Lifts start spinning in the Roaring Fork Valley on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, when Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open for the 2026-27 season. That gives you just over three weeks to wax your skis, find your goggles and get your legs ready.
This winter carries extra meaning. Aspen Skiing Company traces its roots to 1946, which makes this its 80th season. There's a brand-new chairlift on Aspen Mountain, a rebuilt mid-mountain lodge on Snowmass, and an anniversary weekend in December with $80 lift tickets. Here's everything you need to know before opening day.
When each mountain opens
Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open first, on Thanksgiving. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk follow on December 12, the same weekend as the 80th anniversary party. Down in Glenwood Springs, Sunlight Mountain Resort plans to open on December 11.
Mountain | Scheduled opening | Scheduled closing |
|---|---|---|
Aspen Mountain | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Apr 18, 2027 |
Snowmass | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Apr 11, 2027 |
Aspen Highlands | Sat, Dec 12, 2026 | Apr 11, 2027 |
Buttermilk | Sat, Dec 12, 2026 | Apr 4, 2027 |
Sunlight Mountain Resort | Fri, Dec 11, 2026 | Not yet announced |
Opening dates always depend on snow and conditions, so check each resort's website before you head up.
What's new this winter
The biggest change is on Aspen Mountain, where a new lift replaces two older ones. Snowmass gets a rebuilt mid-mountain lodge, and Sunlight is marking a milestone of its own.
Aspen Mountain
The Nell Bell chairlift. This new high-speed quad replaces the Bell Mountain lift, which dated to 1957, and the Little Nell lift. It runs from Gondola Plaza to the top of Bell Mountain in about nine minutes and is set to open early in the season.
Alpine 46. A new rental and retail shop opens at the Sundeck, in the old Four Mountain Sports space. The name nods to 1946, the company's founding year.
More après. Eleven212 is adding live music and DJs.
Snowmass
A brand-new Ullrhof. The mid-mountain restaurant reopens after a $42 million rebuild. It seats more than 600 and is the company's first fully electric on-mountain restaurant, with a market, bar and grill under one roof.
Down4Pizza. A pop-up version of the popular Up4Pizza opens Fridays through Sundays near the Makaha Terrain Park.
Battery backup at Elk Camp. A new battery system replaces the diesel generator that kept the Elk Camp chair running during power outages.
Stonebridge Inn. The 93-room hotel reopens in December after a $15.7 million renovation.
Buttermilk
More snowmaking. Two miles of new pipeline carry snowmaking toward the top of the mountain, which should help early-season coverage.
Sunlight Mountain Resort
Sixty years of skiing. The Glenwood Springs hill is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It also has two recently replaced chairlifts, Primo and Segundo, which swapped old doubles for a quad and a triple.
Getting here
New flights. American Airlines adds a daily nonstop from Charlotte to Aspen starting December 17.
Passes and tickets
The best deal of the early season is anniversary weekend, December 12-13, when lift tickets drop to $80 a day at all four Aspen Snowmass mountains. Expect crowds, and expect it to be worth it.
Aspen Snowmass reworked its season pass lineup this year. Prices below are what each pass started at when sales opened in April; prices rose through the summer and fall.
Pass | Starting price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
Premier Pass | $3,099 | Unlimited skiing on all four mountains, no blackouts, plus discounts on lessons, dining, rentals and parking |
Weekday Pass (new) | $2,099 | Unlimited Monday to Friday, plus weekends early and late in the season |
Alpine 2-Day Pass | $2,099 | Two ski days every week, any day |
Flex Pass (new) | $679 | Four to seven days, no blackouts; sales ended October 30 |
A few other options are worth knowing about:
Locals' programs. Discounted passes are available for Roaring Fork Valley teachers and students, and for employees of local Chamber member businesses.
Ikon Pass. The Ikon Base Pass includes five days at Snowmass only, with some blackout dates.
Learning to ski. A new three-day first-timer package bundles lessons, rentals and lift tickets. Graduates can ski free for the rest of the season, subject to availability.
Military discount. Active-duty service members get 50 percent off passes and lift tickets.
Sunlight. Season passes at the Glenwood hill run from $289 to $719, with a $489 midweek pass and a $629 10-day pass. Every lift pass includes a free uphill pass.
Mark your calendar
Opening day is only the start. Here's what's coming in the first part of the season:
Date | Event |
|---|---|
Sun, Nov 22 | John Bemis Community Potluck, Snowmass |
Thu, Nov 26 | Opening day at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass |
Dec 10-13 | Wintersköl's 75th year, including a drone show over Aspen Mountain |
Fri, Dec 11 | Opening day at Sunlight |
Dec 12-13 | 80th anniversary weekend with $80 lift tickets; Highlands and Buttermilk open |
Mon, Dec 21 | Santa's Village, Snowmass |
Thu, Dec 31 | New Year's Eve torchlight parade |
Jan 17-24 | Aspen Gay Ski Week's 50th year |
Jan 29-31 | X Games Aspen at Buttermilk |
Getting ready for opening day
A little prep now saves a frustrating first morning on the hill.
Get a tune. Have your skis or board waxed and edged before the rush. Local shops get busy the week of Thanksgiving.
Check your gear. Make sure boots still fit, goggles aren't scratched and your helmet is in good shape.
Pick up your pass early. Load or collect it before opening day so you skip the ticket-window line.
Plan your ride. Parking fills up fast on opening day. RFTA buses and the free skier shuttles are often the easier option.
Ease in. Early-season terrain is mostly groomed runs on man-made snow. Watch for thin cover and rocks off the main trails.
Respect closures. Backcountry and closed terrain can be dangerous early in the season. Check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecast before heading out of bounds.