Photo: By Eve Livesey/Getty Images

Signs of Winter: Peak Near Winter Park Resort Sees First Snow of the Season

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 2:28 PM ET

Things have certainly been heating up ahead of ski season in Colorado. Or cooling down? We mean cooling down, but getting exciting. You know what we're trying to say.

In the last week or so, the Front Range has started to see much cooler temperatures and even snow at higher elevations. Arapahoe Basin broke out the snow guns and snowcats a few days ago and is getting ready to open as soon as possible.

Most recently, Ullr paid a visit to the Winter Park area and left a little dusting of snow on Parry Peak, which is just across the way from Winter Park Ski Resort.

Although it's not actually part of the resort, anyone who has skied Winter Park knows that the view of Parry Peak and Berthoud Pass from the top of Panorama is an iconic one. Winter Park Resort posted the photo equivalent of the *eyes* emoji to their social media page to celebrate.

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A post shared by Winter Park Resort (@winterparkresort)

I grew up skiing at Winter Park, and seeing this photo gives me that anticipatory, excited feeling about the season, even though it's been a while since I've actually skied there.

My step-dad and I are planning a little Colorado ski road trip for this upcoming winter that we're hoping will include a Winter Park stop to ski with my 5-year-old nephew, who might be the cutest kid I've ever seen on skis.

Winter Park is hoping to open as soon as possible, conditions depending, of course. Winter Park opened on November 8 for the 2024-25 season.

Currently, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are slated to open on November 7 for the 2025-26 season. Winter Park, Arapahoe Basin, and Wolf Creek are hoping to start spinning lifts ASAP. Keystone is eyeing a mid-October opening date.

Popular Colorado meteorologist Chris Tomer's winter 2025-26 forecast said some resorts in northern Colorado could benefit from a predicted polar jet stream that would result in above-average precipitation. Steamboat and Snowmass both had higher chances, but Tomer noted that "fringe" resorts of this area, which would include Winter Park, could also benefit.

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

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