Where to Ski in November

The leaves are dropping, temps are getting cooler, and snow has started to fall. It means that another North America ski season is upon us. And come November, North America ski resorts begin opening for early-season turns. Skiing in November can mean solid snow conditions and if you’re lucky, a powder day. It’s therefore a good time to get warmed up for the season and dial in your equipment. However, it can also mean limited terrain and conditions that can be hit or miss.

So what can you expect? Early mornings provide the best opportunity to take advantage of fresh snow and crisp groomed trails, while warmer afternoons set the stage for sun-soaked après-ski sessions. Much like spring skiing, early-season skiing in North America comes with smaller crowds and lift lines, while you’ll also typically find cheaper lift tickets and lots of lodging deals.

So without any further ado, let’s dive into how the season is shaping up and our recommendations of where to ski in November. Download the OnTheSnow app on Google Play or on the App Store to stay up to date on conditions, weather, projected opening dates, terrain/lift statuses, and more. Be sure to leave a review after you ski to help your fellow skiers and riders.

Long-Range Winter Forecast For The 2025-26 Ski Season

OnTheSnow.com’s meteorologist, Chris Tomer, in his long-range winter forecast, gave an outlook of what this winter may have in store for North America:

“The most consistent snowfall this winter favors the Northern Tier of states. Expect drier than normal conditions this winter across the Southern Tier of states. October and November favor the Pacific Northwest for the most consistent precipitation, while December favors the Sierra. The remainder of winter favors the Northern Tier. It might resemble last winter at times.”

Keep in mind that early opening dates don’t mean access to all resort terrain. Yet there still should be some early-season cover to help you warm up your skills for the season ahead. As the season continues, that base will expand with consistent snowmaking and more winter storms. Several ski areas will do their best to get you on skis or your board as early as late October. Barring warm spells and dry conditions, you can count on the North America ski season really starting to ramp up around mid-November. Still, take the following projected opening dates as educated guesses and remember the old adage about the “best-laid plans.” Always check our website or app before you head for the hills.

Where To Ski In November

Ski Ward in Massachusetts and Trollhaugen in Wisconsin were technically the first two ski areas to open for skiing and riding, though it was very limited terrain. Trollhaugen had rope-tow served skiing on saved snow from last season over the first weekend of October while the carpet was open at Ski Ward on October 18. The first proper opening day out West was at Colorado’s Keystone, which opened on October 25. It was followed the next day, October 26, by Arapahoe Basin’s opening day.

Loveland, a Colorado favorite among early-season enthusiasts, is often open by around the first week of November. Breckenridge plans to open shortly after, on November 7. Once a few Colorado ski resorts open, typically by early November, the floodgates open by mid- to late-November. You can keep an eye out on projected opening dates of Colorado ski resorts here.

» View Arapahoe Lodging Options & Keystone Lodging Options

Over in Utah, Brian Head is likely to be the state’s first resort open on November 7. Brighton, Solitude, Alta, Park City, Snowbasin, and Snowbird plan to follow, opening throughout the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Check out more Utah ski resort opening dates here. In nearby Wyoming, Grand Targhee is anticipating to be the first Wyoming ski resort to open, with a planned opening of November 21. Jackson Hole plans to open shortly later, on November 28.

Further west, Mammoth Mountain in California is expected to be one of the first California ski resorts to start spinning its lifts, with a planned opening of November 14. It often opens in early- to mid-November, thanks in part to its high elevation. In Idaho, Schweitzer Mountain is slated to open November 21 and Sun Valley plans to open the weekend after on November 28. Other ski resorts in the far west with projected opening dates before Thanksgiving include Heavenly, Northstar California, Palisades Tahoe, and Timberline Lodge. Stay tuned on our app or website for when these and other ski resorts will be open for daily operations.

» View Mammoth Lodging Options, Heavenly Lodging Options & Palisades Tahoe Lodging Options

In Vermont, Killington Resort plans to open on November 21, which is a little later than usual. Typically, the Beast of the East is one of the first East Coast ski resorts to open, hosting the FIS World Cup in November. But this year, the event has been canceled due to a chairlift replacement project. Another Vermont favorite, Stratton Mountain, plans to open November 26. Known for its charming village and diverse terrain, it provides a great early-season East Coast skiing experience.

» View Killington Lodging Options

Over in Maine, Sunday River plans to open on November 15. Thanks to its reliable snowmaking and expansive terrain, it is often among New England’s first ski resorts to open. In New York, Belleayre plans to open on November 14, marking the beginning of the ski season for one of the state’s most popular resorts, which is known for its proximity to New York City and diverse terrain. Nearby resorts such as Windham and Hunter Mountain are also expected to follow suit with late November openings, depending on snowmaking conditions and weather forecasts.

In Canada, SkiBig3’s trifecta of resorts—Lake Louise, Sunshine, and Mt. Norquay—are expected to open in early November. Lake Louise and Sunshine are scheduled to open on November 7, with Mt. Norquay aiming for the next weekend, on November 14.  These Alberta resorts often open in November with decent early-season conditions and are often among the last Canada ski resorts to close.

Note that weather and conditions can change quickly, especially early in the season, so check our app, website, and resort social media feeds for the latest updates. You can see a full list of North America projected opening dates here. And don’t miss our picks of the best North America ski resorts for Thanksgiving weekend.

 » View Banff Lodging Options

Header image: ©Arapahoe Basin