16th April 2026
It has been a very poor winter in the US Rockies with many resorts closing early. There has now been some late season snow and conditions are improved. NEW The new snow is very welcome but it is too little, too late. However for those resorts still open it is better than nothing.
In Utah Deer Valley closed three weeks early and Snowbasin shut its lifts a month before its usual date. Five resorts remain open.
Brighton Ski Resort: Tickets on sale through May 3
Alta Ski Area: April 26
Brian Head Resort: Tickets on sale through April 26
Solitude Mountain Ski Area: April 19 (with bonus weekend April 24 to 26)
Snowbird: Tickets on sale daily through May 3, then weekends only through Memorial Day (May 25)
In Colorado Aspen's Buttermilk and Highlands both closed ahead of schedule.
It was official the worst winter for snowfall in recorded history in Colorado. The Colorado Climate Center has said this winter was the worst year for the Colorado snowpack in recorded history. Poor snow season for US resorts
Here are the current closing dates for ski areas in Colorado:
Aspen Mountain: April 19
Winter Park Resort: April 19 (Mary Jane closed March 28)
Copper Mountain Resort: April 26
Loveland Ski Area: April 26
Breckenridge Ski Resort: as late as possible, conditions permitting
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area: as late as possible, conditions permitting (tickets currently on sale through May 3)
Things have been better in California and the latest snow is very welcome. Kirkwood shuts this weekend, April 19 th, with some great snow conditions considering the time of year and what has come before.
Mt Rose also closes this weekend with Palisades Tahoe hoping to carry on to late April. Mammoth Mountain says it will continue at least until, least Memorial Day, May 25.
Image 3: Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
Mammoth Mountain. Image © PlanetSKI
Montana
Big Sky Resort: April 26 (Fridays to Sundays only)
Oregon
Mt. Bachelor: April 19
Timberline Lodge: July 19
Washington
Mt. Baker Ski Area: April 19 (Fri, Sat, Sun only)
Crystal Mountain Resort: Daily through April 19, then just April 25 to 26
White Pass Ski Area: Daily through April 12, then weekends as long as possible (hopefully into May)
Wyoming
Grand Targhee: April 19
The late season snow is not only of benefit to skiers but it is also critical to the water supply. The snowpack plays a critical role in water supply heading into summer, and even modest systems like the current ones this can provide beneficial moisture. It won't erase seasonal deficits, but it's a step in the right direction as the states continues to build toward spring runoff and reservoirs filling up.
Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI
In the East of the USA there have been far better conditions across the winter.
Image 5
Most eastern ski areas stop spinning lifts by mid April or early May as in a normal year. This year, a few areas are snowmaking and keeping lifts running on bonus weekends to make the most of all that snow.
Closing dates for some resorts in the East.
Black Mountain, NH: May 25
Camelback Resort, PA: May 3
Jay Peak, VT: May 9 or later
Killington, VT: TBC
Sugarbush, VT: May 3
Sugarloaf, ME: April 26
Warning: Resort openings at this time of year are highly dependent on the snow conditions so do check with the resorts for their latest information about openings and closings. We have done our very best to ensure that all dates are accurate, but changes are made.
PlanetSKI: Number 1 for digital ski news
Your digital platform for ski news, resort information, travel, equipment rental, sport, money saving deals and everything connected with snowsports web site, social media & more.
Image 6.
