Aspen Mountain & Snowmass Open

Aspen Snowmass, the mountain division of the Aspen One portfolio, will officially kick off its 2025-26 ski and snowboard season on Thursday, November 27 as scheduled, with Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open for skiing, riding and Thanksgiving holiday festivities. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open for the season on Saturday, December 13. 

“We’re excited to welcome guests and our community back to the mountains for another winter season,” said Geoff Buchheister, CEO of Aspen Skiing Company. “Opening Day always carries a special energy here at Aspen Snowmass, from locals celebrating their first turns of the season to visitors enjoying our mountains for Thanksgiving. I’d like to personally extend my gratitude to our operations teams for their hard work in helping us open on time despite the challenges Mother Nature has thrown our way in this early season. We look forward to more snow and another incredible season.” 

Aspen Mountain will open select terrain on the upper mountain, including Dipsy Doodle and Silver Bell, served by the Silver Queen Gondola and Ajax Express. All skiers and riders must download via the Silver Queen Gondola, as top to bottom skiing will not yet be available. 

The Silver Queen Gondola will be open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for uploading, downloading, and sightseeing access with the last upload at 3 p.m. and final download at 4 p.m. Ajax Express will be open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Snowmass will open the Meadows beginner terrain area only, served by the Elk Camp Gondola and the Meadows Lift. The Elk Camp Gondola will be open for uploading and downloading from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with the final download at 4 p.m. The Snowmass Sky Cab is also open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for transportation between Snowmass Village and Snowmass Mall. 

*Please be aware that early season conditions exist. Please stay alert, ski carefully, and follow all trail closures. 

Additional terrain and lifts will open as conditions allow throughout the early season. For the most up-to-date terrain status, download the Aspen Snowmass app or visit www.aspensnowmass.com. 

In addition to the skiing and riding available at Snowmass, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster will be open from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and will operate weekends only from Nov. 29 through Dec. 12, with additional operation Nov. 27-28 (Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving weekend) and daily operations beginning Dec. 19 through April 5, 2026. Tickets can be purchased online.  

On-Mountain Dining 

Opening Day dining options will include: 

• Aspen Mountain:  

• The Sundeck will be open from 9:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

• Ajax Tavern will open for lunch service at 11:30 a.m. 

• Snowmass:  

• Elk Camp will be open from 9:15 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Lift Tickets & Passes  

From Nov. 27-30, Aspen Mountain lift ticket pricing will be reduced to $119 for adults (35% off regular in-season pricing) and $81 for child, teen, and senior tickets (37% off). Once top-to-bottom terrain becomes available on Aspen Mountain, pricing will transition back to the early-season rates.  

Lift tickets and season passes are available for purchase at AspenSnowmass.com, through the Aspen Snowmass app, and at ticket offices. Season passes are valid starting on Opening Day. Guests who already purchased a pass should print it in advance by accessing their personal QR code in the Aspen Snowmass app and using any resort Pickup Box. 

All guests must complete a liability waiver before accessing the lifts. Guests are strongly encouraged to complete this waiver in advance in the Aspen Snowmass app. Returning passholders may head straight to the lifts with their existing Aspen Card, but they must sign their pass waiver in the app beforehand. 

Ticket Offices located in Aspen Gondola Plaza, Snowmass Base Village, and Snowmass Pavilion are now open daily beginning at 8:15 a.m. For a full list of Ticket Office locations and hours, click here. 

Rental & Retail 

Four Mountain Sports locations in Aspen and Snowmass will be open beginning Nov. 26, offering full-service rentals, retail, and tuning from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. 

Both Aspen Collection retail locations Aspen Gondola Plaza and Snowmass Base Village, open Nov. 26 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Ski & Snowboard Schools 

Ski & snowboard lessons and guides will be available at both Aspen Mountain and Snowmass beginning Opening Day. Visit AspenSnowmass.com for details and reservations.  

Season Kickoff Events 

To celebrate the kickoff to the season, Aspen Snowmass will host festivities at both mountains, featuring music by DJ Ryan Golbus, festive food specials, and Aspen Vodka signature cocktails. Free foot-passenger gondola access will be available for both events beginning at 1 p.m. 

Friday, Nov. 28: Snowmass Opening Party will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. at Elk Camp restaurant, featuring a holiday sweater contest with prizes. Updates on Snowmass’ Thanksjibbing rail jam will be available online. 

Saturday, Nov. 29: Aspen Mountain Opening Party will be held from 1-3:30 p.m. at Sundeck. 

Uphilling 

As teams complete early-season preparations, uphilling will remain closed until further notice. Once open, an uphill pass is required at all times, and guests are reminded to follow designated routes and check daily uphill status and route information updates via the Aspen Snowmass app. 

Stay In the Know 

The Aspen Snowmass app provides real-time grooming, lift, and trail information, along with snow totals, webcams, and the ability to purchase tickets, lessons, and rentals. Enable notifications for morning powder alerts and important operational updates throughout the season. New this season, the app also features enhanced trail maps, real-time conditions, and improved on-mountain navigation for a seamless experience. 

Thanksgiving at The Little Nell 

More broadly across the Aspen One portfolio, and in celebration of Thanksgiving and Aspen Snowmass Opening Day, The Little Nell will offer two special Thanksgiving experiences: 

At Element 47, a three-course Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 3-9 p.m. Pricing starts at $100+ per guest, with an optional $65 wine pairing, and $50+ for children. 

Ajax Tavern will serve a Thanksgiving plat du jour from 6-9 p.m., highlighting traditional holiday fare, alongside its regular menu. Pricing is $34+ per guest. 

Reservations, as well as options for to-go Thanksgiving meals, are available online through The Little Nell’s website.