Temperatures in the 30s were widespread across the Colorado high country Tuesday morning, and snow has fallen in many locations. That means it’s time for snowmaking to begin, and at least three Colorado ski areas are doing so, in hopes of opening later this month.

Arapahoe Basin began making snow on Sept. 23 while Loveland and Copper Mountain turned on the snow guns overnight Tuesday. Loveland wasn’t able to make snow last year until Oct. 12.

“It’s starting to look and feel like winter at Loveland,” Loveland’s chief operating officer, Rob Goodell, said in a news release. “Our snowmaking team capitalized on the cold weather, and we’re off to a great start. The forecast is calling for cold temperatures through the week, and we will make snow as conditions permit. We look forward to skiing with everyone very soon.”

Arapahoe Basin has been the first Front Range ski area to open in eight of the past 10 years, usually followed by Loveland. In 2015, Arapahoe Basin and Loveland opened on the same day (Oct. 29). Over the past 10 years, the average opening date for Arapahoe Basin was Oct. 20. The earliest was Oct. 11, in 2019.

Keystone has been in the mix for opening day honors since 2019 and has opened in October three of the past four years. Keystone received a dusting of snow overnight but is not yet making snow.

“Right now, at our lower elevation, our team is not yet seeing the sustained cold temperatures necessary for our snowmaking to build a sustained base layer,” said Keystone spokesman Max Winter.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

• Policies
• Report an Error
• Contact Us
• Submit a News Tip

• 2023
• October
• 3

Most Popular

• Kiszla: You better believe CU’s Shedeur Sanders is better quarterback than Heisman winner Caleb Williams

  Kiszla: You better believe CU's Shedeur Sanders is better quarterback than Heisman winner Caleb Williams

• Kiszla: Broncos didn’t win game for Sean Payton, they averted another crisis of grumpy coach’s making.

  Kiszla: Broncos didn't win game for Sean Payton, they averted another crisis of grumpy coach's making.

• Parents of CU Boulder students hit by drunken driver say university has been slow to respond

  Parents of CU Boulder students hit by drunken driver say university has been slow to respond

• Keeler: CU Buffs receiver Omarion Miller sealed place in Boulder lore with kiss from Michael Irvin and love from Michael Westbrook. “Y’all haven’t seen nothing yet.”

  Keeler: CU Buffs receiver Omarion Miller sealed place in Boulder lore with kiss from Michael Irvin and love from Michael Westbrook. "Y'all haven't seen nothing yet."

• Lauren Boebert escorted out of “Beetlejuice” musical in Denver after “causing a disturbance”

  Lauren Boebert escorted out of "Beetlejuice" musical in Denver after "causing a disturbance"

• Josh Kroenke on plans for Nuggets, Avalanche broadcasts amid ongoing Altitude/Comcast dispute: “We’re looking at everything”

  Josh Kroenke on plans for Nuggets, Avalanche broadcasts amid ongoing Altitude/Comcast dispute: "We're looking at everything"

• Instances of drivers behaving badly in Colorado backcountry are on the rise, outdoor officials say

  Instances of drivers behaving badly in Colorado backcountry are on the rise, outdoor officials say

• Colorado man is accused of killing bear and her two cubs, faces felony charges

  Colorado man is accused of killing bear and her two cubs, faces felony charges

• Keeler: Denver hoops icon Chauncey Billups says only one team can keep Nuggets from repeating as NBA champs. And that’s the Nuggets

  Keeler: Denver hoops icon Chauncey Billups says only one team can keep Nuggets from repeating as NBA champs. And that's the Nuggets

• Broncos four downs: Over 20 minutes, QB Russell Wilson and Vance Joseph’s much-maligned defense save Denver’s season

  Broncos four downs: Over 20 minutes, QB Russell Wilson and Vance Joseph's much-maligned defense save Denver's season

Trending Nationally

• Woman dies after tire falls off car on interstate, crashes into SUV
• 2 children die, one injured after falling into swimming pool at residential daycare
• Disneyland theme park expansion envisions 16 rides and an outdoor show
• Which is California’s toughest town to rent an apartment?
• Mourning the deaths of 2 homeless men in Lowell

• Arapahoe Basin
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 34″
  Open: 9

• Aspen Highlands
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 38″
  Open: 5

• Aspen Mountain
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 33″
  Open: 6

• Beaver Creek
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 35″
  Open: 23

• Breckenridge
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 39″
  Open: 34

• Buttermilk
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 27″
  Open: 5

• Cooper/Chicago Ridge
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 27″
  Open: 4

• Copper Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 28″
  Open: 23

• Crested Butte Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 38″
  Open: 13

• Echo Mountain
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 18″
  Open: 3

• Eldora Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 30″
  Open: 10

• Granby Ranch
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 23″
  Open: 5

• Hesperus Ski Area
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 18″
  Open: 1

• Howelsen Hill
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 20″
  Open: 4

• Irwin Catskiing by Eleven
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: N/A”
  Open: 0

• Kendall Mountain
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 36″
  Open: 1

• Keystone Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 32″
  Open: 20

• Loveland Ski Area
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 34″
  Open: 9

• Monarch Mountain
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 51″
  Open: 7

• Powderhorn Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 39″
  Open: 4

• Purgatory Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 54″
  Open: 10

• Silverton Mountain
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 50″
  Open: 1

• Snowmass
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 31″
  Open: 20

• Steamboat
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 39″
  Open: 15

• Sunlight Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 20″
  Open: 3

• Telluride Ski Resort
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 41″
  Open: 17

• Vail Mountain Resort
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 42″
  Open: 27

• Winter Park Resort
  

  New (24 hr): 1″ | Base: 44″
  Open: 23

• Wolf Creek Ski Area
  

  New (24 hr): N/A” | Base: 85″
  Open: 9

• Loveland Ski Area

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Arapahoe Basin

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

• Keystone

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

• Aspen Highlands

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Beaver Creek

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Breckenridge

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Copper Mountain

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Crested Butte

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Purgatory

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Eldora

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

• Monarch

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Powderhorn

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Steamboat

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Telluride

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Vail

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Winter Park

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Echo Mountain

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

• Cooper

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Ski Granby Ranch

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Sunlight

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Wolf Creek

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  1-3"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Silverton

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  1-2"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Aspen Mountain

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Berthoud Pass

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Buttermilk

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Irwin

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

• Rocky Mountain National Park

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

• Snowmass

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0-1"

• Cameron Pass

  Fri
  12-07

  Day
  0-1"

  Night
  0"

  Sat
  12-08

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Sun
  12-09

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Mon
  12-10

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0"

  Tue
  12-11

  Day
  0"

  Night
  0-1"

Source: Read Full Article