In Colorado Ski Country USA, we don’t rest on our laurels—and our laurels include North America’s longest-running ski area, several of the world’s bucket list destinations, and a snow sports legacy that dates back over a century.
Our 20 member resorts continue to roll out improvements and debut exciting new amenities for skiers and snowboarders, and the 2025–26 season is no exception.
Visit Colorado Ski Country USA this winter, and you’ll find new lifts that move guests around mountains faster, shortening liftlines and expanding access to all types of terrain; the return of legacy events and the launch of a host of new festivals, competitions, and special experiences; updates to rental fleets and remodeled eateries; and evidence everywhere of our resorts’ commitment to keeping their operations energy efficient and earth-friendly.
Clinics
Clinics run Monday mornings and Friday afternoons from December to April, focusing on carving, performance, and alignment. Kid’s Club, the four-week consecutive lesson program for little rippers, is now open to snowboarders. Full-day private lessons (skiing, snowboarding, and tele-skiing) include lunch on the mountain. Guided Tours (for intermediate or higher skiers) return for a second season to learn the Legend like the locals.
Events
New this season: a Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Uphill Race, and DJ sets at Black Mountain Lodge every Saturday in November, Kids Ski Free Week, December 6–12, and a new Ice Bar in March.
Facilities, Food & Beverage
WINGO (free bingo with wing and drink specials) returns Thursday nights in the 6th Alley. Moonlight Dinners at Black Mountain Lodge continue, along with pairing dinners at the 6th Alley and lunches and champagne toasts at il Rifugio.
Ikon Pass Access
The Ikon Pass now offers unlimited skiing & riding at A-Basin; the Ikon Base Pass remains at five days of access. Parking reservations must be made online in advance for weekends from January 3 to May 3.
Facilities, Food & Beverage
Ullrhof, the beloved mid-mountain restaurant on Snowmass, will undergo a complete rebuild and is set to reopen for the 2026–27 winter season. The new Ullrhof will double seating capacity to more than 500, add an expanded upstairs bar and lounge, and introduce a refreshed menu with upgraded operational systems.
Lifts
The existing Elk Camp quad chair will be replaced by a new state-of-the-art, high-speed six-pack lift, reducing ski season wait times and increasing summer bike park capacity. The Cirque platter lift will also be replaced with a new T-Bar, doubling capacity with a shift from single-rider to double-rider service and reducing wait times to access extreme high-alpine terrain.
Sustainability
The rebuilt Ullrhof will be Aspen Snowmass’ first all-electric on-mountain restaurant, reflecting Aspen One’s dedication to sustainable building design and operations.
Community
As a resort owned by Lake County and operated by a nonprofit (Cooper Hill Ski Area, Inc.), Ski Cooper is a true community-owned resource. Its approachable pricing and family-first focus underscore a commitment to affordability, accessibility, and local stewardship.
Tickets & Passes
For 2025–26, Cooper has simplified its day ticket policy. Online and window prices are the same—you always pay the lowest price for that day, with the best savings midweek outside holidays—making it easy for last minute powder chasers.
Events
From November 27–30, 2025, Copper will host the Stifel Copper Cup presented by United Airlines, featuring men’s and women’s Audi FIS Alpine World Cup races. Events include women’s giant slalom and slalom, and men’s super G and giant slalom. This will be the first domestic stop for both the men and women, the only U.S. women’s race of the 2025–26 season, and a key milestone on the road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Colorado athletes Mikaela Shiffrin and River Radamus are slated to compete. Festivities will feature free concerts, fireworks, and a public bib draw ceremony.
Snowmaking
Copper has launched a multi-year snowmaking modernization project to enhance early-season snowmaking and improve reliability. This summer’s upgrades focus on the east and center sides of the resort, with new fan guns, modernized towers, and semi-automatic hydrant systems installed on eight trails. These improvements support the Copper Cup World Cup races, early-season training, Central Park, and the Superpipe, while also improving early-season public access and snow quality.
