This Is the First Ski Resort to Open in North America This Season Is in Colorado—and It’s Already Epic

It’s shaping up to be a milestone year for Keystone, Colorado. The mountain community incorporated to become Colorado’s newest town in February 2024, and is making headlines for the upcoming debut of the luxury Kindred Resort in December 2025. And as of Oct. 25, the ski lifts are spinning—making Keystone Resort the first ski area in North America to open for the 2025/2026 ski season.

The news is significant because it is the first time since 1997 that Keystone has been the first ski area in North America to open. Each fall, high-elevation Colorado ski areas compete for the first-to-open honor in what’s become a race dictated by weather and snowmaking conditions. This year, Keystone edged out Arapahoe Basin ski area, the typical winner, by a single day.

“We’re thrilled to kick off the season here at Keystone with over two miles of skiing and riding,” said Keystone Resort Vice President and General Manager Shannon Buhler in an Oct. 25 press release. “We know how much this moment means to our employees and community, and our team has poured their hearts into creating an incredible early opening celebration. We’re just excited to be back on snow!”  

For their Saturday opening, Keystone skiers were treated to two miles of freshly groomed terrain on the Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon trails. The mountain remained open into the evening, with skiers making turns under the lights. Keystone typically remains open through mid April.

When it is fully open, Keystone offers over 3,000 skiable acres accessed by 21 chairlifts and 140 ski runs. It is known for its welcoming, family friendly vibe, with terrain that “grows with you.” There’s a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and expert terrain, with the expert—black diamond—offerings making up 49 percent of the ski area.

The town’s new Kindred Resort, which is launching restaurants and public spaces in December and overnight reservations in mid January, is expected to transform Keystone Resort’s base area. The slope-side hotel is steps from the River Run Gondola in the heart of the ski town’s River Run Village. Kindred has 107 rooms, 95 residences, and three eateries, including Keystone’s first sushi restaurant. The hotel features a heated pool, kids’ club, and full-service spa, along with more than a dozen outdoor fire pits perfect for gathering after a day on the slopes.

Keystone Resort is part of the Epic Pass family, which offers unlimited skiing at Keystone and over 90 other ski areas around the world. The full Epic Pass price is currently $1,121, while the Keystone Plus Pass—which offers unlimited access to Keystone, five days at Crested Butte, and spring skiing in Breckenridge—is $457. Kids 12 and under ski free at Keystone. All Epic prices are set to increase on Nov. 16.

Keystone Resort is one of the closest ski areas to Denver International Airport (DEN) with the drive often taking just over 1.5 hours.