Snowmaking at Loveland Ski Area
At Loveland Ski Area, the start of snowmaking marks the true beginning of winter. Our expert local crews and professional snowmakers typically fire up the snowguns in late September, working around the clock to prepare for a mid-October to early-November opening. Their goal: to deliver one of Colorado’s first top-to-bottom runs, covered tree-to-tree with an 18-inch base of packed snow.
Thanks to Loveland’s high elevation and the skill of our dedicated snowmaking team, we’re known for offering some of the best early-season conditions in North America. Snowmaking covers more than 240 acres of terrain and is usually completed by early to mid-December—setting the stage for another great season at Loveland.
10/15/2026
Loveland Ski Area officially began snowmaking operations for the 2026-27 ski season at 7:04 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, taking advantage of colder temperatures to begin building a base of snow ahead of opening day.
Following the first natural snowfall of the season earlier this week, Loveland’s snowmaking team fired up the snowguns and began transforming the mountain for the return of skiers and snowboarders.
Celebrating 60 Years of Snowmaking
Small-scale snowmaking began at Loveland in 1966, and during the 1967-68 season, Loveland became the first major ski area in Colorado with snowmaking capabilities, using diesel compressors from the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Much has changed over the past six decades. Snowmaking technology has evolved, and Loveland’s snowmaking system now covers more than 240 acres of terrain. Yet the people behind the snowguns remain at the heart of the operation.
For 60 years, generations of Loveland snowmakers have worked through cold nights, early mornings, high winds, and challenging mountain conditions to prepare the slopes for skiers and snowboarders.
At Loveland, the start of snowmaking marks the beginning of the ski season. Once temperatures cooperate, crews work around the clock to prepare the mountain for opening day.
The team’s initial goal is to establish a top-to-bottom run with tree-to-tree coverage and an approximately 18-inch base of packed snow. Loveland’s high elevation and experienced snowmaking crew have helped establish a long tradition of early-season skiing and snowboarding.
Snowmaking typically continues into early to mid-December as crews expand coverage across the mountain and supplement natural snowfall.
Loveland is targeting an opening between late October and early November, weather and conditions permitting. Last season, Loveland opened on November 8.
10/14/2026
❄️ SNOW FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AT LOVELAND! ❄️
Winter is starting to take hold! This morning, fresh snow reached all the way down to the base area, giving the mountain a nice coating of white! 🏔️
Every snowfall brings us one step closer to another season of skiing and riding!
⛷️🏂 Who’s ready to hit the slopes?
10/13/2026
Winter made its first appearance at Loveland Ski Area Tuesday morning as the first snow of the 2026–2027 season began falling around 8:00 a.m. The early-season snowfall is a welcome sight as Loveland prepares to welcome skiers and snowboarders back to the slopes.
While the first flakes are generating excitement, Loveland’s snowmaking team remains on standby, waiting for Mother Nature to deliver the consistently cold temperatures needed to begin snowmaking operations.
This season marks Loveland Ski Area’s 60th year of snowmaking, a tradition that has helped the ski area get an early start on winter for decades. Once temperatures cooperate, Loveland’s snowmaking crew will take advantage of every opportunity to build the snow base needed for opening day.
Loveland Ski Area hopes to open for the 2026–2027 season sometime between late October and early November, weather and snowmaking conditions permitting. Last season, Loveland opened on November 8, 2025.
Known for its high elevation and extensive snowmaking capabilities, Loveland is traditionally among the first ski areas in Colorado to open each season.
With the first snowfall now in the books and snowmaking preparations underway, excitement continues to build for another season of skiing and snowboarding along the Continental Divide.
9/29/2026
Signs of winter are starting to appear at Loveland Ski Area. The resort’s Trail Maintenance and Snowmaking teams were out on the mountain today performing maintenance and testing snowguns in preparation for the upcoming snowmaking season.
Trail Maintenance/Snowmaking Manager Bobby Babeon and his crew ran water through the snowmaking system, performed maintenance on the snowguns and tested equipment to make sure everything is ready when snowmaking conditions arrive.
Loveland typically begins making snow around the beginning of October, once temperatures and humidity provide consistent favorable snowmaking conditions. This year, the start of snowmaking will mark a special milestone: 60 years since snowmaking began at Loveland Ski Area.
Small-scale snowmaking began at Loveland in 1966, and during the 1967–68 season, Loveland became the first major ski area in Colorado with snowmaking capabilities, using diesel compressors from the construction of the Eisenhower Tunnel.
A lot has changed over the past six decades. Snowmaking equipment and technology have evolved, and Loveland’s system has grown to cover more than 240 acres of terrain. But the people behind the snowguns remain at the heart of Loveland’s snowmaking operation.
The team’s first priority is building a top-to-bottom run covered tree-to-tree with an approximately 18-inch base of packed snow. Loveland’s high elevation and experienced snowmaking crew have helped the ski area establish a long tradition of early-season skiing and riding.
Media Inquiries
Loryn Roberson – Marketing & Communications Director
(303) 571-5580 x157
loryn.roberson@skiloveland.com
Opening & Closing Date History – Click HERE for history.