Facilities, Food & Beverage
Echo Mountain offers night skiing, a full rental fleet for gear and clothing, a tubing hill, and a lively bar and restaurant—all just 36 miles from Denver, making it a convenient and fun local option.
Tickets & Passes
Season passes for 2025–26 are on sale starting at $109, offering an affordable option for locals and frequent weekend visitors.
Tickets & Passes
Eldora’s 2025–26 Alpine Pass options are designed to stretch the ski dollar. Alpine Unlimited offers season-long, blackout-free access; Weekday PLUS includes spring weekends starting March 9; the Family Unlimited Pass takes up to 15% off when three to six household members buy together; and the flexible 4-Pass provides four days with no blackout dates. All season passes include Friends & Family discounts and free uphill armbands.
Facilities, Food & Beverage
A new deck and snack hut at the top of East Peak will give guests a spot to enjoy expansive mountain views along with fresh food and drink options.
Terrain
Extensive work has been completed on the territory formerly known as “C-Note” on West Mountain. Crews regraded and cleared trees while adding snowmaking to seven acres of previously underutilized terrain. The new intermediate area, yet to be named, will provide more lines for skiers and riders.
Transportation & Parking
The Amtrak from Denver stops daily at the Granby Train Station during winter. From there, visitors can use Granby Connect, a new on-demand shuttle service offering $2 rides to anywhere in town, including direct drop-off at the Base Lodge. Granby Ranch has also expanded its secondary parking lot, and all parking remains free.
Affordable Alpine & Nordic Access
Owned and operated by the City of Steamboat Springs, Howelsen provides accessible alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, fat-biking, snowshoeing, uphill access, Nordic trails, night skiing, and tubing—all within town limits. And the return of Ski Free Sundays mean everyone has access to the winter activities.
Lifts & Terrain
A multi-phase Poma lift upgrade wraps up in summer 2025, with new hydraulic components, a new lower bullwheel, and a freshly installed lift shack to improve reliability and safety.
Community
Loveland continues to prioritize accessibility and affordability for families. Season pass prices were frozen at launch for the second year in a row, and day lift ticket prices will remain unchanged for 2025–26, keeping skiing within reach for everyone at Colorado’s independently owned ski area.
Lifts
Lift 7 has been replaced with a new fixed-grip triple from Leitner-Poma, designed specifically for beginners. The larger carriers provide more space and comfort, giving first-timers and families an easier, more welcoming introduction to the mountain.
Terrain
The beginner zone has been reshaped for smoother flow, better snow retention, and a safer, more intuitive on-mountain experience, changes aimed at helping newcomers build skills and confidence together.
Terrain
The No Name Expansion, the largest ski area development in Colorado for the 2025–26 season, will add 377 acres—roughly a 50% increase—to Monarch’s skiable terrain. It will introduce 10–12 new named runs, featuring intermediate and advanced options with groomed, bump, and gladed sections. The area will be accessed by a new three-person fixed-grip SkyTrac chairlift, climbing approximately 960 vertical feet. Guests will be able to explore both sides of the Continental Divide from the Breezeway or Panorama lifts.
Monarch will be only the second resort in North America—and the only one in the United States—where skiers and riders can experience terrain on both sides of the Divide!
Tickets & Passes
Powderhorn continues its multi-season Mission Affordable promise to keep skiing within reach. Families can enjoy even more skiing this season with the popular Mission Affordable 4-Pack: four flexible, shareable lift tickets valid any day of the season. Skiers who plan ahead and purchase tickets online save even more.
Guest Services
Guests will enjoy an improved Purgatory app and a refreshed Paradise Pizzeria, both designed to enhance convenience and the on-mountain experience.
Infrastructure
Expanded snowmaking on Ray’s Ridge, Blackburn’s Bash, and Legends Bypass will improve coverage and ensure more reliable access to the backside and Legends Express (Lift 8). Additional upgrades include new HEAD rental equipment, expanded Wi-Fi coverage, HD streaming cameras for live conditions, and trail work to clear brush and hazard trees.
