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Multiple Colorado ski areas make first snow of the 2023-24 season

By Jonathan Ingraham October 3, 2023 | updated 2 years ago

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And so it begins in the high country, snowmaking has started at multiple Colorado ski resorts.

And a few others received their first flakes overnight Tuesday as well.

Loveland Ski Area and Copper Mountain Resort fired up their snow guns overnight, making the first snow for the 2023-24 season.

Loveland had its snow guns running at 12:30 a.m., laying down the first manmade flakes on Home Run while Copper Mountain made it snow on Copperopolis and underneath the Super Bee lift.

Snow guns blows man-made snow onto the base area Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 at Loveland Ski Area.

Courtesy, Dustin Schaefer Loveland Ski Area

“It’s starting to look and feel like winter at Loveland,” Rob Goodell, chief operating officer, 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.”

Mother Nature also laid down 1 inch of natural snow. Loveland began snowmaking on Oct. 12 last season.

Loveland ski area day1 snowmaking 2023

A snow gun blows man-made snow onto the base area Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 at Loveland Ski Area.

Courtesy: Dustin Schaefer/Loveland Ski Area

Loveland ski area day1 snowmaking 2023

A snow gun blows man-made snow onto the base area Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023 at Loveland Ski Area. 



Courtesy: Dustin Schaefer/Loveland Ski Area


The resort said it usually takes a few weeks for Loveland’s snowmakers to cover the opening day run from tree-to-tree with an 18 inch base, but the ski area will open with a full top-to-bottom run made up of the trails Catwalk, Mambo, and Home Run.

The opening day run is 1,000 vertical feet and over a mile in length. Last season Loveland opened on Nov. 3. To follow Loveland’s snowmaking progress, go to skiloveland.com/snowmaking.

Over in Summit County at Copper Mountain not only did the resort begin its first day of snowmaking operations late Monday night, it also received its first snowfall in the village, according to a Tuesday news release.

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Featured Local Savings

Copper Mountain snowmaking Oct. 3, 2023

An aerial view of Solitude station and ski trails of the upper mountain at Copper Mountain, seen Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Copper Mountain began making man-made snow overnight in preparation for the 2023/24 ski and riding season.

Courtesy: Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain snowmaking Oct. 3, 2023

An aerial view of Solitude station and ski trails of the upper mountain at Copper Mountain, seen Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Copper Mountain began making man-made snow overnight in preparation for the 2023/24 ski and riding season.



Courtesy: Copper Mountain


“Copper Mountain is making preparations to host early-season alpine race training, expected to start on October 20,” Olivia Butrymovich said in the release. “Young racers from across the country will head to Copper to log some early season turns ahead of the winter season. The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is expected to arrive at Copper in November to train on the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, the only full-length downhill training venue available in the world this time of year.”

Copper Mountain is scheduled to open to the public for the 2023/24 winter season on Nov. 13.

Arapahoe Basin announced it had some fresh snowfall, but the humidity was too high and the resort did not fire up the guns.

“Our team is heading in tonight (Tuesday) with the hopes of firing (the snow guns) from sundown to sun up, which is around 9 a.m. at A-Basin,” Communications Manager Shayna Silverman said.

Vail Resorts also announced Tuesday its Colorado resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte) all received fresh snow from the overnight storm, with Vail, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte receiving their first snows of the season.

Snow on the trails of Vail, fall 2023

The first snows of 2023-24 winter lay on the trails of Vail Ski Resort in Vail, Colorado.

Courtesy: Eric Dunn/Vail Ski Resort

Snow on the trails of Vail, fall 2023

The first snows of 2023-24 winter lay on the trails of Vail Ski Resort in Vail, Colorado.



Courtesy: Eric Dunn/Vail Ski Resort


“The countdown to projected opening dates is on and skiing and riding will be here before we know it,” Communications Manager Rachel Levitsky at Beaver Creek said in a news release.

Here are some projected opening dates: Beaver Creek Nov. 22; Breckenridge Nov. 10; Crested Butte: Nov. 22; Keystone: as early as possible in October (pending early season conditions), Vail Mountain: Nov. 10.

PHOTOS: Snowmaking and first flakes at multiple Colorado ski areas 2023-24

Snowmaking has begun in Colorado in Summit, Eagle and Clear Creek counties. Natural snow fell at several I-70 resorts and Crested Butte Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, showing skiers and riders what is in store for them come opening day for winter 2023-24.

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Jonathan Ingraham

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