On Thursday, November 26, Aspen Mountain and Snowmass open for the season. You can make first turns that morning and sit down to dinner that evening. It’s a rare chance to combine opening-day skiing with Thanksgiving celebrations.
This guide covers what opens that Thursday, where to eat Thanksgiving dinner, what the weather means for your packing, and which roads and airports lead into town.
Both mountains open on November 26, weather and snow permitting. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk follow on December 12. Lifts at Aspen Snowmass usually open at 9 a.m. and close between 3:30 and 4 p.m., so there’s time to ski before Thanksgiving dinner.
Few runs open this early in the season. Last year, Snowmass opened with only the beginner Meadows area, served by the Elk Camp Gondola and the Meadows lift. More terrain opens through December as conditions allow.
Aspen Snowmass discounts lift tickets for early buyers on two timelines, as the resort’s 2026/27 ticket information explains:
Last year, Aspen Mountain cut adult lift tickets to $119 over Thanksgiving weekend, 35% below regular in-season prices. Opening-weekend promotions can vary from season to season, so check current rates before setting your budget.
Beginners get a new option this season: a three-day first-time lesson package that bundles a lift ticket, lessons, and rental equipment.
The following Aspen restaurants have announced Thanksgiving menus or dining specials for November 26. Check their reservation pages or call directly to book a table:
Call ahead to secure a table, especially if your group wants a private room at one of Aspen’s fine dining restaurants.
If you’d rather eat at your rental, The Little Nell sells a pre-cooked Thanksgiving meal to go. Orders close at noon on November 23, and you pick up your meal between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the hotel’s front drive. Each order costs $290 plus tax and service charge, serves up to four guests, and includes a choice of pumpkin or apple pie.
For visitors looking for things to do in Aspen on Thanksgiving without skiing, the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster in Snowmass has confirmed holiday hours:
Early risers can start the day on foot. The Basalt Education Foundation’s Turkey Trot, a 5K with a one-mile fun run, returns on Thanksgiving morning, with the 2026 event scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. in Basalt. The town is about 20 miles from Aspen, roughly a 25- to 30-minute drive along Highway 82. Leave early enough to park and check in before the race.
Use November averages as a guide to Aspen weather on Thanksgiving:
A dinner reservation after 5 p.m. means walking in the dark and the cold, so pack a warm coat for the evening and waterproof layers for the mountain.
Anyone spending Thanksgiving in Aspen, Colorado, should expect to use the winter route into town. CDOT closed Independence Pass on October 31 for an incoming storm and planned to re-evaluate the road afterward. The pass usually shuts for the season between late October and mid-November, and CDOT typically reopens it around Memorial Day weekend. Check current road conditions before departure rather than relying on the usual seasonal dates.
The winter drive from Denver follows I-70 west to Glenwood Springs, then Colorado Highway 82 south. That’s roughly 200 miles and about four hours in fair conditions. Some visitors fly into Colorado’s largest airport and drive the rest, because Denver has far more flights than Aspen.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport sits about three miles from downtown, but winter weather can disrupt arrivals. When that happens, flights may be diverted to alternative airports, including:
A flight diverted to Eagle County in the afternoon may still leave enough daylight for the drive to Aspen. An evening landing, however, means traveling after dark, potentially in winter conditions.
Private transportation from these airports to your hotel or the base of Aspen Mountain means someone else drives Highway 82 after dark.
Leaving after the holiday follows the same routes in reverse. The options for getting from Aspen to Denver change with the season, since winter closes passes and grounds flights.
If you plan to ski before Thanksgiving dinner, choose your reservation time with the trip back from the mountain in mind. Leave enough room to return to your hotel and change before heading to the restaurant, especially if you’re skiing at Snowmass but dining in downtown Aspen.
