Colorado Ski Area To Open Eight Days Early

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Nov 6, 2024 2:02 PM ET

The ongoing Colorado snowfall seems to be paying dividends.

In the backyard of Boulder, Colorado, Eldora Mountain Ski Resort has decided to open eight days ahead of schedule, first spinning its lifts tomorrow, Thursday, November 7th.

The ski area credits cold temperatures, the November snow, and the efforts of its hard working staff as the driving forces behind the early opening.

“Our amazing employees left it all on the field—or slopes, I should say,” said Brent Tregaskis, Eldora’s president and general manager. “They, and our beloved guests, are what have made Eldora the go-to gathering spot for local skiers and riders for more than 60 years.”

Early season terrain at Eldora will cover 1,000 vertical feet of terrain including the Hornblower, Windmill, and International trails. A small terrain park near the West Wing Lodge is on the cards, too.

While beginner terrain, uphill access, lessons, and nordic-slash-snowshoe trails are out for the time being, on social media, Eldora wrote that “everyone is welcome to join the fun in the base area.”

The action starts at 9 a.m. Thursday morning when the Alpenglow chair will begin spinning. In observance of ski area opening day tradition, Eldora will have a DJ and fresh donuts for those first in line while supplies last.

The usual early-season safety caveat applies. Eldora won’t have any trees open and encouraged guests to remain on groomed runs.

Additional snowfall could generate more momentum for Eldora’s fledgling ski season. OpenSnow calls for 11 inches of snow over the next one to five days at the ski area.

Statewide, the roster of open Colorado ski areas continues to grow.

Breckenridge and Copper Mountain will begin spinning their lifts on Friday, November 8th. Purgatory Resort plans to welcome the season’s first skiers on November 16th. Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Wolf Creek are already open. Yesterday, on social media, Loveland Ski Area advised followers to “Stay tuned for an Opening Day announcement later this week!” and shared images of its snow-covered slopes.

This season, in early December, Eldora will debut the Caribou Lodge—a 12,000-square-foot energy facility—to the public. Other investments include a new trail called Reel It In and improvements in snowmaking efficiency.

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This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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