We know, we know, it’s still early December but we want ski season and we want it now! The Western half of the United States and Canada, particularly British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, scored big the second half of November, providing ample snow for incredible early-season turns. Below, you’ll find a list of resorts we recommend sinking your skis into before the Christmas holiday, based on early season snow totals and the amount of terrain each resort currently has open. Use caution, early season conditions still exist, which means rocks, stumps and other low-tide hazards are present and can end your season before it really gets started.
Please note, these snow totals and open acreage are as of December 4, 2024. For a daily snow report, we recommend checking out each resort’s conditions report on their websites and/or OpenSnow.com.
Alta Ski Area, Utah
Alta Ski Area is known for its cold-smoke powder and skiers have already been given a taste this season with an estimated 76 inches of total snowfall. Collins, Wildcat, Sunnyside and Sugarloaf are open daily, with 69 percent of the ski area accessible on skis.
Alyeska Resort, Alaska
Despite its sea-level elevation, the town of Girdwood and Alyeska Resort has seen 118 inches of snow since the November faucet turned on. Because of this generous early-season gift from Mother Nature, the resort was able to open this past weekend and is now running Ted’s Express, Bear Cub Quad and Chair 7 to service Jetway, Upper and Lower Von Imhof, Rollover, Cheechako, Sitzmark, Christmas Run and Blueberry Hill. For the little ones, both Finland and Wade’s Way magic carpets are up and running for the entirety of operating hours, which are 10am-5pm.
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Whistler Blackcomb has already received a whopping 100 inches of snow this season and has about 50% of its 8,000-plus skiable acres open for business. To make the deal even sweeter, the resort announced tentative plans to open 7th Heaven on Blackcomb and Peak Chair on Whistler by the end of the week, weather and safety permitting, which would bring the open skiable acres to over 5,000. Christmas in Canada, anyone?
Mt. Baker, Washington
Mt. Baker had a rough season last year and it seems Mother Nature is making up for it this year with an estimated 134 inches already this year. Because of that, Mt. Baker is open for operation seven days a week. Every chair on the White Salmon/Shuksan side of the mountain is running along with chairs 3/4 and 6 on the Heather Meadows/Pan Dome side open for business. This brief period of high pressure and sun is forecasted to come to an end later this week and weekend for more high-elevation pow.
Mt. Hood Meadows, Oregon
Mt. Hood Meadows has reported 96 inches of snow so far this year, with a base depth of 47 inches. The main lodge is open for the season and seven of 12 lifts are running, including Cascade Express and Vista Express. This weekend is looking like a another eight or so inches could fall at the resort, setting the ski area up for over 100 inches of snow before mid-December.
Mammoth Mountain, California
The base of Mammoth Mountain has already seen 65 inches of snow this year, allowing the mountain to have 95 percent of the ski area open before December. 169 of the 178 trails are already skiable and nine out of 10 terrain parks are operating for everyone from beginners to pros like Forster Meeks to enjoy. All three base lodges are open with access to 16 lifts, which means early season and holiday crowds have the space to spread out. California dreaming at its finest.
Grand Targhee, Idaho
On the west side of Teton Pass, Grand Targhee services Idaho skiers under the gaze of the Grand Teton. Thanks to 77 inches of snow, so far, the resort has been able to open 84 of its 95 trails and one of two terrain parks. A promising storm is forecasted for this weekend, with the majority set to fall on Sunday during the day.
Wolf Creek, Colorado
Wolf Creek in Colorado tends to be one of the best ski areas for a sleeper pow day in Colorado and this early season has been no different. 94 inches so far allowed the ski area to open 100 percent of its terrain in mid-November, making it the only resort in the state fully open. All of the cold-smoke snow, none of the big crowds of the I-70 corridor, Wolf Creek is not to be missed.
