Utah’s ski season pushed back even further as Solitude announces delay

Shifting storm pattern forces Solitude to reschedule its opening day.

The Grinch stole Solitude Mountain Resort’s opening day.

Or so the ski area implied Wednesday when it announced that Utah skiers and snowboarders will have to wait at least another week to get on the snow.

The resort made the announcement on its Instagram account with a video of The Grinch first holding up a sign that says opening day is Nov. 16 — this Sunday. The creature then tosses that placard aside to reveal a second one with the words “Opening Day November 19.” He then runs merrily down a strip of snow with brown dirt in the background.

Weather forecasts initially called for that brown to turn white by late Friday. As of Wednesday, however, the incoming storm appears to have both been delayed and reduced. OpenSnow.com now projects Solitude will get most of its snow — between 3-6 inches — Sunday night through Monday evening.

The Big Cottonwood Canyon ski area was leading the race to become the first Utah resort to open for the 2025-26 season after Brian Head Resort moved its projected opener to Nov. 21. It was the second time Brian Head had to reschedule its opener. In August, the southern Utah resort had boldly predicted it would open Nov. 7.

Solitude has also had to reset its expectations twice due to unseasonable warm weather that has even prevented snowmaking. It originally planned to open Friday, then Sunday. Now, according to the post, it expects to give skiers and snowboarders a soft opener Wednesday. That should include rides on the Link Lift and carving and terrain park features on Easy Street, a green run.

The resort plans to hold its official opening party on Nov. 22, though. On that day, Solitude expects to add Moonbeam Express lift and host its “DJ + Donuts Opening Party.”

Two other resorts originally penciled in their openers for next week: Alta Ski Area and Park City Mountain. For now, both are still eyeing Nov. 21 start dates.