Colorado Early November

[jimmywilson69]

Wife has a conference in Denver 11/10-12. We are going to make a week of it in Colorado. I'd like to get some skiing in. I have Epic and Ikon.

I know its weather dependent and it'll be groomers only. Who else besides A-Basin and Loveland will be open?

Any other recommendations on non-skiing things to do? I don't want to spend all of our time in Denver.

 

[jimk]

Grabbed this list off the internet. Full list here.

These are the planned opening dates for upcoming season close to your travel dates. Looks like you'll have a few choices not too far from Denver:

Wolf Creek Ski Area	October 24, 2025	Lodging
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area	November 02, 2025	Lodging
Eldora Mountain Resort	November 07, 2025	Lodging
Keystone	November 08, 2025	Lodging
Winter Park	November 08, 2025	Lodging
Vail	November 14, 2025	Lodging
Loveland	November 9, 2025

 

[4aprice]

I’d bet some of Copper might be open. They make a ton of snow but some of it is off limits for race training.

 

[thetrailboss]

Just depends on weather and snow. Loveland is usually open pretty early.

 

[Smellytele]

Grabbed this list off the internet. Full list here.

These are the planned opening dates for upcoming season close to your travel dates. Looks like you'll have a few choices not too far from Denver:

Wolf Creek Ski Area	October 24, 2025	Lodging
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area	November 02, 2025	Lodging
Eldora Mountain Resort	November 07, 2025	Lodging
Keystone	November 08, 2025	Lodging
Winter Park	November 08, 2025	Lodging
Vail	November 14, 2025	Lodging
Loveland	November 9, 2025

Wolf creek is a long way from Denver.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Thanks @jimk

@Smellytele We may go down to Durango so Wolf Creek could be in the plan.

I wasn't thinking Eldora could be open that early, that'd be a nice quick hitter.

and yes I know its weather dependent and even if some place is open, it'll be limited early season terrain.

From the list Jim mentioned, Breckenridge and Copper could be open as well.

 

[drjeff]

Thanks @jimk

@Smellytele We may go down to Durango so Wolf Creek could be in the plan.

I wasn't thinking Eldora could be open that early, that'd be a nice quick hitter.

and yes I know its weather dependent and even if some place is open, it'll be limited early season terrain.

From the list Jim mentioned, Breckenridge and Copper could be open as well.

Who knows how aggreesive, or passive the new ownership at Eldora will be about trying to open as early as possible or not.... Time will tell

 

[jimmywilson69]

yeah for sure with being Town owned...

Well anyways lets hope for a lot of late October snow

Honestly, if I can pull a few hours of groomer runs at a few different places that would also be way better than anything I'd be doing in PA that time of year

 

[doublediamond]

Isn’t Wolf Creek the area that opened on 100% natural after a huge dump last year?

Putting them first ahead of snowmaking powerhouses with low wet bulbs (A-Basin and Loveland) is a huge joke.

Copper will have snow but it will be entirely for the US Ski Team Speed Camp.

 

[4aprice]

Isn’t Wolf Creek the area that opened on 100% natural after a huge dump last year?

Putting them first ahead of snowmaking powerhouses with low wet bulbs (A-Basin and Loveland) is a huge joke.

Copper will have snow but it will be entirely for the US Ski Team Speed Camp.

Wolf Creek basically opens 100% at ones own risk every year.

Your right Super B will have good coverage and be off limits, but they will get Eagle up quickly and move to get Flyer going quickly

 

[benski]

I now live in Colorado. First thing to know. Nobody plans on a specific date that early in the season those are all some sort of estimate if they open that early. You only do that if you are either opening as soon as weather allows like A Basin, Eldora, WP, Wolf Creak and Keystone or as soon as weather allows both a public and training terrain at Loveland and Copper. Loveland now does race training first so they aren't competitive for first to open anymore. Keystone is competitive though.

Here is my prediction of the conditions:

Copper will have one very long run on Eagle and Excelerator and be much busier than others as a result. It will be crowded though.

WP last year started off with 2 runs at the front off Arrow and Gemini but probably could do more. They added a lot of capacity last year and seemed to have messed up last year making a good amount of snow on a jump comp course before they were ready to set up for comps so it just sat there for 3 weeks. The state is adding another train to WP from downtown Denver starting in November, this has been a good scenic and comfee way to get to the mountain, it stops right at the Gemini lift. I am not sure the details of the new train though.

Eldora puts on a strong show to start too, usually two runs off there 6 pack, and they limit capacity so it isn't so much a WROD. A Basin runs out of water after opening a single run off Black mountain. Other advantages is you can hit up Nederland or Boulder on the way back, and it isn't really worth it mid winter, since it kinda reminds me of Belleayre mountain.

A Basin will have just one run off Black mountain. They stop snowmaking for about a week between trails to refill the pond. There system is definetly the slowest once it is cold enough to make snow at all the base areas.

Keystone goes hard on the WROD concept, and has find a way to get a Gondola, quad and 2, 6-packs open with just one run most of the way down. It is peak WROD hell, and you should avoid. Notice that 4/4 Ikon pass mountains are open and 1/4 Epic pass mountain are open this time of year, so Ikon pass skiers can spread out more. Other Epic resorts target closer to Thankgiving.

My recommendation is Eldora, then Copper for pure skiing. Or just go to your favorite for the nostalgia. If you want to stay in the mountains, maybe go to Wolf Creak to avoid crowds or Summit for multiple resorts. Traffic congestion won't be an issue, expect 1:10-1:15 drive time to I-70 resorts and 1 hour to Eldora, but lift lines will be at Keystone, Copper and Eldora.

As for non skiing, it will still be MTB season in the foothills. There are cool trails at Virginia Canyon, and Floyd Hill on your way back that will likely still be snow free, but there are a lot more options, including some down in Golden that stay warmer than the former two. You could also do some hiking. It will be cold, but no afternoon thunderstorm risk like in the summer and much less crowding. In Denver there are a few art museums near the big Convention Center for an attraction down in the city.

 

[jimmywilson69]

Thank you for the breakdown, much appreciated. I fully expect WROD and groomer skiing. We'll see whats open and have a go at it!

I'd definitely like to do some hiking will be investigating that too.

Also thinking about heading to southern Colorado once my wife's conference is over. Never been spent any time down there.