November Opening Race Index 2026

    28 North American ski resorts compared on projected November 2026 opening dates, snowmaking firepower and Thanksgiving-week terrain. From Arapahoe Basin's October race to Whistler's American Thanksgiving opening day.

    Pre-Thanksgiving openers

    8

    Tier 1 resorts opening before Nov 20

    Earliest opening

    Oct 22

    Arapahoe Basin — USA

    Highest base altitude

    3,287 m

    Arapahoe Basin — USA

    ResortCountryRegionBase (m)Open dateTierSnowmaking (ac)Lifts by ThanksAcres by Thanks
    Arapahoe BasinUSAColorado3,287Oct 22
    Tier 1
    		1255350
    KeystoneUSAColorado2,829Oct 30
    Tier 1
    		95081,200
    KillingtonUSANortheast354Oct 30
    Tier 2
    		60012700
    LovelandUSAColorado3,231Nov 2
    Tier 1
    		2304280
    Wolf CreekUSAColorado3,157Nov 4
    Tier 1
    		—4400
    Lake LouiseCanadaWestern Canada1,646Nov 6
    Tier 1
    		1457600
    Mt Rose TahoeUSACalifornia2,438Nov 7
    Tier 1
    		753200
    Sunshine VillageCanadaWestern Canada2,160Nov 7
    Tier 1
    		—5500
    Mammoth MountainUSACalifornia2,424Nov 9
    Tier 1
    		1756400
    VailUSAColorado2,476Nov 13
    Tier 2
    		480121,800
    BreckenridgeUSAColorado2,926Nov 13
    Tier 2
    		56511900
    Copper MountainUSAColorado2,926Nov 13
    Tier 2
    		4007500
    Sunday RiverUSANortheast244Nov 13
    Tier 2
    		8708450
    Banff NorquayCanadaWestern Canada1,630Nov 13
    Tier 2
    		904190
    Steamboat SpringsUSAColorado2,103Nov 20
    Tier 2
    		4386700
    Park City MountainUSAUtah2,103Nov 20
    Tier 2
    		4709800
    HeavenlyUSACalifornia1,996Nov 20
    Tier 2
    		2505450
    Northstar CaliforniaUSACalifornia1,929Nov 20
    Tier 2
    		2504350
    Mont TremblantCanadaEastern Canada230Nov 20
    Tier 2
    		6459400
    Marmot BasinCanadaWestern Canada1,698Nov 20
    Tier 3
    		—5600
    Jackson HoleUSAWyoming/Montana1,924Nov 25
    Tier 3
    		1605800
    Big Sky MontanaUSAWyoming/Montana2,287Nov 25
    Tier 3
    		2506750
    Aspen SnowmassUSAColorado2,422Nov 25
    Tier 3
    		2206600
    StoweUSANortheast475Nov 25
    Tier 3
    		4854200
    Sun PeaksCanadaWestern Canada1,255Nov 25
    Tier 3
    		357900
    Whistler BlackcombCanadaWestern Canada675Nov 26
    Tier 2
    		20071,500
    AltaUSAUtah2,606Nov 27
    Tier 3
    		503500
    SnowbirdUSAUtah2,438Nov 27
    Tier 3
    		654700
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    November opening race FAQs

    Arapahoe Basin (Colorado) is projected to open October 22, 2026 — its standard target date and a near-annual winner of the North American opening race. Keystone (October 30) and Loveland (November 2) follow within ten days. In the East, Killington traditionally opens by October 30. The natural-snow leader is Wolf Creek, Colorado — opens around November 4 on a typically 120 cm+ natural base, with zero snowmaking. In Canada, Lake Louise (November 6, with the World Cup downhill the same weekend) is the earliest major resort.

    By US Thanksgiving (November 26, 2026): Vail projects 12 lifts and 1,800 acres open, Whistler Blackcomb 7 lifts and 1,500 acres, Killington 12 lifts and 700 acres, Park City 9 lifts and 800 acres, Breckenridge 11 lifts and 900 acres, Lake Louise 7 lifts and 600 acres. Big Sky and Jackson Hole project only 5–6 lifts and 750–800 acres because their flagship trams wait for full natural snow coverage (usually mid-December). Best Thanksgiving terrain-to-crowd ratio: Steamboat (700 acres, no queues) and Marmot Basin (600 acres, Jasper isolation).

    Worth it if: you have an Epic or Ikon pass (sunk-cost free lift access), you prioritise low crowds and cheap lodging over terrain variety, or you can target a known storm cycle (Pacific storms hitting Mt Baker/Stevens Pass, Colorado upslope events at A-Basin/Loveland). Not worth it if: you need expert terrain (most steep zones wait for December), you have a fixed-date short trip (early-November weather is volatile), or you're a first-time skier (snowmaking surfaces are firm and intimidating). Best November value: Colorado Tier 1 resorts (A-Basin, Keystone, Loveland) with sub-$200 lift tickets and 50%-off hotels.

    Tier 1 (8 resorts): Opens before US Thanksgiving with full pre-season operations — meaningful terrain, multiple lifts, race-quality grooming. These are the resorts to target for early-November trips. Tier 2 (12 resorts): Opens during Thanksgiving week with strong snowmaking-driven operations across 30–60% of terrain. Best for Thanksgiving-week vacations. Tier 3 (8 resorts): Targets Thanksgiving but heavily weather-dependent — flagship lifts (Jackson's Tram, Big Sky's Lone Peak, Alta's Collins) wait for natural snow accumulation, often delayed into early-to-mid December.