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Buttermilk Mountain ski resort

Part of Aspen Snowmass · 4 ski areas

Aspen MountainAspen HighlandsSnowmass
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Tier C — ENSO-proof

📷 Buttermilk Mountain

North America

Buttermilk Mountain

Closed for the season

Season ended March 8, 2026 · reopens December 14, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:01 AM UTC · informational only

Closed for the season — closed March 8

Weather data is still collected for informational purposes.

Last Snowfall

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Past 24 Hours

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Past 48 Hours

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Past 10 Days

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14-Day Forecast

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Snow Depth

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🎿

Powder Days

4

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 9:01 AM•Weather at base: 2399m

Overview

Buttermilk Mountain is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Season ended March 8, 2026 · reopens December 14, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:01 UTC.

Resort Guide

Buttermilk Mountain, located in Aspen, Colorado, is renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and terrain ideal for beginners and families, as well as its world-class terrain parks that host the annual X Games. The mountain features 470 acres of skiable terrain, gentle groomed runs, and a dedicated learning area, complemented by modern amenities including on-mountain dining and rental services. Its approachable slopes and vibrant freestyle scene distinguish Buttermilk as a premier destination for both new skiers and snowboarders and freestyle enthusiasts.

Resort Info

Summit3018m
Base2399m
Vertical619m
Lifts5
Runs44
Skiable Area470 acres
Average snowfall200 inches / 508 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Season endedMarch 8, 2026 · reopens December 14, 2026
Projected openingDecember 14, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Ikon Pass

Ikon Pass

View resorts →
Mountain Collective

Mountain Collective

View resorts →

Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.

Top Après Ski

Cliffhouse Restaurant – Renowned for its stunning mountain views and relaxed atmosphere, Cliffhouse is a favorite après-ski spot at Buttermilk, offering Asian-inspired cuisine, local beers, and a scenic outdoor deck perfect for unwinding after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

3018mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:01 AM

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24h
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Past 10d
14-Day Forecast
0
Prev10d
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Now28
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S29
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S30
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M31
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T1
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T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Rockies & Southwest region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:01 AM UTC

Base

2399m

Temp

12.7°C

Wind

7.1km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

2709m

Temp

--°C

Wind

8km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

3018m

Temp

8.7°C

Wind

7.1km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Buttermilk Mountain El Niño rank & forecast

Buttermilk Mountain ranks Under review SnowSure resorts — Tier C, +1% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier C — ENSO-proof: Strong El Niño winters looked like a normal year here — within about ±3% of this resort’s own 30-year snowfall average. Not a jackpot, not a bust: a hedge if you’re planning around El Niño.

Under reviewTier C — ENSO-proof

Strong-event signal: +1% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

This resort carries no separate rank: its 30-year record is identical to aspen-mountain, which is the ranked entry for this measurement. At ~31km resolution the reanalysis cannot resolve them as different mountains, so publishing both would be publishing one number twice.

'97-98 −1%'15-16 0%'23-24 +3%

Signal = average snowfall in the three strongest El Niño winters since 1996 ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24) vs this resort's own 30-year ERA5 baseline. n=3 — a lean, not a law. Updated monthly against measured snowfall Dec–Mar.

Full El Niño report →

Live Conditions

Buttermilk Mountain Webcams

All Webcams

Aspen Snowmass / Roundshot

Aspen Snowmass

2 webcams • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cam

All Snow Stake Cams

Aspen Snowmass

1 snow stake cam • Click to expand

Local Reports

0 reports
SnowSure™ Forecast Range

Daily Snowfall Forecast by Model

Black line = verified SnowSure™ blend (not a simple average). Weights update weekly from measured snowfall at SNOTEL stations and resort reports.

SnowSure™ blend — verified model weighting

The black line is not a simple average. For Buttermilk Mountain (rockies), we combine seven global weather models using weights learned from daily forecast verification — comparing each model's prediction to measured snowfall (SNOTEL, resort reports, ERA5).

  • 1.Horizon buckets: days 1–3, 4–7, and 8–14 each get separate weights — short-range skill differs from long-range.
  • 2.Regional calibration: weights come from verified error in this geography (Rockies, Alps, Japan, etc.), recalculated weekly.
  • 3.Ground truth only: we never grade a forecast against another model — only against measured snow.

Building verification history for this resort.

How we verify forecasts →

Hourly Forecast Detail

AM / PM / Night breakdown with wind and freezing level

NWP models refresh up to 4× daily · Last synced Aug 28, 9:01 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
22 / 80.6mm
Sat, Aug 29
21 / 84.4mm
Sun, Aug 30
18 / 62.6mm
Mon, Aug 31
18 / 75.6mm
Tue, Sep 1
18 / 40.6mm
Wed, Sep 2
18 / 50.6mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)00.30.300.53.90.41.40.82.52.110.20.400.40.20
Temp (°C)1522121420111117981581017811179
Wind (km/h)4116614659554741175105
Gusts (km/h)194320264922243819163427233431273529

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (3018m)

ECMWF
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GFS
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GEM
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JMA
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ICON
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Météo-Fr
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SnowSure™
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10-Day Forecast

Today

28

🌧️

22°

7.7°

13 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

20.7°

8.4°

16 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

18.3°

6.2°

12 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

18.1°

6.5°

9 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

18°

4°

14 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

17.8°

5.2°

12 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

19.4°

5°

9 km/h

Fri

4

🌧️

20.6°

7.6°

11 km/h

Sat

5

🌧️

20.9°

7.6°

15 km/h

Sun

6

🌧️

19.6°

7.3°

15 km/h

Summit elevation (3018m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

Off-season — no rating published

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Watch for signs of unstable snow such as recent avalanches, cracking in the snow, and audible collapsing. Avoid traveling on or under similar slopes.

