SALIDA, CO – After reporting nearly two feet of snow over the December 2–3 weekend, Monarch Mountain will open for 2023–24 season on Wednesday, December 6.
As one of the few remaining ski areas in Colorado that does not make any snow, Monarch relies completely on natural precipitation to open its 800 acres of terrain. With a base elevation of 10,790 ft, they see an abundance of all-natural snow throughout the ski season. The resort will announce the amount of terrain and number of lifts they plan to open this week.
Notable developments made at the ski area over the summer include restrooms in the Paradise Parking lot, gladed terrain in the Mirkwood zone, improvements to the base area, and the acquisition and remodel of the Monarch at the Crest property. The visitor center and sports shop, located two miles west of the ski area, will be open on the weekends and peak times, with continuous shuttles running throughout the season.
Opening day lift operating hours will be from 9:00 am–4:00 pm. The Rental Shop, Sidewinder Saloon, Java Stop, Ski and Ride School, and Elation Sports will all be open.
“The crew is working diligently on getting as much terrain open as possible, and since Mother Nature has been so giving, we hope that it’s quite a bit,” said Monarch Mountain’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer Randy Stroud.