Utah resorts have posted their target opening days for the 2026-27 season, and the forecast is talking about a possible super El Niño. Here is when the lifts are scheduled to start spinning around Park City and the Wasatch, plus what the snow outlook does and does not tell us.
2026-27 target opening dates
| Resort | Target opening |
|---|---|
| Park City Mountain | Nov 20 |
| Alta | Nov 20 |
| Solitude | Nov 20 |
| Snowbird | Nov 27 |
| Snowbasin | Nov 27 |
| Deer Valley | Dec 5 |
| Powder Mountain | Dec 11 |
| Brighton | Not yet announced |
| Woodward Park City | Not yet announced |
These are resort targets as of early October 2026. Every date is conditions permitting and can change, and Brighton and Woodward Park City have not announced dates yet.
What the forecasters are saying
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño Advisory in September and put the odds of a very strong event this fall and winter above 90%. OpenSnow says the setup favors above-normal snowfall across northern Utah, and Park City shows one of the strongest correlations with big snow years during strong El Niños.
There are caveats. OpenSnow sees no clear signal for November and December, with the better odds for January through March. Strong El Niño winters also tend to run warmer than normal, and results vary a lot: 1983-84 produced more than 600 inches at Alta, while 2015-16 barely topped 400. Forecasters call the outlook far from certain.
Planning tip
Opening day is the least predictable part of the season, and early December is a gamble even in a good year. If you want the best odds of full coverage, plan for mid-December or later, and the stronger part of an El Niño winter may not arrive until January. Holiday weeks book up 6 to 9 months out, so check availability now. Book direct at staypcu.com and use code STAYPCU10 for 10% off.
Planning a trip around the seasons? Get the free Park City by Season guide.