Read the official bulletin ↗

SnowSure relays the official avalanche bulletin and does not issue avalanche forecasts. Read the full bulletin at the issuer’s link and make your own terrain decisions. Not a substitute for avalanche education, equipment, or local knowledge.

Getting There

Drive times & access

Last updated 9:12 AM

3 sensors nearby

Official map ↗

Drive conditions

Quiet — No winter restrictions — typical off-season pavement

No chain controls or closures on the highways SnowSure watches near Buttermilk Mountain. Nearest roadside sensor (CO-82 040.10 Westbound at Cemetry Lane Aspen, 2.3 km): Above freezing, air 15°C. Late-season / summer readings are not a winter forecast. The resort road status and the official DOT map are authoritative — re-check before you drive.

SnowSure take from the live sensors. Not the resort's road status.

Roadside weather sensors

CO-82 040.10 Westbound at Cemetry Lane Aspen

2.3 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
19°C
Air
15°C
Wind
4 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:07 AM

CO-82 035.30 Eastbound at Brush Creek Road Snowmass

5.3 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
20°C
Air
13°C
Wind
4 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:07 AM

CO-82 029.80 Westbound at Phillips River View

13.6 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
18°C
Air
14°C
Wind
2 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:09 AM

Live highway sensors & cameras within ~30–40 km, via CDOT. Conditions on the drive, not the mountain — the resort's own road status is authoritative. Always re-check before a winter drive.

Season vs Historic

Updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:01 AM UTC

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Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 252cm full-season avg

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vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 265cm full-season avg

252cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~178.9 cm. That's 29% below the 5-year average (252 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 32% below the 30-year average (265 cm).

Buttermilk Mountain Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 330cm with an average of 130 snowfall days per season. The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).

Average monthly snowfall history
MonthAvg SnowfallSnowfall DaysAvg Base DepthMax Base DepthBiggest Snowfall
November37.4cm14 days17cm33cm9.1cm
December45.7cm17 days46cm65cm9.3cm
January43.9cm17 days71cm88cm8.4cm
February45.5cm18 days88cm104cm8.6cm
March46.7cm18 days98cm113cm9.2cm
April51.5cm18 days97cm112cm10.7cm
May24.4cm12 days65cm96cm7.3cm

Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.

Season at a Glance

Next season(2026-27)

Opens Dec 14, 2026

Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.

ENSO seasonal analog

History · not a forecast

In 10 past El Niño winters at Buttermilk Mountain, ERA5 season snowfall median was 331 cm (130 in), about this resort’s long-term median. This is a historical analog from reanalysis — not a prediction of this winter’s storm track.

Prevailing ONI

El Niño

MJJ 2026 · ANOM +1.39°C

Analog season median

331 cm

10 El Niño winters · ≈ long-term median

All-season median

331 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10331 cm325 cm – 338 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12342 cm279 cm – 402 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8306 cm277 cm – 363 cm2025, 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2003

Season snowfall from Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (~9 km). ENSO phase from NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index. Relative phase differences are more trustworthy than absolute cm totals. Source: NOAA CPC Oceanic Niño Index + Open-Meteo ERA5 via SnowSure season archive.

Best Months to Visit

February

Peak Season

January

Peak Season

March

Good

December

Good

Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.

Back to All Destinations

Frequently asked questions about Buttermilk Mountain

Where is Buttermilk Mountain?
Buttermilk Mountain is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Buttermilk Mountain?
Buttermilk Mountain runs from a base elevation of 2,399 m (7,871 ft) to a summit of 3,018 m (9,902 ft), giving a vertical drop of 619 m (2,031 ft).
How big is Buttermilk Mountain?
Buttermilk Mountain has 470 acres (190 hectares) of skiable terrain, 44 marked runs and 5 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Buttermilk Mountain?
Buttermilk Mountain is on the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
When is ski season at Buttermilk Mountain?
Buttermilk Mountain typically operates from December to March. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
How much snow does Buttermilk Mountain get in a typical season?
Buttermilk Mountain averages 200 inches / 508 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Buttermilk Mountain in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal: under review — this station's record has an era discontinuity.. This resort carries no separate rank: its 30-year record is identical to aspen-mountain, which is the ranked entry for this measurement. At ~31km resolution the reanalysis cannot resolve them as different mountains, so publishing both would be publishing one number twice.