Utah Ski Resort Opening and Closing Dates 2026-27

For the 2026-27 Utah ski season, the first big resorts near Salt Lake City plan to open on Nov. 20, 2026, and most of the rest follow by mid-December. Closing dates are mostly unannounced, but Alta has set Closing Day for April 25, 2027.

Every date below is a projection that depends on snow. We list the source for each one and will update this page as resorts confirm. For which pass covers which resort, see Ikon vs Epic in Utah.

Utah ski resort opening dates for 2026-27

Projected openings come from the Deseret News roundup published Oct. 7, 2026, unless the resort's own site says otherwise. We checked Brighton and Sundance again on Oct. 16, 2026.

Snowbird. The Deseret News lists Nov. 27. SnowBrains, reporting on Snowbird's 2026-27 parking changes on Sept. 29, says Nov. 26. Check snowbird.com before you book an opening-week trip.

Brighton. Brighton's press releases page had no 2026-27 opening announcement on Oct. 16, 2026. Its most recent release (April 30, 2026) extended the 2025-26 season. Last season's opening day was announced on Nov. 28, 2025 for Dec. 2, so a late-November announcement wouldn't be unusual.

Sundance. Sundance Mountain Resort's site had no opening date on Oct. 16, 2026. It does say the new Electric Horseman quad arrives this winter. Some ski sites publish their own projected dates for Sundance, but those aren't from the resort.

Why opening dates move

Utah resorts set opening days around natural snow and snowmaking, so projected dates are targets. In 2025-26, several resorts opened later than planned, and Brighton didn't open until Dec. 2, 2025.

For an early-season trip, that means three things. Expect limited terrain in the first weeks, even when a resort opens on time. Keep lodging and flights as flexible as you can. And check the resort's own site a week before you fly, not just this page.

Closing dates known so far

Only one resort near SLC has a published 2026-27 closing date.

• Alta: Closing Day is April 25, 2027, per Alta's parking page.
• Snowbird often runs later than most Utah resorts, often into May. No 2026-27 date is published.
• Brighton extended its 2025-26 season to May 10, 2026. No 2026-27 date is published.
• Most other resorts close in April. Expect dates to appear during the winter.

What hasn't been announced yet

As of Oct. 16, 2026, these were still open questions:

• Brighton and Sundance opening days.
• Every 2026-27 closing date except Alta's.
• The UTA ski bus schedule for the Cottonwood Canyons, Snowbasin and Powder Mountain. In 2025-26, Little Cottonwood service started Nov. 29 and Big Cottonwood Dec. 3. Check UTA's ski service page closer to the season.
• The opening date of Park City Mountain's new Canyons Village garage. KPCW reported it's expected in early December, with interim surface lots until then.

Peak and holiday periods for 2026-27

The blackout dates on value passes are the clearest guide to the busiest days. Here's how they line up with the 2026-27 calendar.

Alta's holiday periods are a little wider. In 2025-26 they ran Dec. 19 to Jan. 4, Jan. 17–19 and Feb. 14–16, so expect a similar pattern this season.

Parking reservations follow the same rhythm. For 2026-27, Alta requires reservations from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays to Sundays and holidays from Dec. 11 to early April and on Closing Day. Solitude requires them before 11 a.m. on Fridays to Sundays and holidays from Dec. 18, 2026 to March 29, 2027. Brighton requires them before noon on Fridays to Sundays and holidays. On those days the Cottonwood Canyons also get the worst of the red snake traffic, which our canyon road conditions guide explains.

Late January in Park City is different now

The Sundance Film Festival used to fill Park City in late January. The 2026 festival was the last one in Utah, and the first Boulder, Colorado edition runs Jan. 21–31, 2027. Our guide on the festival's move to Boulder covers what that means for travel. Sundance Mountain Resort, the ski area in Provo Canyon, is separate and keeps operating.

Planning your trip around the dates

• Early season (late November to mid-December): terrain depends on snow. Pick a resort with an early projected opening and keep plans flexible.
• Holiday weeks: book flights, lodging and airport rides early, and expect parking reservations and canyon traffic.
• January to March: outside the holiday weekends above, there are no pass blackouts.
• April and later: Alta runs to April 25, 2027. For later spring skiing, watch Snowbird and Brighton's announcements.

To see how far each resort is from the airport, read the ski resorts closest to SLC airport. When your dates are set, you can request a private transfer from SLC.