Milestones
Purgatory will celebrate its 60th ski season in 2025–26. The resort opened in 1965 with one double chairlift and a handful of trails; today it features 1,635 acres of skiable terrain with 107 trails, 11 lifts, year-round activities, and signature events.
Tickets & Passes
Lift tickets start at $9 on select dates with demand-based pricing that rewards guests who plan ahead. The Power Kids program continues, offering unlimited free skiing for children 12 and under, with no purchase required and no blackout dates.
Heli-skiing & Private Access
New for this season, Six Run Heli Days are now available select Wednesdays during peak season. Six-run heli-skiing also runs Thursday through Sunday from December 27, 2025, to March 29, 2026. Single Run Heli Access remains available four days per week through March 29. Private heli-skiing is available seven days a week, offering an exclusive option with pickup from the Silverton base area as well as Telluride and Aspen airports.
Terrain
Silverton is North America’s highest and steepest ski area, with a peak elevation of 13,487′ and no groomed or cut runs. Surrounded by one chairlift and access to 1,819 lift served acres of rugged, advanced only terrain—including bowls, chutes, cliffs, and natural features—Silverton delivers a raw, no frills experience that challenges even seasoned skiers. Guests can access the mountain through guided, lift served skiing during the winter months, or book 6-run heliskiing and private heliskiing to elevate their on-mountain experience.
Tickets & Passes
During the winter season, guests can book guided skiing starting at $199 per day in the early season. Unguided Spring Season Passes return for 2026, with Premium, Base, and Kids options granting full access to unguided skiing from March 18 to April 12. Guests can also access the mountain during the unguided season with a single day ticket starting at $99.
Events
In the spirit of the upcoming 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Steamboat—known worldwide as Ski Town, U.S.A.®—will host events with winter Olympians throughout the season. Steamboat has produced more winter Olympians than any other town in the United States.
Facilities, Food & Beverage
The Steamboat Grand Hotel unveils a refreshed restaurant space with the opening of the Crooked Antler. Formerly The Cabin, the Crooked Antler offers a cozy setting and an approachable, family-friendly comfort-forward menu with daily brunch, happy hour, and scratch-made entrées priced at $20 and under.
Guest Services
For 2025-26, every season pass holder gets access to the coveted 8:30 a.m. powder-day start time. Guests who have worked up an appetite will also enjoy a redesigned food service area with a revamped menu to keep bellies full and wait times low.
Infrastructure
Sunlight is debuting two upgraded chairlifts— Primo and Segundo– marking the largest capital project in resort history.
Lifts
A multi-year modernization project brings upgrades to Lifts 5 and 12 ahead of this season. New AC drives, motors, and control systems will improve efficiency, reduce electricity use, and extend each lift’s life by 10–15 years.
On-Mountain Operations
Two new PistenBully 600 Polar snowcats, upgrades to two more, and a $500,000 conversion to a safer above-ground fuel system represent over $1.5 million investment in slope quality and operational safety.
Snowmaking
Guests can look forward to stronger early-season snowmaking thanks to over 10,000 feet of new and replacement water pipe, a rebuilt valve pump house, and three new generators. The main snowmaking pond below Lift 4 has been relined for long-term durability, and eight new compressors expand early-season capacity.
Milestones
Happy 50th birthday to the iconic Mary Jane! To mark the occasion, Winter Park is throwing Mary Jane a 50th birthday bash on January 10, 2026, with all the fanfare of its very first day. Mary Jane opened as Winter Park’s edgier older sister, and it has evolved into one of North America’s most renowned mountains, known for legendary bump skiing, secret trails, and a feeling of what recreational skiing was always meant to be: uninhibited, wild and real.
Public Transportation
The Amtrak Winter Park Express ski train will run another expanded season with added service in December and four-day-a-week service during the regular season in January, February, and March. The ski train whisks guests from Denver’s Union Station to the base of Winter Park. Tickets include gear transport and onboard café service. The scenic two-hour ride—complete with bi-level Sightseer lounge—drops passengers within 100 yards of the lift.
