand-hirafu.jp |
| Planned | RusutsuHokkaido | rusutsu.com |
| Planned | TomamuHokkaido | snowtomamu.jp |
| Planned | IwatakeHakuba, Nagano | nippon-ski.jp (press release, PDF, Japanese) |
Broski opening-day meetups
Broski is hosting an opening-day meetup at every resort in this guide. They’re real events in the app: open the Events tab, choose the resort and look for its Opening Day Meetup. Tap Going or Interested to see who else is heading up, and join the event chat to find people to take first laps with, agree where to meet on the day and make après plans. Joining is free.
If a resort moves its opening day, check the resort’s updates and the event in the app before you go. Want to ride with a group all season? See how ski groups and meetups work on Broski, or read about meeting people on a ski season.
Opening day tips
- Expect lines. Few lifts, lots of keen riders. Arrive early and be patient.
- Expect firm, man-made snow. Early-season runs are often narrow and busy. Ride in control and give people space.
- Watch for early-season hazards. Rocks and stumps can sit just under thin cover, and closed terrain is closed for a reason.
- Check your gear. Bindings, edges and wax after a summer in the garage.
- Meet people. Opening day is the easiest day of the year to start a conversation in the lift line. Our slope and chairlift etiquette guide will help you ride well with new people.
Questions and answers
Which of these resorts opens first in 2026/27?
Of the resorts in this guide, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Lake Louise have the earliest planned opening day, Friday 6 November 2026. Other resorts not listed here may open earlier, and every date depends on snow.
Are these opening dates guaranteed?
No. Resorts set target dates months ahead and open when there’s enough snow, natural or man-made. Dates can move earlier or later, so check the resort’s own updates before you travel.
How do I join a Broski opening-day meetup?
Open the Events tab in Broski, choose the resort and find its Opening Day Meetup. Tap Going or Interested to see who else is heading up, and join the event chat to find people to take first laps with. It’s free.
Why aren’t Southern Hemisphere resorts here?
This guide covers the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter. Resorts in New Zealand, Australia and South America open around June for their own winter.
More on riding with new people
- Ski and Snowboard Groups and Meetups Near YouFind ski and snowboard meetups near you: lift laps, après and opening days at your resort. See who's going, pick a skill level and join the chat.
- Doing a Ski Season? Meet People in Your Ski TownWorking a ski season or new in a ski town? Find seasonaires and locals to ride with, join resort chats and meetups, and fill your days off. Free on Broski.
- How to Make Friends During a Ski SeasonPractical ways to make friends during a ski season: first-week habits, staff housing, days off, group chats, meetups and keeping it going after day one.
- Find a Ski Buddy: Meet People to Ski WithLooking for a ski buddy? Broski shows who's skiing your resort on your days, matched by ability, at 3,500+ resorts. Free on iPhone and Android.
- Slope and Chairlift Etiquette for Riding With New PeopleSlope and chairlift etiquette for riding with new people: the responsibility code basics, where to stop, lift lines, safety bars and regrouping.
- Find a Snowboard Buddy: People to Ride WithFind people to snowboard with at your resort. See which snowboarders are riding on your days and at your level, then send a request. Free on Broski.
Start the season together.
Get Broski free, find your resort’s opening-day meetup in Events, and see who’s taking first laps.
