The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Powderhorn's summit reaches 9,850 feet, dropping 1,650 vertical feet to a base at 8,200 feet across 42 runs spread over 1,600 acres on the Grand Mesa near Mesa, Colorado. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent beginner, 20 per cent advanced and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 250 inches. Four lifts, including one quad chair and one triple chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair and one surface lift.
Powderhorn holds a genuinely distinctive place among Colorado resorts as the only ski area situated on the Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, and as the primary ski resort serving the Western Slope's Grand Junction area. Its intermediate-and-beginner-weighted terrain has built a reputation as a welcoming, family-oriented resort away from the more crowded I-70 corridor.
Powderhorn Resort opened in 1966, developed to bring lift-served skiing to the Grand Mesa above Grand Junction and the broader Western Slope. The resort has changed ownership several times over subsequent decades while continuing to serve as the primary winter recreation destination for the Grand Junction region.
Powderhorn does not carry Epic or Ikon Pass affiliation, operating as an independently positioned resort focused on serving its regional Western Slope visitor base. Adult daily tickets run from 69 to 89 US dollars.
1,650ft
Vertical
50
Runs
1,600 acres
Skiable
21ft
Annual snow
The Terrain
50 runs across 1,600 acres skiable
Powderhorn spreads 50 runs across 1,600 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 50%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 15 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
50
runs
50 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 20%
Intermediate25 runs · 50%
Advanced13 runs · 26%
Expert2 runs · 4%
Time it right
When to visit Powderhorn
The 2025-26 season at Powderhorn ran from 6 December 2025 to 15 March 2026, a roughly fifteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 250 inches on the Grand Mesa. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather conditions.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Powderhorn's intermediate-and-beginner-weighted terrain. As an independently operated resort, Powderhorn draws its visitor base primarily from Grand Junction and the broader Western Slope, along with regional visitors seeking an approachable, uncrowded alternative to the larger I-70 corridor resorts.
Powderhorn's family-friendly terrain mix continues to support strong learn-to-ski and family visitation throughout the season. School holiday periods bring increased family visitation given the resort's approachable pricing and beginner-focused terrain.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Powderhorn continues to build on nearly six decades of history since its 1966 founding as the Grand Mesa's primary ski destination. The resort's Western Slope location and family-friendly character remain central to its regional appeal.
Season 2025 - 2026
22 Nov 2025
Opens
22 Mar 2026
Closes
120
Days open
21 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Powderhorn, and where to stay
Powderhorn sits on the Grand Mesa near Mesa, Colorado, with a base elevation of 8,200 feet and a summit at 9,850 feet across a 1,650-foot vertical drop over 1,600 acres. This setting on the Grand Mesa, the largest flat-topped mountain in the world, places Powderhorn on Colorado's Western Slope, well away from the Interstate 70 corridor.
Grand Junction, the primary population centre of Colorado's Western Slope, lies within a manageable drive of the resort, providing lodging, dining and services for Powderhorn's regional visitor base.
Colorado State Highway 65 provides direct access to the resort across the Grand Mesa from Grand Junction. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice at the mesa's considerable elevation, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment. There is no direct public transport service to the resort.
Grand Junction Regional Airport, a manageable drive from the resort, offers direct flights from several major US cities, providing Powderhorn's most convenient air-travel gateway distinct from the longer journey required to reach it from Denver.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Powderhorn, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Powderhorn Lift Tickets
Powderhorn lift tickets & passes
The 2025 - 2026 season at Powderhorn closed on Mar 22, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from US$49, with peak rates up to US$89.
9 pass options
Single-day passes
Adult 19–64
Adult Daily Ticket
US$69up to US$89 peak
Full-day access to Powderhorn's 1,600 acres on Grand Mesa in Western Colorado. Experience family-friendly skiing with stunning views and affordable prices away from I-70 crowds.
Buy passYouth 13–18
Young Adult Daily Ticket
US$59up to US$79 peak
Discounted lift access for young adults at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Enjoy Western Colorado skiing with 1,600 acres on Grand Mesa and family-friendly atmosphere.
Buy passChild 6–12
Child Daily Ticket
US$49up to US$69 peak
Child-friendly lift tickets for Powderhorn's gentle learning terrain. Kids enjoy Western Colorado skiing with excellent beginner areas and family-oriented resort atmosphere.
Buy passSenior 65–99
Senior Daily Ticket
US$59up to US$79 peak
Senior discounted daily lift access to Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Enjoy Western Colorado skiing with 1,600 acres on Grand Mesa and relaxed family atmosphere.
Buy passChild 0–5
Kids 5 & Under Free
Free
Complimentary lift access for children 5 and under at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. Free Western Colorado skiing with proof of age at Grand Mesa family destination.
Buy passHalf-day passes
Adult 19–64
Half-Day Ticket
US$49up to US$69 peak
Afternoon access to Powderhorn starting at 12:30 PM. Perfect for shorter Western Colorado skiing sessions with 1,600 acres of Grand Mesa terrain.
Buy passMulti-day passes
Adult 19–64
Multi-Day Pass (3-Day)
US$189up to US$249 peak
Three-day lift ticket package for Powderhorn with per-day savings. Experience Western Colorado skiing on Grand Mesa with family-friendly atmosphere over multiple days.
Buy passSeason passes
Adult 19–64
Powderhorn Season Pass
US$399up to US$499 peak
Unlimited access to Powderhorn Mountain Resort for the entire 2025/26 season. Western Colorado skiing with 1,600 acres on Grand Mesa and family-friendly prices.
Buy passAdult 19–64
Colorado Gems Access
US$109up to US$139 peak
Powderhorn accepts Colorado Gems Discount Card providing 2-for-1 lift tickets or 30% off. Perfect for exploring Western Colorado skiing affordably.
Buy passLift tickets FAQ
How much does a Powderhorn day pass cost?
Powderhorn day passes range from US$49 to US$89 depending on the date and advance booking.
Can I buy Powderhorn lift tickets online?
Yes, you can purchase tickets directly from the resort website or at the resort ticket office.
Are there discounts for multi-day passes?
Yes, multi-day packages typically offer significant savings compared to individual day passes. The per-day cost decreases with longer stays.
What is included with a Powderhorn lift ticket?
Full access to all lifts and trails at Powderhorn, including mountain safety and patrol services.
What is the difference between Powderhorn lift tickets and ski passes?
"Lift tickets" and "ski passes" refer to the same thing at Powderhorn - your access to the mountain's lifts and trails for your chosen duration.
When should I buy Powderhorn lift tickets for the best price?
Purchase tickets at least 7 days in advance for the best rates, and consider weekday visits for further savings over weekend rates.
Does Powderhorn offer group discounts on lift tickets?
Group discounts are typically available for parties of 10 or more. Contact Powderhorn directly for group booking information and rates.
How can I check current conditions before buying tickets?
Before purchasing, check the live snow report and mountain webcams to see current weather, snow conditions, and lift operations at Powderhorn.
More Powderhorn intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.