Editor’s Note: Each Thursday throughout the winter, the Summit Daily News will provide a terrain update that will inform skiers and riders on what trails are open at what mountains before they head out to the slopes. 

It is no secret that the start of the 2025-26 ski season in Colorado has gotten off to a slow start. 

Although all of the ski areas in the Summit County area have successfully opened up for the season, they did so with very little to no natural snow.

With unseasonably warm temperatures continuing to plague the Centennial state, fresh rope drops have been few and far between. However, snowmakers have continued to blow snow when conditions allow, resulting in many ski areas being able to open up more terrain ahead of the weekend.

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A snowboarder makes some turns at Keystone Resort’s opening day on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025.</figcaption><figcaption>Katie Young/Keystone Resort</figcaption>

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Keystone Ski Resort

Helping skiers and riders get some October turns in, Keystone Resort was the first ski area in North America to open for the season by beginning to spin lifts in the mid-afternoon on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Since opening up to the public, Keystone has continued to offer skiers some of the most sprawling early-season terrain in the area. On Nov. 1, Keystone was able to open up over 3 miles of top-to-bottom turns from the summit of Dercum Mountain to River Run Village. 

Knowing that guests are still eager for more terrain to open up for the season, the snowmaking teams have continued to blow snow whenever conditions allow. The hard work will result in the resort opening up Spring Dipper on Friday, Nov. 14. 

After allowing skiers and riders to access the Mountain House base area last weekend, the popular base area will fully open for the season on Saturday, Nov. 15. Skiers and riders can ski and ride on Schoolmarm via Peru Express.

In addition to the new terrain, guests can now park for free in the Mountain House east lot. People can also park in the Mountain House west lot, but they will be required to pay. When not on the slopes, skiers and riders can access the Mountain House Coffee Corner and cafeteria along with the Last Lift Bar. 

The teams at Keystone are continuing to work on its mid-station learning carpets along with the Silvermaster and Paymaster trails. Keystone hopes to have the terrain online in the coming days. 

Keystone’s snowmaking teams will now look to shift its focus to the Mozart and Prospector trails in order to expand access to North Peak. 

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Skiers and riders make their way down the mountain during Breckenridge Ski Resort’s opening day on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. </figcaption><figcaption>Katie Young/Breckenridge Ski Resort</figcaption>

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Breckenridge Ski Resort

After opening for the season last Friday, Nov. 7, Breckenridge Ski Resort will open more terrain for its second weekend of the season.

During its first week of operations, Breckenridge offered skiing and riding on Peak 8’s Springmeier Trail. Guests could access the trail by either taking Colorado SuperChair or the Fiver SuperChair.

While guests enjoyed the early-season terrain package, snowmakers focused on blowing snow along the 4 O’Clock and Trygve’s trails. The steady work from the teams at Breckenridge have allowed the ski resort to be able to open up Middle 4 O’Clock and Trygve’s heading into the weekend. 

Both runs are beginner-level trails and help skiers and riders connect to the Peak 8 learning area and base area. In addition to the two trails, Breckenridge will open up more beginner terrain via the Rip’s Ride SuperChair as well as magic carpets. 

“While our teams have made great progress, temperatures are still a bit warmer than we’d like, and we are likely still a little over a week away from being able to expand over to Peak 9,” senior communications specialist Emily Kowalenko said. “With that said, we’re excited about fresh snowfall and colder temperatures in the forecast, and look forward to ramping up more terrain openings as conditions trend more favorably.”

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A skier enjoys some of first turns of the season at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. </figcaption><figcaption>Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin Ski Area</figcaption>

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Arapahoe Basin Ski Area 

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area welcomed skiers and riders back on the mountain a few hours after its neighbor, Keystone, on Sunday, Oct. 26. On opening day, skiers and riders enjoyed laps on High Noon via Black Mountain Express.

A-Basin guests have welcomed the early-season terrain over the last few weeks, with many skiers heading up the mountain before and after hours for uphill access.

In need of some help from Mother Nature, A-Basin does not have any new terrain offerings going into the weekend.  

According to a post that was published on Chief Operating Officer Al Henceroth’s blog on Wednesday, Nov. 12, the ski area is continuing to make steady progress, and its teams have been strategic with moves on the Upper Mountain.

A-Basin is anticipating colder temperatures and snow starting on Sunday. The ideal conditions could hopefully allow A-Basin to open terrain to the top of Lenawee Express.

A-Basin will have several events coming up over the next week. Every Saturday in November, Don Fuego will perform on the Black Mountain Lodge deck from noon to 3 p.m. The live music will continue every Sunday in November with DJ Fuse from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 15, A-Basin will also have an Ice Bar at the base area which will feature live music and drink specials. 

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<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A snowboarder does a nose grab at the hike park at the top of American Eagle on Copper Mountain’s opening day Friday, Nov. 7.</figcaption><figcaption>Kyle McCabe/Summit Daily News</figcaption>

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Copper Mountain 

Copper Mountain Resort opened alongside its Tenmile Range neighbors, Breckenridge Ski Resort, on Friday, Nov. 7. Copper offered excited skiers and riders runs down Rhapsody, Fair Play and Main Vein via the American Eagle lift.

Copper also had a robust hike-to terrain park with over a dozen features.   

As its second weekend approaches, Copper is expecting to open the Easy Rider lift and the Beginner Learning Area on Saturday, Nov. 15. Like many of the ski areas, Copper is looking forward to colder temperatures and the potential for snow next week.

Copper will cap the month by hosting the Stifel Copper Cup during Thanksgiving weekend from Nov. 27-30. 

Loveland Ski Area 

Located just east of the Continental Divide, Loveland Ski Area was the final ski area to open up in the Summit County area on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Loveland’s opening day terrain included Catwalk, Mambo and Home Run trails via Chet’s Dream. Loveland has made progress on Spillway over the last week and is expected to open the intermediate-level trail at some point this weekend. 

The ski area is optimistic about the colder temperatures in the forecast next week and is hoping for productive around-the-clock snowmaking. The concentrated effort is expected to help the ski area getting Lift 2 open for the season.

On Nov. 21, Loveland Valley will officially open for the season along with the debut of the newly upgraded <a href="https:/