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Powderhorn ski resort
Indy PassBuy pass
Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

📷 Powderhorn

North America

Powderhorn

Off-season

Last season ended March 21, 2026

Conditions data updated Fri, Aug 28, 09:04 AM UTC · informational only

Off-season — closed March 21

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

3

2026–27 season

Updated: Aug 28, 9:04 AM•Weather at base: 2499m

Overview

Powderhorn is a ski resort in North America, United States, currently closed for the season (Last season ended March 21, 2026). Conditions last updated 2026-08-28 09:04 UTC.

Resort Guide

Powderhorn Mountain Resort is located on the Grand Mesa in western Colorado and offers over 1,600 acres of skiable terrain with a mix of groomed runs, glades, and powder-filled slopes. The resort is known for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere and scenic views of the surrounding mesa and valleys. Key amenities include a full-service lodge, ski and snowboard rentals, dining options, and a ski school, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced skiers. Signature experiences include tree skiing and uncrowded slopes, distinguishing Powderhorn as a welcoming destination for those seeking a laid-back mountain experience.

Resort Info

Summit3002m
Base2499m
Vertical503m
Lifts5
Runs63
Skiable Area1600 acres
Average snowfall250 inches / 635 cm
CountryUnited States
Visit Resort Website →Follow on Instagram →View Trail Map →

Season dates

Last season endedMarch 21, 2026
Projected openingDecember 4, 2026

Future dates are operator estimates and may change.

Ski passes

Indy Pass

Buy pass →

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

Top Après Ski

Skoop’s Grill & Bar – Known for its welcoming atmosphere and mountain views, Skoop’s is the go-to après-ski spot at Powderhorn, offering hearty food, local brews, and a relaxed setting perfect for unwinding after a day on the slopes.

Snow Summary

3002mECMWF Model

Updated Aug 28, 2026 at 9:04 AM

0cm
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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W2
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T3
Past
Today
Forecast

Snowfall Forecast Maps

Rockies & Southwest region

Current Conditions

Reported Fri, Aug 28, 09:04 AM UTC

Depth by source

every reading we have
  • SNOTELSummit 3cm

The headline depth uses the most trusted available source. We show every reading so you can judge for yourself.

Base

2499m

Temp

18°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

Mid-Mountain

2751m

Temp

--°C

Wind

6km/h

Snow Depth

--

14-Day Forecast

0cm

Summit

3002m

Temp

14.8°C

Wind

5.2km/h

Snow Depth

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14-Day Forecast

0cm

El Niño Outlook · Winter 2026-27

Powderhorn El Niño rank & forecast

Powderhorn ranks #13 of 488 SnowSure resorts — Tier A, +25% in strong El Niño winters.

Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain: Historically snowed much more than normal in strong El Niño winters (≥ +8% vs this resort’s own 30-year average).

#13 of 488Tier A — Prime El Niño terrain

Strong-event signal: +25% vs this resort's 30-yr avg

In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Powderhorn averaged +25% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically been a friend here. With a record-strength event forecast for winter 2026-27, Powderhorn sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 -16%, '15-16 -22%, '23-24 +114%. A pattern, not a promise.

'97-98 −16%'15-16 −23%'23-24 +114%

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

Powderhorn Webcams

All Webcams

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

2 webcams • Click to expand

Snow Stake Cam

All Snow Stake Cams

Powderhorn Mountain Resort

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 Powderhorn (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, 9:04 AM

Hourly Forecast Detail
 
Today
22 / 140.6mm
Sat, Aug 29
21 / 112.3mm
Sun, Aug 30
18 / 102.5mm
Mon, Aug 31
16 / 84.8mm
Tue, Sep 1
16 / 80.6mm
Wed, Sep 2
17 / 90.6mm
PeriodAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNightAMPMNight
Snow (cm)000000000000000000
Precip (mm)00.50.1011.30.41.70.40.82.81.200.50.10.30.30
Temp (°C)182116172014131711111310121611111714
Wind (km/h)717612187811871078101091110
Gusts (km/h)264822395127293626284029294031344234

14-Day Snow Forecast by Model

Summit elevation (3002m)

ECMWF
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GFS
0cm
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

