Sunday River, Maine

For those of you that just can’t wait until the official start of winter, here are some fine ski resorts that are eager to open as early as mid October or early November. High elevation, or in some cases serious snowmaking capabilities, make these ski resorts good bets for skiing before December.

Best Early Season Ski Resorts in the East
Sunday River
Sunday River is legendary when it comes to snowmaking, often opening before Halloween as a treat for East Coast skiers. Sunday River blankets their trails with their 1,600 gun salute of consistent quality snow, typically starting on Locke Mountain for early November skiing and riding, then moving on to cover the all eight interconnected peaks.

Killington
Killington for decades was the first to open in the East - earning the reputation of the Beast of the East. Powdr Corp owners dialed back that race for a few years, but  in 2011, Killington and Sunday River opened on the same day, October 29 for Halloween skiing. In  2012, Killington opened Oct 14 on limited terrain for pass holders only - but still first, and reopened Nov 5 - one day prior to Sunday River's Election Day ski opener. Killington’s 1,500 gun snowmaking is mighty powerful.

Sugarloaf
Sugarloaf has a northern Maine location, elevation, and cold temperatures – allowing it to open most seasons by mid to late November, Nov 9, 2012. Snowmaking at the Loaf has been ramped up since Boyne was brought in, the Loaf and sister resorts Sunday River and Loon are flexing their snowmaking arsenals from fall to late spring skiing.

Okemo
Okemo calls their snowmaking effect the Okemo Blizzard. This Vermont resort hurries to have a high trail count by mid-December, often offering the most trails open in the east by the holiday week.

Loon
Loon in New Hampshire has stepped up their game, along with snowmaking powerhouse siblings Sunday River and Sugarloaf, to open early in the White Mountain state and stay open into April, giving Bretton Woods some competition.

Jay Peak
Jay Peak is blessed with a northern Vermont location and the mystical Jay Cloud effect, which provides them an anomaly of natural snow. Jay gets and retains its early season snow most seasons, not a guarantee but a good bet.

Best Early Season Ski Resorts in the West
Breckenridge
Breckenridge is referred to as Colorado’s early season secret with Breckenridge Lodging opening early to accommodate mountain enthusiasts after a long day on the slopes. Breck's snowmaking and high elevation mountain make for a good early season trip, often opening as early as the first week in November. Breckenridge has the highest summit chairlift in Colorado, The Imperial Express, reaching 12,840’.

Alta
Alta is a high elevation skier’s paradise, and Utah is known for its frequent natural snow. The combination is elation to Utah skiers, who are always at the ready, when Alta opens mid-November.

Snowbird
Snowbird has snowmaking, like an insurance policy. This Little Cottonwood Canon resort gets early season dumps of dry light Utah powder, and often opens with tons of terrain by late November. We have skied the entire mountain certain Thanksgiving weeks – much to be thankful for.

Loveland
Loveland in Colorado is feverish about being the first in the country to open for skiing, usually in October. Sometimes there is still grass at the 10,600’ base but snow showing at Loveland’s 13,010’ summit, but Loveland cranks up the lifts and crazy skiers come out to make first tracks. Loveland is anything but luxurious (with Highway 6 Loveland Pass running right through the resort), but it does post one of the longest ski seasons in Colorado.

Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin in Colorado is high elevation, like Loveland and often races to open the same time as its Colorado competitor. A Basin also goes late in the spring, with parking lot beach parties out numbering the bumps on mountains. Arapahoe Basin has quite a following, with loyal fans making turns on Palavachini  from October to May.

Wolf Creek
Wolf Creek Ski Resort in Southwest Colorado has trademarked "The Most Snow In Colorado" typically getting 470' of snow. Wolf Creek opens in October most seasons, and even hosts the US Ski Team for early season training. This ski area is a powder gem, as most people have never seen or skied The Wolf.

Brighton
Brighton is at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, same elevation as Alta, Utah, and the same frequent snowfall as Utah’s big name resorts next door – typically allowing for good early season conditions. Brighton isn’t fancy, but the skiing here is fun.

Solitude
Solitude in Utah actually guarantees early season snow. If you book by mid-November an early season ski and stay at their slopeside Inn at Solitude, and they don’t have four or more lifts open during your vacation (prior to mid-December) - you get a refund.

Keystone
Keystone in Summit County typically opens first weekend in November. Keystone is the snowmaking king with one of the most extensive snowmaking systems in Colorado. With downloading available (if necessary) from mid-mountain on the River Run Gondolas, Keystone is a great place for an early season ski and stay package.

Squaw Valley in California is oft blessed with deep lake Tahoe snow, Squaw opened early in 2012, October 25. Mammoth also gets walloped with early snow and goes into June even July for late season skiing in California.