This is a developing story. For the latest information on the status of resorts听and protocol, visit听individual resort websites.
Ski season is going to happen this year. But it won鈥檛 look like it used to. Resorts around the U.S. are听using input from state and local health guidelines听to operate as safely as possible. In place of crowded apr猫s-ski bars and packed gondolas, you鈥檒l see extra-long, spaced-apart lift lines, skiers in full-face coverings, and take-out lunches eaten outside. Many听resorts will also require advance reservations, so be sure to听check for capacity updates before you go.
Beyond operating and safety protocols, we wanted to know听what some of our favorite ski areas听around the country have planned for this winter, so we called up places like Taos, Big Sky, and Breckenridge to see what鈥檚 on tap.听
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Opening day: November 30. Though the resort usually opens earlier in the month, a later opening date should allow for more snowmaking and natural snowfall to ensure听there鈥檚 enough听terrain for skiers and riders to spread out. 听
Passes and tickets: The (from $1,049)听gets you unlimited access to Copper, and pass holders won鈥檛 need a reservation to ski. You鈥檒l buy听.听Any ticket purchased听more than 12 days ahead of time will be mailed to you; otherwise,听you鈥檒l grab it from on-site pick-up boxes.
What鈥檚 new: The resort is implementing an for parking. Whether you鈥檙e skiing, tubing, or just coming to walk around the village, you鈥檒l need to book a parking spot in advance. If you ride 听or get dropped off, you won鈥檛 need to make a reservation.
Lessons: Copper will kick off听the year by offering only for groups of up to six people who are related. Starting in 2021, additional youth ski and snowboard programs should be available.
Before you go: Check the听 for updates and the听听for notifications.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
Opening day:听November 26 for Aspen Mountain and Snowmass; December 12 for Aspen Highlands, and December 18 for Buttermilk.
Passes and tickets: You can ski seven days at Aspen Snowmass on the Ikon Pass听or two days on the ($489)鈥攚ith either, you鈥檒l need to in advance. A limited number of lift tickets will be sold, so听book yours at least 72 hours ahead of time. Tickets can be delivered to your local lodging or collected from pick-up windows.听
What鈥檚 new: Aspen is expecting a 20 percent decrease in visitors this year, due in part to the lack of international tourists and corporate groups it often attracts, which means fewer听crowds this winter.
Uphill access: Known for its liberal uphill policies, the ski hills of Buttermilk, Snowmass, and Aspen Highlands听will continue to allow uphill ski access during lift-operating hours, but this year听you鈥檒l need to stick to designated routes and check for closures due to capacity limits. The ski area鈥檚 fourth hill, Aspen Mountain, will only allow uphill access before or after the ski day.
Don鈥檛 miss: A $2.5 million renovation of , atop Snowmass, is now complete. A sit-down lunch includes slipper service, where you can swap ski boots for (freshly cleaned) slippers. Make a reservation, as capacity will be limited.
Before you go: Check the听 for updates, be sure to download the听, and stay abreast of what鈥檚 happening with听this听, launched this year.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Opening day: Breckenridge plans to open exclusively to those听who have any level of an 听(from $999) beginning November 13. Single-day tickets won鈥檛 be sold until December 8.
What鈥檚 new: All Vail Resorts, including Breck, will be starting the season with a听 for Epic pass holders. So听book your ski days in advance鈥攜ou鈥檙e allotted up to seven priority days (which vary by resort)听that听can be made well ahead of time, while other days can听be reserved the week of. This听reservation system will open for the season on November 6. Skiers and riders will now be allowed to bring their own lunches into lodges. If you plan to rent ski or snowboard gear, book online ahead of time and get it delivered to wherever you鈥檙e staying.
Don鈥檛 miss: is installing a new clear dome, which can be reserved for property owners and guests in an existing group who want to apr猫s responsibly in a heated, private slopeside space听with beverage听service and mountain views.
What鈥檚 closed: Full-service bars will likely not open for indoor service, but beer and wine will be available to go at most lodges and markets.
Before you go: Check the听, and be sure you have the听 for updates.
Big Sky, Montana
Opening day: November 26.
Passes and tickets: Big Sky may limit the number of season passes sold this year, but as of press time, they鈥檙e on sale and won鈥檛 require reservations. The Ikon Pass grants you seven days at Big Sky, for which you鈥檒l need to make a 听to ski. The Mountain Collective Pass听gets you two days here, and at this time, reservations for Mountain Collective pass holders aren鈥檛 required.
What鈥檚 new: The Lone Peak Tram will open this year, with face coverings required and limited capacity. The resort is also considering a new boot-pack route to offer听skiers and riders a way to climb Lone Peak from the top of Dakota lift,听bypassing the tram. Also, this winter听the public will be able to access the 8,000-square-foot Yellowstone Conference Center as a bigger indoor space for lunch and hot-chocolate breaks.
