Early Snow Brings Opening Dates, Pass Deadlines and Sleigh Rides
Early autumn snow has already reached western ranges, and the first wave of 2026-27 opening announcements gives skiers and snowboarders a concrete reason to plan. AccuWeather's El Niño snow forecast points to a potentially record-setting winter, with a parade of storms and atmospheric rivers moving in from the Pacific. The practical question is now simple: which opening dates, pass deadlines and après-ski schedules fit your season.
Early snow and projected opening dates
Mammoth Mountain received its first snow of the season on Monday, September 28, when a dusting fell at McCoy Station, according to SnowBrains. Its opening day is planned for Friday, November 13, which would make it the first California resort to open. Freeskier's opening-date list adds Breckenridge and Copper Mountain on November 6, Eldora on November 12, Solitude, Park City and Alta on November 20, Steamboat, Whistler Blackcomb and Sun Peaks on November 21, and Big Sky, Crested Butte and Palisades Tahoe on November 25.
Pass pricing and purchase windows
The Epic Pass lists an adult price of $1,169, with teen and young adult tiers at $929 and child at $599, and unlimited access at Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb and other resorts. ZRankings reports that Epic and Ikon close sales in early December, while the Mountain Collective closes in mid-December and the Indy Pass has already sold out. Avant Ski notes that day tickets have crossed $250 at major resorts and some resorts are limiting day ticket sales. Loveland's independent season pass is priced at $699 for adults through December 5.
Sleigh ride seasons and horse details
Keystone's horse-drawn sleigh ride season runs from November 21 through March 29, with dinner rides at 4 and 7 PM and live music inside the cabin; scenic rides last about 50 minutes outdoors. Bretton Woods offers one-horse sleigh rides for up to 5 guests and two-horse rides for up to 16 guests, weather permitting from December through April, with check-in at the warming hut. Sun Valley's scenic rides are approximately 30 minutes, and Trail Creek Sleigh Ride Dinners start on December 18. If you're planning a sleigh day, HorseNames.io name generator can filter 7,500+ horse names by breed, coat color and personality, which is a small planning detail for horse-minded groups.
Lodge singalongs and live music
Keystone's dinner sleigh ride includes live music, one of several lodge-based après options that pair hot food with acoustic sets. The resort's stables program combines a three-hour outing with dinner, music and a ride back under the stars. For anyone planning to join a lodge singalong or bring a guitar, ChordSongs chord finder can help you find songs by the chords you already know, with filters for difficulty and instrument.
Blackjack practice before the trip
If you plan to spend an après-ski evening at a blackjack table, reviewing basic strategy before the trip can help your decisions. Blackjack Strategy’s basic strategy chart offers a free way to run through hit, stand, double and split choices without real-money play, so you can focus on the table rules once you arrive.
Planning around pass deadlines and snow
The 2026-27 season is already defined by early snow and a super El Niño forecast, but opening dates remain weather-dependent, and each resort makes the final call on when lifts spin. Check pass sale windows before you commit to a home mountain, because the early-December cutoff for Epic and Ikon arrives quickly. Pair your slope days with sleigh rides or live-music dinners, and book reservations early for the busiest holiday weeks.