Thursday, October 1, 2026
SKYKOMISH — As mountain bikers still enjoy the late summer transition to fall, winter plans for skiing and snowboarding are already underway. Stevens Pass announced Dec. 5 as its target opening date for the 2025-2026 winter season.
The target date is in line with the last few seasons; Stevens Pass forecasted a Dec. 6 opening day for 2024 and Dec. 1 for 2023, with mixed results. Last year, the mountain received over 70 inches early on, allowing it to open a week earlier than expected. It was the first November start since 2018. The 2023-2024 season had less favorable conditions – minimal snow forced the mountain to open with limited capacity almost two weeks after the Dec. 1 date.
By comparison, both Stevens Pass and California’s Kirkwood are at the tail end of targeted opening dates on the Vail Resorts schedule. The company anticipates as early as a mid-October opening for Keystone, with most other Colorado resorts – as well as a few Switzerland locations – expected in early to mid November.
A late November opening is expected for Whistler Blackcomb, in addition to Lake Tahoe-based Heavenly and Northstar resorts, Utah’s Park City Mountain, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte in Colorado, and Crans-Montana in Switzerland.
The upcoming Stevens Pass winter season will see the return of signature events such as Dew After Dark, Women’s Weekend and Foggy Fridays. Night skiing is set to begin mid-December.
Season passes are still on sale for the upcoming winter season, with prices rising as winter nears. This year, Vail Resorts is promoting Epic Friend Tickets, which gives friends of passholders 50 percent off on lift tickets. The promotion also enables them to apply 100 percent of the cost of one redeemed Epic Friend Ticket toward a 2026-2027 season pass.
Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media
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