Early ups: New this year, an unguided first-tracks program called will let skiers and riders load the Ramcharger 8 lift at 8 a.m., an hour before everyone else. You鈥檒l need to purchase an Early Access ticket online听(from $60), and only a听limited number of them听are being sold.
Before you go: Check the听 for updates, and be sure to听.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Opening day: November 26.听
Passes and tickets: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort pass holders听won鈥檛 need to make reservations to ski, but Ikon听pass holders鈥攚ho get seven days here鈥攚ill need to book a spot. Mountain Collective pass holders, who get two days at Jackson Hole, do not need to make reservations at this time. The resort will sell a limited number of daily tickets;听buy听them听online at least 14 days in advance for the biggest discount.听
What鈥檚 new: If you want to skip the tram, skiers and riders will be allowed to boot-pack up Rendezvous Bowl via the East Ridge Traverse. Those interested in trying out a pair of demo skis this season听can now rent gear from seven different locations at the base of Jackson Hole, as well as two hotels鈥斕(from $480) and 听(from $370)鈥攐r request delivery to your lodging.
Early ups: Book a and you鈥檒l have an option to upgrade for early tram and gondola access. This winter听the general public will be able to load Teewinot, the Sweetwater Gondola, and the Apr猫s Vous chair 30 minutes earlier than the resort鈥檚听9 A.M. opening time, to help spread people out from the base area.
What鈥檚 happening: The invite-only听, an event which听features top skiers and riders launching into the famed Corbet鈥檚 Couloir,听will return for its fourth year this winter. It鈥檚听scheduled to run听February 16 to 21, 2021, via听livestream.
Where to stay:听When you book a well-designed vacation rental with听听(from $95), amenities include听a no-contact check-in,听bundled lift tickets, and a fridge stocked prior to your arrival.
Before you go: Check the听, and download the听, which now features听real-time updates on lift wait times, parking access, and other information.
Snowbird, Utah
Opening day: Snowbird plans to open, conditions permitting, on November 30. By kicking the season off a bit later than usual, the resort hopes to have expanded terrain, more snowmaking, and as many lifts open as possible starting from the first day.
Passes and tickets: Ikon听pass holders get seven days at Snowbird, and no reservations to ski will be required, but you will need to . If you鈥檙e buying a day ticket, get it online ahead of time, and plan to pick it up from self-service kiosks scattered around the base area.
What鈥檚 new:听All visitors to Snowbird arriving by car will need to make a reservation for parking. The will still operate but at reduced capacity and with a face-covering听requirement.
Lifts: The tram will operate at just 25 percent of its usual winter capacity; however,听anyone not skiing or riding won鈥檛 be allowed up to the top of the mountain this year.听
Before you go: Check the听, and get the soon-to-be-released Snowbird app, which will have wait times, parking information, and other critical updates.听
Park City, Utah
Opening day:听November 20.
Passes and tickets: If you have any version of the Epic Pass, you鈥檒l need to make a听 to ski. For day tickets, rather than buy a regular lift ticket in advance (pricing to be announced), opt for the more affordable听听(from $107 a day), a low-commitment version of the Epic Pass. The Epic Day Pass also gets you between one and seven days, and, yes, those still require听a reservation.
Lessons: Group lessons for the four-and-under age group won鈥檛 be available this year.
Eat: For dinner, is offering dine-in service, take-out meals for a family of four, and frozen entr茅es to cook at your lodging, like chef-prepared lasagna, plus free delivery. The restaurant will also sell an听array of boxed to-go lunches that you can听bring听to the ski hill.
Don鈥檛 miss:听 is hosting听virtual mixology classes and online whiskey-education courses. Pick up a bottle of bourbon, and learn how to make a proper old-fashioned at your condo.
Before you go: Check the听, and be sure you have the听 for updates.
Taos, New Mexico
Opening day:听November 26.
Passes and tickets: Taos Ski Valley will operate at 50 percent capacity this season, which means that both day ticket听(available on October 15; prices to be announced) and season pass (available on October 9; from $450) holders will need to reserve spots in advance.听If you buy an Ikon Pass, you鈥檒l get seven days at Taos听and听will need to make a reservation before you show up. The Mountain Collective Pass gets you two days here, with no reservations needed.
Travel restrictions: As of press time, if you鈥檙e traveling to New Mexico from a state on the high-risk list for COVID cases, then you鈥檙e required to听.
Start your day: Get a green-chile-smothered breakfast burrito and a coffee to go from , located inside the , which is set to reopen听this winter. The resort is going cashless, so plan to pay for everything鈥攆rom dining to rentals鈥攂y card.
