Arizona Snowbowl Picks November 21 for Opening Day

The pre-season buzz is officially on.

Arizona Snowbowl has circled Friday, November 21, 2025 as its official opening day for the 2025–26 winter season, conditions permitting.

The Flagstaff-area resort is coming off a record-breaking run. Thanks to a historic November 8 opening last season, Snowbowl stretched its season all the way to June 1. Graced by storm after storm, the Arizona resort racked up 185 days of riding. It was the longest ski season in the resort’s history.

After a truly historic season, Snowbowl is pushing through some major upgrades. They total nearly $1.5 million in improvements, including snowmaking coverage on Humphreys Chairlift terrain. Guests will also find a bigger rental equipment fleet and improved Wi-Fi across base areas.

Snowbowl is only the latest western resort to identify its opening day. Sierra Nevada giant Mammoth Mountain will start spinning lifts on November 14. Meanwhile, Brian Head in Utah aims to get going by November 7.

Of course, early season plans always come with a caveat. Surprise snowstorms can push resorts to start earlier and warm spells can push things back. But with modern snowmaking and Snowbowl’s investment in infrastructure, odds are good that skiers in Arizona will be carving before Thanksgiving.

For Snowbowl locals, the ball is certainly rolling on winter.