Update: Nov. 19, 2025, 2:45 p.m. • This article has been updated with information on Alta Ski Area and Deer Valley Resort.
Utah’s ski resorts are dropping en masse — because the snow is not.
As a set of storms once expected to drop close to a foot of snow at the state’s highest elevations over the weekend dwindled — instead leaving between a four inches and a trace in most locations — so have hopes that ski and snowboard season will begin this week in the northern half of the state.
On Wednesday morning, Deer Valley Resort delayed its projected season opener for the first time in its 44-year history. In doing so, it joined what seems like an ever-growing roster of Utah resorts that have had to push back their start dates.
A day earlier, Alta Ski Area operators pushed the pause button, delaying skiing at the Little Cottonwood Canyon resort until Dec. 5, at the earliest. On Monday, Park City Mountain, which was scheduled to join Alta in opening Friday, announced it would delay its start. That same day, Solitude Mountain Resort, usually among the first in the state to open, announced its third delay this season.
Solitude has now pegged Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, as its targeted season opener, according to an email it sent Monday to season passholders. Neither Deer Valley nor Park City Mountain has set a new opening date.
“Despite the best efforts from the entire Park City Mountain team ...,“ John Kanaly, a Park City Mountain spokesperson, said in an email, “Mother Nature decided we could all use just a little more suspense for the 2025/26 ski and ride season.”
Nonetheless, Utah’s ski and snowboard season will almost certainly begin this season.
Brian Head Resort near Cedar City had hoped to be the first in the state to open when it set a tentative Nov. 4 opening date in August. After two delays, it appears likely that it will still get to claim the honor.
The state’s southernmost ski and snowboard area had received 10 inches of snow as of Wednesday afternoon, and the OpenSnow.com forecast calls for it to get up to seven inches more by Friday — when it plans to open. Plus, temperatures have been cold enough there to allow for snowmaking.
Alta, typically the state’s snowiest resort, caught just 5 inches of snow in Monday’s storm. It could get a few more this week, but isn’t expected to see significant snow until Thanksgiving weekend.
One canyon over, Solitude reported getting 4 inches of snow in the latest storm and little more is called for in the short-term forecast. Temperatures have also mostly been too warm to make snow, but that is expected to change this week.
“The Solitude team is ready to go,” the email said, “as soon as Mother Nature allows.”
Park City Mountain has not seen any measurable snowfall since October and is not expected to until next week. However, a drop in temperatures starting Monday should allow its crews to begin more robust snowmaking efforts as well.
“Our team is keeping a close eye on the forecast and watching for that perfect snowmaking window,” Kanaly said. “We’ll share an update as soon as we know when winter is ready to roll out the white carpet.”
Deer Valley also expects to rely on snowmaking to hasten the 2025-26 season. A spokesperson note that while the delay is disheartening, the Park City-area resort traditionally never opened before the first week in December. Not until 2022, when it received 60 inches of snow in November, did it begin opening earlier.
The fizzling of the storm systems over the weekend has been disappointing for skiers and snowboarders eager to get the winter season underway. But resorts are trying to keep the mood light.
“Hang tight,” Park City Mountain’s Kanaly wrote, “winter’s just taking the scenic route to Park City.”