Featured Image: Casey Day
Isn’t that always the way it goes. Every year it dumps at least a foot the day after closing day. Fortunately if you ski Loveland, that isn’t an issue. You get to continue riding the stoke of those inevitable late-season dumps. To wit, the storm door swung open this past Easter weekend, dropping 16 inches of blower powder in 24 hours, and pushing Loveland Ski Area past the 300-inch mark for the season. And with Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11, 2025) as the area’s scheduled closing date, the late-season window is still wide open.
Loveland averages about 420 inches of snow annually, making it one of Colorado’s snowiest and most consistent mountains. It’s not uncommon for Loveland to break the 300-inch mark—season totals in the 400s are regular, and the resort hit an insane 595 inches in 2010–11; and they have hit 300 inches or more 48 times since the 1968-69 season. But in an era of shrinking snowpacks, shifting winters, and less predictable storm cycles, every 300-inch season is worth celebrating. When conditions line up like this each spring at Loveland you’ll find expert skiers hiking the Ridge off Chair 9 or snagging fresh tracks with a seat in the Loveland Snowcat, which serves free snowcat-accessed terrain along the Continental Divide when open. They also boast the most affordable guided cat skiing in Colorado. Not to mention enthusiastic parking lot cookouts and costumed ski trains.
Next Year’s Passes On Sale Now
In a ski industry dominated by conglomerates and crowded base villages, Loveland still feels like Colorado skiing used to, perched just east of the Eisenhower Tunnel, meaning you skip the nightmare of driving through the tunnel. Loveland has held its ground as a fiercely independent, family-friendly locals’ mountain for more than 85 years, opening in 1936, One of my favorite parts of skiing at Loveland is bopping into the old warming cabins with real wood burning fire places scattered throughout the mountain on chilly days. From the patrollers to the lifties, the crew of loyal locals, midweek work-from-home crowd (or, work-from-the-car or the lodge), and Loveland Valley’s dedicated ski school terrain, Loveland remains one of the best scenes, best terrain and best value in the state.
Adding to the stoke, Loveland recently dropped its 2025-26 season passes, and they’re holding prices at last year’s rates. No gimmicks, just a smart move for the budget-conscious skier looking for max value. Adult passes are $599, with renewal discounts at $549, while youth, senior, and young adult passes are still among the most affordable in the state. Better still, if you buy now and pay in full, you can start using your pass immediately and ski the rest of this spring for free.
For the first time, however, Loveland is offering a no-interest Easy Pay Payment Plan, letting you spread payments across several months. If you opt for the plan, the pass becomes active once it’s paid off—so there’s incentive to wrap it up quickly, and the Easy Pay option disappears after July 1.
Passholder perks are also legit. You get access to 30+ partner resorts across North America (with bonus days at spots like Monarch, Purgatory, Schweitzer, and Whitefish), membership in the Powder Alliance, and even the option to tack on an Indy Pass add-on, unlocking two days each at 230+ independent ski areas worldwide. You also score deals on rentals, tunes, lessons, lift tickets for friends, and more. And one of my favorite parts: parking at Loveland is free.
More To Come
That free parking will be getting an upgrade in two years as well. Plans are in place to develop a new parking lot which will help improve access during peak periods, reduce congestion, and create a more seamless arrival experience, according to the resort.
The resort also just announced it received final approval from the Forest Service to move forward with the replacement of Lift 7 at Loveland Valley, which will take place during the summer of 2025 and debut for the 2025-26 winter season. This lift replacement represents a significant investment for families and first-time skiers and riders. If you’ve never ventured down to the Valley portion of the area, there’s actually some really good tree skiing that we used to hit between lessons when I taught skiing at Loveland 15 years ago. The new Leitner-Poma lift will replace the existing 42-year-old fixed-grip double chair with a modern fixed-grip quad. “This new lift is all about creating a better experience for our guests,” said Rob Goodell, COO and Senior Vice President of Clear Creek Skiing Corporation, adding that they will only be loading three guests per chair instead of four. “By giving beginners more space to get comfortable loading, we’re helping families and new skiers feel confident from their very first run. It’s an investment in the future of skiing and riding at Loveland.”
As part of this project, Loveland is offering a select number of the original Lift 7 chairs available for purchase through a lottery exclusive to 2025/26 season pass holders and employees. Due to high demand, the chairs will be distributed by random drawing and details on how to enter the lottery will be announced this summer.
Loveland operates under a special use permit with the USDA Forest Service on the Arapaho National Forest, who approved the lift replacement after completing an environmental screening of the project plans. Construction will occur entirely within the existing lift alignment, minimizing environmental impact and preserving the natural character of the area. Loveland is moving forward with other capital improvement projects aimed at enhancing the guest experience including grading the Zig Zag trail and reshaping work to improve flow and snow retention.
So yeah, it’s April. The snow is deep. The vibe is high. And with a pass in your pocket and less tunnel traffic to fight, Loveland is proof that it’s still ski season and the dream lives on.
