First Snowfall of Winter 2025/26 Hits Colorado Ski Resorts

Featured Image: Tamara Susa, Aspen Snowmass

We're halfway through September, and the high reaches of Colorado have now seen their first noticeable snowfall of the 2025/26 ski season. This doesn't mean you should head for the hills with skis in hand, but it does mean we're a step closer to making turns.

Hopefully, you've packed away your ski gear properly this summer, as it always pays to have your setup adjusted weeks before you'll need it. Take this as your pre-season warning: time to put new batteries in your beacon, tune your skis and make sure your pass is secured.

Freezing levels hovered around 11,000 feet, with Pikes Peak seeing snowfall over a week ago, and some of our favorite resorts getting a dusting over the weekend on Sunday, September 14, 2025. Check out these reports from Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, Loveland Ski Area, Aspen Snowmass, Silverton Mountain and Telluride.

Snow was spotted on the high reaches of Arapahoe Basin's legendary East Wall. This is one of the ski area's most prized sections of terrain, with fierce freeride runs accessible via the North Pole Hike. Snowmaking machines are on the hill as of this weekend, and while A-Basin has not yet officially announced an opening date, winter operations usually kick off in late October or early November. 

Chet's Dream Lift looks pretty good in white. Loveland has been hard at work replacing Lift 7 this summer, looking to increase beginner terrain capacity. Always in a contest with Arapahoe Basin to see who can open first, we'd call it a safe bet to expect Loveland to start spinning lifts in early November.  

Skiing at Aspen Snowmass is always great, but you'll get sidetracked by the views if you're not careful. Looking past Snowmass Mountain, the Maroon Bells boast a fresh blanket above the town. "Seventy-five days until the lifts start spinning," the resort teased in their comments. We recently named the Deep Temerity Lift at Aspen Highlands as one of the Six Best Chairlifts in the Rockies. If you haven't checked this leg-burner off your bucket list yet, this is the year to do so.  

While the town stayed well beneath the snowline, the mountains around Telluride were turned crispy white, perhaps receiving some of the most snow in the state during this first storm. This weekend marked the 31st annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, and to no one's surprise, beer and blues music are the perfect recipe for a good time.

The one and only Silverton Mountain shared photos of the San Juan Mountains covered in snow around the resort. With some of the best and most accessibl, guided big mountain skiing in the world, Silverton is always worth a trip. Fifteen weekends to go before the season opens, so you've got time to rally the crew and plan that dream trip.