Keystone Resort Conducts First Snowmaking Test of the Season—Is Opening Day Near?

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated Sep 20, 2025 8:12 AM ET

You hear that? You heard right.

Keystone, Colorado, recently fired up its snowmaking guns for their first test of the year, blasting the slopes with water vapor.

While the guns aren’t making snow quite yet—it’s almost 70 degrees at Keystone at the time of writing this—Keystone’s angling to become one of the first ski resorts open in North America next month.

"Our snowmaking team test fired the system yesterday (September 18, 2025), checking the lines to make sure they’re good to go once temps drop low enough to begin making snow!" Keystone wrote in a social media post.

Check out the ski season tease below. Tap or click the video to watch the snowmaking machines in action.

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A post shared by Keystone Resort (@keystone_resort)

Keystone hopes to open for skiing and snowboarding as soon as possible in October, conditions permitting.

Other ski areas in Colorado, like Arapahoe Basin, Loveland, Winter Park, and Wolf Creek, are in the early-season hunt, as well. Last year, Wolf Creek was Colorado’s first mountain to spin its lifts, starting the season on October 22, 2024, thanks to early-season snow.

Arapahoe Basin recently stoked ski season excitement, too, when it shared videos of snow guns being set up around the mountain.

Mother Nature’s also chipped in. Over the past few days, Colorado ski resorts have seen several rounds of September snow. At Arapahoe Basin, the light dusting reached the base area.

Going forward, the arrival of Colorado’s ski season hinges on the weather. Snowmaking, of course, requires cold temperatures. So, if the state stays hot, we might be stuck waiting until November (in 2024, Keystone kicked off the season on November 2).

In contrast, a cold snap or two could result in a different outcome: skiing before Halloween. You can probably guess what we’re rooting for.

While you wait, we recommend getting all of your skiing-related loose ends tied off. Get your skis waxed. Look into any necessary gear purchases. Make sure you have a pass if you’re planning on buying one.

During September, it can, at times, feel like winter will never come. Rest assured, though, the colder months are just around the corner.

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

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