The Race For Summit County’s First Turns

As temperatures drop and the first snow appears on the peaks, anticipation for those first turns starts building around Summit County. Skis come out of storage, snow guns start firing, and everyone starts wondering the same thing: Which resort will be the first to open?

For years, A-Basin has claimed the sought-after title of first resort to open in Summit County, but Keystone has been right there in the fight for those first turns. This year, neither mountain has announced an actual opening date. Both are simply saying they’ll open as soon as possible in October, leaving plenty of room for another last-minute surprise.

And Keystone knows a thing or two about surprises. Last year, A-Basin announced on Saturday morning, October 25, that it would open the following day. Just hours later, at 1:30 p.m., Keystone announced on social media: lifts would start spinning in 90 minutes. Skiers got their first turns of the season on more than two miles of freshly groomed terrain, giving Keystone the title of first ski area open in North America by about 17.5 hours.

While Keystone and A-Basin keep everyone guessing, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge are set to open November 6, while nearby Loveland Ski Area is targeting early November, depending on conditions.

So keep those skis ready and your October schedule flexible. Around here, opening day might be announced 90 minutes before you can get on the lift.