🌧️

22.2°

14.1°

18 km/h

Sat

29

🌧️

20.8°

10.6°

18 km/h

Sun

30

🌧️

18.1°

9.6°

13 km/h

Mon

31

🌧️

16.3°

8.3°

14 km/h

Tue

1

🌧️

16°

8.2°

14 km/h

Wed

2

🌧️

17.4°

9.2°

14 km/h

Thu

3

🌧️

19.4°

11.5°

14 km/h

Fri

4

☁️

20.8°

12.6°

18 km/h

Sat

5

🌧️

19.8°

13.5°

15 km/h

Sun

6

🌧️

20.3°

13.2°

14 km/h

Summit elevation (3002m) • ECMWF model

Avalanche

No bulletin for this mountain

Avalanche.org (US avalanche centers)

This resort lies outside every forecast zone published by its national warning service, so no bulletin covers it.

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 9:52 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 Powderhorn. Nearest roadside sensor (I-70 MP 043.75 EB at US 6 in Palisade, 16.1 km): Above freezing, air 24°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.

Drive times

Typical Saturday morning

  • Grand Junction (west). About 47 min from Grand Junction (west) on a typical Saturday morning.
  • Denver (I-70 east). About 3h 37m from Denver (I-70 east) on a typical Saturday morning.

Mapbox typical traffic for a Saturday 5–9am window. Not live turn-by-turn.

Roadside weather sensors

I-70 MP 043.75 EB at US 6 in Palisade

16.1 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
27°C
Air
24°C
Wind
4 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:45 AM

I-70 050.35 Eastbound at West Beavertail Tunnel

17.5 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Road surface
27°C
Air
23°C
Wind
2 km/h
Precip
no precipitation

Updated 9:52 AM

I-70 054.40 Westbound : 3.8 mile East of Beavertail Tunnel

21.4 km · CDOT

Above freezing

Air
21°C
Wind
0 km/h

Updated 9:50 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, 09:04 AM UTC

0cm

Season Total

This Season to Date

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vs 5-Year Avg

Off-season · 239cm full-season avg

—

vs 30-Year Avg

Off-season · 159cm full-season avg

239cm

5-Yr Avg by Now

The last completed season totaled ~193.6 cm. That's 19% below the 5-year average (239 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 22% above the 30-year average (159 cm).

Powderhorn Snow History

Average annual snowfall is 197cm with an average of 84 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
November21.8cm9 days9cm21cm7.1cm
December27.8cm13 days27cm42cm7.6cm
January30.2cm13 days46cm61cm8.1cm
February30.4cm13 days59cm73cm7.2cm
March33.5cm13 days61cm76cm8.6cm
April23cm11 days42cm60cm6.2cm
May13cm6 days11cm28cm4.5cm

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 4, 2026

Through Mar 21, 2027

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 Powderhorn, ERA5 season snowfall median was 162 cm (64 in), about 4% above 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

162 cm

10 El Niño winters · 4% above median

All-season median

155 cm

Across 30 ERA5 seasons (2026-27)

PhaseSeasonsMedianp25–p75Recent analogs
El Niñocurrent10162 cm133 cm – 252 cm2023, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2009
La Niña12134 cm108 cm – 268 cm2022, 2021, 2020, 2017, 2011, 2010
ENSO-neutral8151 cm117 cm – 289 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 Powderhorn

Where is Powderhorn?
Powderhorn is a ski resort in the United States.
How high is Powderhorn?
Powderhorn runs from a base elevation of 2,499 m (8,199 ft) to a summit of 3,002 m (9,849 ft), giving a vertical drop of 503 m (1,650 ft).
How big is Powderhorn?
Powderhorn has 1,600 acres (647 hectares) of skiable terrain, 63 marked runs and 5 lifts.
Which ski pass covers Powderhorn?
Powderhorn is on the Indy Pass. 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 Powderhorn?
Powderhorn 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 Powderhorn get in a typical season?
Powderhorn averages 250 inches / 635 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
How will El Niño affect Powderhorn in winter 2026-27?
El Niño Signal Rank: #13 of 488 SnowSure resorts · Tier A · strong-event signal +25% vs its own 30-yr average. In the three strongest El Niño winters on record ('97-98, '15-16, '23-24), Powderhorn averaged +25% versus its own 30-year snowfall baseline. The pattern has historically been a friend here. With a record-strength event forecast for winter 2026-27, Powderhorn sits on the favorable side of the ledger. Analog winters: '97-98 -16%, '15-16 -22%, '23-24 +114%. A pattern, not a promise.