8 Best Ski Resorts to Ski Thanksgiving Weekend

Factors to Consider

We curated our top 8 resorts to ski on Thanksgiving weekend with the consideration of the following factors:

1. Snowmaking capacity – Snowmaking capacity is king for Thanksgiving skiing. Management policies play into this because it is expensive to run snowmaking equipment, especially if it is still warm and the conditions are not optimal. That’s why Summit County in Colorado is usually a winner – it gets cold there early, and it seems to benefit from storms no matter which direction they come from!
2. Crowds – To have the optimal experience, a ski resort should have plenty of terrain and lifts open to spread out the crowds. This is generally another tick in favor of Colorado resorts.
3. Historical snowfall early in the season and current weather patterns – It’s different every year but there is always some region that gets a big dump early on and becomes the obvious choice for Thanksgiving skiing.

Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff enjoys more snow than its neighbors thanks to its strategic location, nestled within the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies. The top elevation here is just shy of 8,954 feet, and even the base village sits at almost 5,499 feet, so the high altitude helps to keep the natural snow in tip-top condition. 

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens early November. See the historical and current Sunshine Village opening dates.
• Open Terrain: There are over 3,300 acres of skiable terrain here, and by Thanksgiving, anywhere between 1,000 to 1,500 acres of it are usually open.
• Crowd Level: Being in Canada means the locals won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving in November, so this means fewer holiday crowds.
• Insider Tip: If natural snow is thin on the ground here during November, head to nearby Lake Louise where artificial snowmaking and snow farming ensures at least 500 acres of terrain is ready to ski by Thanksgiving!
• Best For: Top-quality snow

If you are planning a ski trip here, see Sunshine Village Ski Packages.

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb another Canadian ski destination, takes second place, and for very good reasons too. The resort gets an average of almost 8 feet of snowfall in November and if La Niña events are predicted to occur, it will be even snowier. Being the largest ski resort in North America, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, activities, and après-ski, and while the resort doesn’t hold American Thanksgiving celebrations, there’s still plenty of entertainment on offer here.

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens around Thanksgiving. See the historical and current Whistler Blackcomb opening dates.
• Open Terrain: The ski resort is equipped with an extensive snowmaking operation. The snow guns will ensure at least 650 acres of terrain has sufficient snow.
• Insider Tip: Keep an eye on the weather forecast for rain. If rain is likely then make a last-minute diversion to Sun Peaks, sheltered away within the interior of British Columbia, for your best chance to avoid the slush.
• Best For: Variety of terrain

If you are interested in a ski vacation, see Whistler Blackcomb Ski Packages.

Arapahoe Basin

If you wanted to put a bet on which ski resort will open first in North America, our tip would be Arapahoe Basin every time. The ski resort has reliable early season snowfall as a result of its base elevation of 10,520 feet and location in Summit County. Even if there is a lack of snowfall, there are 125 acres of terrain covered by snowmaking equipment.

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens in October. See the historical and current Arapahoe Basin opening dates.
• Open Terrain: By Thanksgiving, you’re almost guaranteed top-to-bottom skiing on a variety of trails with many chairlifts operating. 
• Insider Tip: When there’s plenty of early season snow at Arapahoe Basin, the resort is likely to be crowded, so for quieter slopes switch your destination to nearby Loveland Basin.
• Best For: Adrenaline junkies

If you are planning a ski trip, see Arapahoe Basin Ski Packages.

Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek enjoys the highest average annual snowfall of all the Colorado ski resorts, due to its sub-zero temperatures and high base elevation of 10,300 feet. The snowpack can be the deepest of North American ski resorts by Thanksgiving, so if you’re all about the steep and deep this place could be your best bet. It is also one of the most affordable resorts on our list. 

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens from late October to early November. See the historical and current Wolf Creek opening dates.
• Open Terrain: More often than not you’ll enjoy over 1000 acres of skiable terrain ready for fresh tracks. 
• Insider Tip: There is a lack of snowmaking coverage so if there’s not enough natural snowfall at Wolf Creek, head to Breckenridge as the backup resort as they have plenty of snow cannons to open a variety of terrain.
• Best For: Powder hounds

Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain makes a huge effort to get as much terrain open by Thanksgiving as possible. They focus on serving up top-notch intermediate terrain to keep the majority of skiers and snowboarders happy. 

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens mid to late November. See the historical and current Copper Mountain opening dates.
• Open Terrain: Copper Mountain’s extensive snowmaking system covers 364 acres along with some snowfall in November, often ensuring that there is sufficient snow by Thanksgiving.
• Insider Tip: If there is a lack of skiable terrain open, another nearby resort with a fantastic snowmaking operation is Keystone.
• Best For: Intermediate terrain

Snowbird

If you want to spend Thanksgiving skiing in Utah, look no further than Snowbird. It’s famous for its fluffy soft powder, and with over 500 inches of snow falling on average each year, it’s one of the snowiest places in the entire United States. The resort takes the national holiday seriously and makes it easy for you to celebrate by hosting special Thanksgiving dinners at one of its three restaurants.

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens late November. See the historical and current Snowbird opening dates.
• Open Terrain: By Thanksgiving, you can expect some great terrain to be open if there’s an early dump over the Wasatch Mountains you can expect. Also, Snowbird’s snow cannons cover 99 acres of terrain to keep a decent amount of trails open even without natural snowfall.
• Insider Tip: If there is plenty of snowfall by Thanksgiving there will be big crowds at Snowbird, so for quieter slopes go to Alta, a skier-only mountain.
• Best For: Groups

If you are planning a ski vacation, see Snowbird Ski Packages.

Mammoth Mountain

Mammoth Mountain is a must-visit ski resort for Thanksgiving in California. It has the biggest snowmaking operation of any US ski resort on the West Coast, covering 477 acres. It also has an extra 1000 feet of elevation compared to Lake Tahoe ski resorts further north, so it gets colder earlier in the season. Mammoth Mountain also goes all out with its Thanksgiving festivities, from skiing with Woolly the Mammoth to free meals for under 4’s at the Mountainside Bar & Grill, it’s a sure thing that kids big and small will love it here!

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens early November. See the historical and current Mammoth Mountain opening dates.
• Open Terrain: With its snowmaking coverage and some natural snowfall in November, there is usually a decent range of terrain open by Thanksgiving. 
• Insider Tip: When natural snow is falling further north than Mammoth it’s worth checking out the conditions at Kirkwood, where Thanksgiving skiing on fresh powder can be exceptionally good.
• Best For: Families

If you are thinking of a ski trip here, see Mammoth Mountain Ski Packages.

Killington Resort

Nicknamed the ‘Beast of the East’, Killington is where you’ll find the best East Coast Thanksgiving skiing! It’s the largest ski area in Eastern US, and often one of the earliest ski resorts to open throughout the entire United States. 

• Opening Date: The resort usually opens in November before Thanksgiving. See the historical and current Killington Resort opening dates.
• Open Terrain: Killington has an enormous snowmaking operation that covers 600 acres, so it is guaranteed to have decent terrain open.
• Insider Tip: Book your accommodation early to avoid disappointment and don’t expect many early season deals, as the FIS Women’s Ski World Cup is held over the Thanksgiving weekend and draws in quite a crowd.
• Best For: Ski racing fans

If you are interested in a ski vacation, see Killington Resort Ski Packages.