Stay here:听听(from $250)鈥攖he resort鈥檚 newest ski-in, ski-out hotel, was closed for the summer听but is expected听to听reopen for winter at 65 percent capacity. Its听restaurant, , is currently open for online ordering and takeout.
Before you go: Check the听.
Sugarloaf, Maine
Opening day:听To be announced.
Passes and tickets: The (from $649), on sale until October 12, gives you access to both Sugarloaf and Sunday River;听the Ikon Pass gets you up to seven days of skiing here; and the Mountain Collective Pass gets you two days. Currently, no reservations will be required for any of those passes. Lift tickets can be purchased online听and, unlike many resorts, at walk-up ticket windows the day of. You鈥檒l also find ten听new automated kiosks around the base area to pick up lift tickets purchased ahead of time.
What鈥檚 new: Gone are the days of human ticket checkers. Sugarloaf has installed radio-frequency identification听gates that you鈥檒l ski through to scan your passes before听loading the lifts.
Travel restrictions: coming from outside of a handful of nearby states are required to show a negative COVID test result or self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the state.
Transportation: You can still ride the free shuttle around the area, but plan on wearing a face covering, and expect capacity to be cut in half.
Before you go: The听 has more details, and be sure to download the听. The听 will post updates on听operations and conditions.听
Stowe, Vermont
Opening day: November 20.
Passes and tickets: All guests using an Epic Pass will need to make a听 to ski at Stowe this winter. Lift tickets will only be sold online after December 8 for designated days.
Travel restrictions: Vermont currently has听 in place, so if you鈥檙e coming from outside its borders, be sure to read up on quarantine requirements before you pack your听bags.
Lifts: The gondola will be open. Face coverings will be required, and only related groups will be allowed to load听together.
For your convenience: You can now get take-out orders or groceries delivered to your door, thanks to听, the area鈥檚 first (and only) food-delivery service.
Before you go: Check the听 and the听 for the latest updates.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Opening day: Mammoth tends to be one of the first ski resorts in California to open. This year听the resort will start cranking the lifts听November 14.
Passes and tickets: Walk-up day tickets won鈥檛 be available, and those听purchased in advance will be sold on a limited basis, so expect to secure them at least seven days in advance. Skiers and riders with an Ikon Pass have unlimited access to Mammoth and won鈥檛 need to make reservations, as of press time.
Drink: has a socially distant beer garden that鈥檚 open for patio dining and beer tasting, or order online to pick up a growler to take back to your pad.
Soak: Squeezing into a natural hot springs with strangers isn鈥檛 a great idea this year, and many of the steaming pools around Mammoth can get crowded in a normal year. Instead, book a private tub and winter campsite or room at听 (from $60), 50 minutes northeast of town.
Before you go: Check the听, and download the free听.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, California
Opening day: November 25, conditions permitting.
Passes and tickets: There鈥檚 no reservation system here for skiing and riding. Ikon pass holders get unlimited days at Squaw Alpine; Mountain Collective pass holders get two days. There will be no walk-up ticket sales, and advance tickets will be offered on a limited basis. If you buy a ticket more than ten听days ahead of time, it can be mailed to you.
What鈥檚 open: Ski and ride schools will be operational, with new regulations in place. The Funitel and aerial tram are slated to open with face coverings required and social-distancing efforts in place.
What鈥檚 closed: The popular sunset happy hours at High Camp, atop the tram, won鈥檛 be available this year, though restaurants there will be open. Favorite festivities,听such as听the holiday torchlight parade and moonlight snowshoe tours, aren鈥檛 currently scheduled, but the springtime is likely to go on, pending local ordinances.
Eat here:听, which opened last year in Squaw Valley Village, has online ordering and swift take-out service.
Before you go: Be sure to check the听 and听 or the听 for the latest on parking and mountain capacity.听
Sun Valley, Idaho
Opening day: Sun Valley鈥檚 Bald Mountain will open on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, with nearby Dollar Mountain to follow on December 12.
Passes and tickets: You won鈥檛 find a reservation system at Sun Valley this winter, though lift tickets may be restricted to minimize crowds, so be sure to get there early. Epic pass holders now get seven days of skiing or riding at Sun Valley, and even though the Epic Pass requires reservations at Vail-owned destinations, at this time you don鈥檛 need a reservation to use your Epic Pass here.
What鈥檚 new: This winter, a high-speed quad replaces what was the resort鈥檚 oldest chairlift, Cold Springs, and skiers and riders will be able to spread out on 380 acres of new skiable terrain, located on Bald Mountain鈥檚 south side.
For your convenience: If you need to leave items behind, there will be a bag-check station outside the lodge.
Before you go: Check the听 and听 for updates.