Arapahoe Basin, Loveland Openings Launch 2018-19 Colorado Ski Season

The 2018-19 ski season is underway in Colorado with a high energy crowd of skiers and snowboarders celebrating the opening of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. At 9 a.m., the Black Mountain Express lift began spinning, delivering skiers and riders to the intermediate High Noon trail with an 18-inch base of packed powder.

Colorado ski areas across the state have received significant early season snowfall this October, which allowed Wolf Creek Ski Area in southwest Colorado to open for weekend skiing and riding last weekend, while several other ski areas have taken advantage of the conditions to begin snowmaking. Loveland Ski Area, on the other side of the Continental Divide from A-Basin, will open for the season tomorrow, Saturday, October 20, with its new high-speed lift Chet’s Dream.

Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts have spent the spring, summer and fall working on major upgrades to the Colorado skiing and snowboarding experience. New for the 2018-19 season, Colorado will welcome six new chairlifts at five ski areas across the state, six new dining experiences and two terrain expansions, including the new Beavers Lift and terrain expansion at Arapahoe Basin. Opening day signals the start of another world-class winter in Colorado, where life-long skiers, new participants and those looking to enjoy the mountain environment can enjoy Colorado’s consistently great winter conditions, bluebird skies and warm welcome.

“The early season snowfall has created momentum and excitement for the opening of the ski season here in Colorado,” said CSCUSA President and CEO Melanie Mills. “A lot of hard work has gone into this day, and it’s an honor to celebrate with the snowmakers, groomers and operations crews who made it happen. After months of hard work and millions of dollars of investment in the guest experience, Colorado is ready to welcome skiers, snowboarders and guests to our ski areas, whether they’re long-time Colorado skiers or first-time visitors. Winter has arrived in the Colorado mountains and it's great to see winter sports enthusiasts out in force!”

The race to host Opening Day is a highlight of the early ski season, a title often held by either Arapahoe Basin or Loveland Ski Area. Both resorts are perched atop the Continental Divide, which provides higher elevations, earlier frosts, and colder temperatures, allowing them to stay open long into the spring, giving Colorado one of the longest ski seasons in the country.

Below is a current list of scheduled opening dates for CSCUSA member resorts*.

Listed by Resort Name:

Arapahoe Basin: October 19, 2018 - Early June 2019
Aspen Highlands December 8, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Aspen Mountain November 22, 2018 - April 21, 2019
Buttermilk December 8, 2018 - April 7, 2019
Cooper December 8, 2018 - April 7, 2019
Copper Mountain November 16, 2018 - April 21, 2019
Echo Mountain November 23, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Eldora November 16, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Granby Ranch December 14, 2018 – March 31, 2019
Hesperus December 21, 2018 - TBD
Howelsen Hill November 24, 2018 - March 10, 2019
Loveland October 20, 2018 - May 5, 2019
Monarch November 21, 2018 - April 7, 2019
Powderhorn December 14, 2018 - March 31, 2019
Purgatory November 17, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Silverton November 24, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Snowmass November 22, 2018 - April 21, 2019
Steamboat November 21, 2018 - April 14, 2019
Sunlight December 14, 2018 – April 7, 2019
Telluride November 22, 2018 - April 7, 2019
Winter Park November 14, 2018 – May 3, 2019
Wolf Creek November 2, 2018 - April 7, 2019 (Opened October 13, 2018 for weekends only)