Breckenridge to open with nearly 200 acres of skiing

Breckenridge Ski Resort on Wednesday announced it will be opening on Friday with nearly 200 acres of snow riding terrain. Breck joins Keystone as the second Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass ski area to open in Colorado this season after Keystone opened Oct. 12.

Nearby Copper Mountain also opens for the season on Friday, bringing the total number of Colorado ski areas open for business this weekend to nine. Here’s a press release from Breckenridge:

Following the resort’s snowiest October on record with four feet of snow, Mother Nature and resort snowmakers have combined forces at Breckenridge Ski Resort to offer nearly 200 acres of terrain on Peak 8 for opening day on Friday, Nov. 8.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Breck to open on Friday, to debut the new Peak 8 Base Area and to offer such incredible early season terrain for our skiers and riders,” said John Buhler, Breckenridge Ski Resort’s vice president and chief operating officer. “Keystone got things started in October and we’re ready to keep the momentum and excitement for the season going at Breck. With our plans to operate through Memorial Day, annually Breck and Keystone combined will offer one of the longest ski seasons in the country for our Epic Pass holders.” 

For opening day at Breck, skiers and riders will have access to a variety of groomed trails on lower Peak 8 accessed by the Colorado SuperChair, Rocky Mountain SuperChair, 5-Chair and Rip’s Ride. The resort will offer skiing and riding for all ability levels on trails including Springmeier, 4 O’Clock, Columbine, Northstar, Duke’s, Claimjumper and Trygve’s. Lifts are set to open at 9 a.m. while the BreckConnect Gondola will open at 8 a.m. to provide access from Town and the Gondola lots to the base of Peak 8.

To kick off the celebration, guests can enjoy complimentary waffles and DJ music on the snow. The official first chair celebration and banner-breaking will take place on the Colorado SuperChair.

Guests arriving to the resort at Peak 8 on opening day and beyond will be greeted with a whole new look and feel, including new views, new conveniences and improved guest amenities that will make the trip to the ski slopes faster and easier than before. The upgrades feature an expanded plaza accessible via escalators, brand new skier services facilities including new ski school, ticket and season pass office, and rental and retail space, in addition to new skier drop-off parking, public restrooms and more. Continuing the trend of base area transformations, this December the new Gravity Haus property will open at the base of Peak 9, offering a tech-forward boutique lodging experience and social house for outdoor enthusiasts.

With prime early season conditions at Breck and Keystone in Summit County, and with Vail set to open on Nov. 15 and Beaver Creek and Crested Butte set to open Nov. 27, don’t miss the last chance to secure an Epic Pass by Nov. 24. With a variety of pass products including the new Epic Day Pass, to the Epic Local and full Epic Pass, there is a pass for every type of skier and rider.

Early Season & Uphill Access

Please be reminded that limited terrain and early season conditions exist. Breckenridge Ski Resort requires skiers and riders to observe all posted signs and warnings. Closed trails may contain hazards due to limited natural snow coverage and snowmaking operations. During the early season, uphill access routes will be limited and are subject to change and/or close on a daily basis. For the safety of guests and employees, all uphill access users are required to call the Uphill Access Hotline before accessing the mountain – (970) 547-5627. For more information on the resort’s uphill access policy and guidelines, including designated routes during winter operations, visit the Mountain Info page on Breckenridge.com.

Mountain Dew Snow Dance – Saturday, Nov. 23

For the second year, the Mountain Dew Snow Dance returns to Breckenridge to celebrate the start of the winter season on Saturday, Nov. 23. The event The event includes a full resort takeover at Peak 8 featuring DJs on mountain, free giveaways and appearances by pro riders Red Gerard, Jules Marino and Danny Davis, and culminates with a live concert in the South Gondola lot. The Mountain Dew Snow Dance is free and open to the public of all ages. Events on the mountain will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and free live concerts in town take place from 4-8 p.m. Come pay tribute to the winter skies at Breck for the #DEWSnowDance. https://dewsnowdance.com/