Snow has already started to fall in Colorado’s mountains. With the winter season just around the corner, ski resorts are putting the final touches on new projects.

In Grand County, the ski season at Winter Park Resort and Granby Ranch will feature upgrades such as expanded snowmaking systems, new dining spaces and improved trails.

Monarch Mountain, Loveland Ski Area, Aspen-Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Keystone Resort, Vail Ski Resort and Breckenridge Ski Resort are among the other Colorado ski resorts that are making capital improvements for the upcoming seasons.

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Here’s a look at what new improvements skiers and riders can expect this winter at Colorado ski resorts:

Winter Park Resort

The ski resort invested $37 million this year to upgrade its snowmaking system, resulting in higher efficiency, reduced energy use and earlier terrain openings, including high alpine areas and terrain parks up to 10,800 feet, according to a September press release.

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On-mountain dining is also receiving upgrades with new menus, expanded food choices and a reimagined restaurant, Ptarmigan Kitchen + Bar, taking over Doc’s space at the base area. Family incentives return as well, including free lift tickets included with kids’ ski lessons, a learn-to-ski guarantee and affordable pro tip sessions for advanced skiers.

For transportation, the Winter Park Express ski train will offer special trips during holidays. Beginning Dec. 19, the train will offer round-trip service to the slopes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 4. In partnership with CDOT and Amtrak, regular service will continue Thursday through Sunday, from Jan. 8 to March 29.

Granby Ranch

“Renegade Ridge,” formerly known as “C-Note,” will open on the west mountain with tree removal and snowmaking improvements to seven acres of previously underutilized terrain, according to a Sept. 17 press release. Jackpot Trail, the most popular trail on the west mountain, has been widened and its tree islands have been cleared.

On East Mountain, trees have been thinned and cleaned to allow for improved glade skiing. A new snack hut has been added at the top of the east peak. Food and drink options will vary from classic ski cuisine to inventive new dishes.

Wednesday, Nov. 26 will mark the second consecutive year that Granby Ranch opens for the winter season the day before Thanksgiving, according to the release.

Monarch Mountain

Monarch Mountain plans to open a 377-acre expansion with 10-12 new named runs during the 2025-26 season, according to the ski area’s website.

The terrain will feature 1,000 vertical feet with a variety of options, including intermediate and advanced trails with groomed, bump, and gladed sections accessed by a three-person fixed-grip lift, its website states. Additionally, the expansion will include a warming hut for guest and vault toilets.

Loveland Ski Area

Loveland Ski Area has two projects launching this season: a new lift in Loveland Valley and the enhancement of a beginner trail and family ski zone.

In Loveland Valley, a brand-new Lift 7 will debut this winter, Loveland Ski Area Director of Marketing Loryn Roberson said. The new chair has been upgraded from a 42-year-old double chair to a fixed-grip triple chair. 

The new triple chair is wider than a standard triple, offering more space and comfort for beginners as they learn to load and ride, Roberson said. The upgrade will improve the flow of the ski area’s Ski & Ride School and beginner terrain access, she said.

The ski area has also enhanced its Zig Zag Trail located in Loveland Valley, making it “an ideal beginner and family-friendly ski zone,” she said. Through some tree removal and subtle trail regrading, the trail will offer wider turns, a smoother grade, and create an improved learning zone for families, beginners, and Ski & Ride School guests, she said.

Aspen-Snowmass

At Snowmass, a new chairlift and a new T-Bar lift are expected to open for the 2025-26 winter season.

The Elk Camp Chairlift at Snowmass is being upgraded to a high-speed six-pack, Aspen Skiing Company Senior Manager of Brand Communications Janelle Sohner said in an email; the new lift “will significantly reduce wait times at one of Snowmass’ most popular chairlifts.” It will also increase bike-carrying capacity during summer months.

The Elk Camp Restaurant at Snowmass will also open a new 120-seat deck on its east side. The expansion faces the Elk Camp Chair, offering mountain views and an “innovative umbrella and glass wall system” that provides climate control in varying weather conditions.

Snowmass is also replacing the Cirque platter lift with a new T-bar lift. The Cirque is one of the highest lifts in North America and accesses “some of Snowmass’ best extreme high-Alpine terrain,” Sohner said. The lift replacement will reduce wait times by effectively doubling the capacity, she said.

Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain this summer kicked off a multi-year snowmaking modernization project.

Copper Mountain Communications Manager Olivia Butrymovich said the snowmaking improvements this summer were focused on the east and center sides of the resort. Nine trails have received some level of snowmaking improvements, with the bulk of the improvements focused on the Fairplay, Main Vein and Rosi’s Run trails, she added.

The work involves installing new fan guns and modernization of towers and hydrants with more efficient semi-automatic systems, she said. These enhancements will support terrain used for the Stifel Copper Cup World Cup races, early-season race training, Central Park, and the Superpipe, while also improving early-season access and snow quality for the public, she said.

Keystone Resort

Keystone Resort plans to open Kindred Resort — a luxury development with ski-in, ski-out residences, a hotel, and other amenities — this season, according to Keystone Resort Senior Communications Manager Max Winter.

Kindred Resort, located just steps from the River Run Gondola, will also include a year-round heated pool with a patio cocktail service, four new dining options, valet parking, valet ski and bike storage, and a high-end full-service spa, Winter said.

The new development will also become Keystone Ski & Ride School’s new home base, with resort retail and rental shops where guests can pick up gear, he said.

Vail Ski Resort

Vail Ski Resort has received Forest Service approval for an infrastructure project that includes the replacement of two chairlifts.

The proposal, detailed in Vail Mountain’s 2023 Master Development Plan, would make the three-person Little Eagle chairlift a high-speed quad, alongside other improvements to the Eagle’s Nest area beginner experience, like the expansion of snowmaking capabilities and the conversion of the Outpost building into a dining hut with an outdoor deck.

The removal of summer activity structures that are no longer in use, including the Game Creek Canopy Tour and Golden Eagle Zipline, are also planned.

Breckenridge Ski Resort

Peak 9 at Breckenridge Ski Resort is possibly about to look a little bit different. 

The U.S. Forest Service issued a decision memo approving initial scoping of the project and outlining next steps. The project is pending approvals.

Looking ahead, Breckenridge Ski Resort is planning a project to transform Peak 9, enhancing the user experience of beginner skiers and riders on the mountain. Scoping for the project officially began in May 2024, and was formally approved on June 10, 2025. 

Guests that have visited Peak 9 on the weekend know that the base area is often bustling with activity. Home to the ski resort’s learning areas, guests often have to maneuver around congestion as they near lifts. 

The project aims to greatly improve the recreation experience on Peak 9. Not only will the resort address the arrival experience on Peak 9, but the project will work to provide better connectivity to other peaks and improve skier flow. 

One of the ways Breckenridge expects to improve skier flow and the arrival experience is by constructing a gondola. Aptly named the “Peak 9 Gondola,” the new lift will provide a second option out of the Maggie base area. 

The gondola will ascend to an angled mid-station where a new ski and ride school teaching area, the Frontier Learning Area, will be located. This area will feature two new, short conveyors, a ski and ride school warming hut with restrooms, and a new snowmaking system.

Following the installation of the Peak 9 Gondola, Breckenridge will be removing A-Chair. Once A-Chair’s two lift terminals, its mid station and 39 tower foundations have been removed, restoration and revegetation will take place at the resort.

The last piece of the project includes the direct in-line replacement of the existing fixed-grip, two-person C-Chair. The lift replacement will upgrade C-Chair to a six-person, high-speed detachable lift.