Editor’s Note: Each Thursday throughout the winter, the Summit Daily News will provide a terrain update that will inform skiers and riders on what trails are open at resorts near Summit County before they head out to the slopes. 

Slowly but surely, ski areas across Summit County continue to open more terrain as the heart of winter approaches.

While no major storms have rolled through the region this week, the powerful snowstorms that kicked off the new year have helped fill in thin spots across the mountains and allowed resorts to green-light new terrain for the first time this season.

As skiers and riders head to the slopes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, here’s what guests can expect in terms of newly opened terrain around Summit County.

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Copper Mountain Resort to open Storm King and Alpine Lifts

Copper Mountain Resort will go into the long weekend by opening the Storm King Lift on Friday, Jan. 16. The lift will give access to Hallelujah Ridge located on the front side of Copper Mountain. 

Storm King is not the only lift that Copper plans to start spinning over the next couple of days. On Saturday, Jan. 17, Copper is also expected to bring the Alpine Lift online. The East Village lift will give skiers and riders access to the Formidable trail. 

Lastly, Copper will once again open the Resolution Lift for a limited time. The resort is expected to spin the lift from Saturday through Monday, Jan. 17-19. The lift will service Hodson’s Cut and Cabin Chute. 

Through Feb. 10, Copper Mountain will be offering “Double the Fun” bonus rewards as part of its scan challenge program. Copper’s season-long scan challenge program allows Copper and Ikon pass holders to earn rewards by tracking the number of days they ski or ride at the resort. 

During the Double the Fun promotion, skiers and riders who reach the five-day or 10-day milestone by Feb. 10 will earn double the rewards. Those who hit five days during the promotional period will receive two Rocky Mountain Coaster riders while those who hit 10 will receive two, $50 lift tickets to share with friends.

Pass holders can continue to log days and earn rewards for the rest of the 2025-26 season even after the promotion ends. 

For more information, visit CopperColorado.com.

Keystone drops ropes to handful of trails 

Keystone Resort has opened several new trails over the last week. The resort most recently green lit Prospector, Whipsaw, Wild Irishman, Jacques St. James, Missouri, Jackwater and Cross-Cut. 

The additions will bring Keystone’s total terrain to just over 1,200 acres across 76 trails.

Looking ahead, Keystone will work to get Tenmile open to provide access to Bergman Express and Timber Ridge. 

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area to offer limited and directed skiing 

Like many ski areas in Colorado, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is currently operating with a lower than average snowpack.

According to communications manager Shayna Silverman, A-Basin has received 13 inches of snow over the last week and about 67 inches so far this season. 

“That means this one storm cycle was about 20% of our total snowfall of the season,” Silverman said. “So, it’s still low tide out there, but it is improving.”

With unopened trails still needing some fresh snowfall, A-Basin will be expanding its limited and directed skiing program ahead of the first holiday weekend of the year. 

Those wanting to partake in the limited and directed skiing, should keep an eye out for patrollers stationed around the mountain by rope lines and closures. Once a group has gathered, the patroller will take skiers and riders through a guided route on the run. 

Once everyone has made it through the run, ski patrol will close the run again, so the terrain does not get skied out. Limited and directed skiing is weather and conditions dependent. A-basin will not be posting about limited or directed skiing and riding. 

A-Basin will also not have limited and directed skiing listed on the website, forcing guests to keep an eye out for the opportunity. 

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Breckenridge gives access to terrain under 6-Chair 

The ski patrol team at Breckenridge Ski Resort has been busy over the last week.

Through countless hours of work on the mountain, the resort has successfully opened up some terrain under 6-Chair and Contest Bowl via hiking 4 O’Clock Ridge. The terrain is not fully open for the season and may open or close at any time at the discretion of the ski patrol team.

Breckenridge is continuing to complete work on Peak 10. Breckenridge hopes to have the Falcon SuperChair and a few select groomed runs open for skiers and riders over the long weekend or early next week. 

Loveland Ski Area has no new terrain to report

Loveland Ski Area will not have any new terrain openings for the holiday weekend.

Ahead of last weekend, Loveland was able to open up North Blackjack, Dealer’s Choice, Forest Meadow and the Excelleration trails as well as started spinning Ptarmigan Lift. The lift accesses Fire Bowl, North Turtle Creek and Drifter.