Thanksgiving 2026 ski crowds: which mountains will be packed?
Thanksgiving weekend is the first big test of the season. Lots of people have four days off, but many mountains have only a few runs open, so the crowds squeeze onto less terrain. Dates: Nov 26–29.
Busiest day: Sat Nov 28. Least bad: Thu Nov 26. Smaller and farther-out mountains stay noticeably calmer than the big resorts closest to cities. These are calendar-based expectations; each day switches to a live forecast (with snow and weather) a week out.
Vermont
Quieter pick in Vermont: Magic Mountain
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killington | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Stowe | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Sugarbush | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Okemo | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Mount Snow | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Stratton | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Jay Peak | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Smugglers' Notch | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Mad River Glen | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Bolton Valley | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Pico | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Bromley | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Burke Mountain | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
| Magic Mountain | Quiet | Busy | Busy | Busy |
New Hampshire
Quieter pick in New Hampshire: Ragged Mountain
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loon Mountain | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Bretton Woods | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Cannon | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Waterville Valley | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Cranmore | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Attitash | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Wildcat | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Mount Sunapee | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Gunstock | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
| Ragged Mountain | Not open | Not open | Packed | Busy |
Maine
Quieter pick in Maine: Shawnee Peak
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday River | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Sugarloaf | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Saddleback | Not open | Not open | Packed | Busy |
| Shawnee Peak | Not open | Not open | Packed | Busy |
Massachusetts
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wachusett | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Jiminy Peak | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
New York
Quieter pick in New York: Gore Mountain
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whiteface | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Gore Mountain | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Hunter Mountain | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Windham Mountain | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Belleayre | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Holiday Valley | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
Pennsylvania
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Springs | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Camelback | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Blue Mountain (PA) | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Elk Mountain | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Mid-Atlantic & South
Quieter pick in Mid-Atlantic & South: Snowshoe
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snowshoe | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Sugar Mountain | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Midwest
Quieter pick in Midwest: Lutsen Mountains
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyne Mountain | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Lutsen Mountains | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
Washington
Quieter pick in Washington: Crystal Mountain
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Mountain | Not open | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Stevens Pass | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Summit at Snoqualmie | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Mt. Baker | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| White Pass | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Mission Ridge | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| 49 Degrees North | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Oregon
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Hood Meadows | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Timberline | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Mt. Hood Skibowl | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Mt. Bachelor | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Mt. Ashland | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Hoodoo | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Idaho
Quieter pick in Idaho: Schweitzer
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schweitzer | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Sun Valley | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Bogus Basin | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Brundage Mountain | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Montana
Quieter pick in Montana: Big Sky
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Whitefish Mountain | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Bridger Bowl | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Wyoming
Quieter pick in Wyoming: Grand Targhee
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Hole | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Grand Targhee | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
Utah
Quieter pick in Utah: Brian Head
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Snowbird | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Brighton | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Solitude | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Park City | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Deer Valley | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Snowbasin | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Brian Head | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Sundance | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
Colorado
Quieter pick in Colorado: Wolf Creek
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vail | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Beaver Creek | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Breckenridge | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Keystone | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Arapahoe Basin | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Copper Mountain | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Winter Park | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Loveland | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Eldora | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Steamboat | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Aspen Snowmass | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Telluride | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Crested Butte | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Wolf Creek | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
| Monarch Mountain | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
| Purgatory | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
Southwest
Quieter pick in Southwest: Taos Ski Valley
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taos Ski Valley | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Ski Santa Fe | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Arizona Snowbowl | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
California & Nevada
Quieter pick in California & Nevada: Bear Valley
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palisades Tahoe | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Northstar | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Heavenly | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Kirkwood | Not open | Not open | Not open | Not open |
| Sierra-at-Tahoe | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Sugar Bowl | Not open | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Bear Valley | Quiet | Busy | Packed | Busy |
| Mt. Rose | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
| Mammoth Mountain | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Big Bear Mountain Resort | Busy | Packed | Packed | Packed |
| Mountain High | Busy | Busy | Packed | Packed |
Alaska
Quieter pick in Alaska: Alyeska
| Mountain | Thu11/26 | Fri11/27 | Sat11/28 | Sun11/29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alyeska | Not open | Not open | Packed | Packed |
How to beat the Thanksgiving crowds
- Be in the lot before the lifts open. The first two hours are the best skiing and the shortest lines.
- Pick the day, not just the mountain. The table above shows which days in the window look worst.
- Go smaller or farther. Mountains a bit farther from the city usually stay calmer.
- Check the drive. Holiday traffic and snow on the pass can add hours. See more tips.
Questions skiers ask
How busy are ski resorts on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest periods of the ski season. SkiWhen expects Sat Nov 28 to be the busiest day, with the most popular mountains near big cities filling up first.
What is the best day to ski over Thanksgiving?
Thu Nov 26 looks least crowded. Arriving before the lifts open or skiing the afternoon after the morning rush also helps.
Are these crowd forecasts accurate?
They're estimates. Far-out days are based on the calendar (weekends, holidays, school breaks and each mountain's popularity). Inside a week, SkiWhen adds fresh snow and weather, which can change crowds a lot.
Opening dates and school breaks are estimates. Always check the resort before you go. See how SkiWhen predicts crowds.