Monarch Mountain Ski Area opens for Christmas holiday, 2025-26 season
Monarch Mountain ski area opened for the 2025-2026 season on Tuesday, Dec. 2, according to the park.
The team at Monarch Mountain is relying solely on natural snowfall to make the season possible, staff announced. They adopted unique methods to collect and manage the snow, such as using fences and transporting snow from different parts of the mountain, said Monarch Mountain General Manager Chris Haggerty.
“Our team has poured their hearts into getting ready for this season,” Haggerty said in the announcement. “Relying solely on all-natural snowfall, our crew becomes a group of snow farmers — getting creative with harvesting the snow that falls, using fences, transporting snow from around the mountain, and building natural features to catch every flake.”
Guests to the mountain this season eagerly anticipate the new No Name Basin expansion. However, the announcement noted that this terrain wouldn't be available immediately on opening day, as the area depends on adequate natural snowfall to ensure a safe opening.

Monarch Mountain ski area opened for the winter sports season on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025
The opening date for No Name Basin will be shared as the season progresses, once the conditions are suitable, the announcement said. Visitors can expect limited terrain and amenities for the beginning of the season as operations gradually pick up steam. Due to early-season conditions it will be essential for visitors to check the snow report before planning a trip to Monarch Mountain.
For additional precautionary measures, uphill travel will remain closed until the lifts start running on opening day. Once the official operations start, the standard season’s uphill policies will be enforced.

Monarch Mountain ski area opened for the winter sports season on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025
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