Aspen Snowmass, CO, Will Open This Weekend for a Free Rail Park Using Saved Snow from Last Season

In April, Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, moved the remaining snow from the 2025-26 season into piles at Snowmass and Buttermilk and covered them with special mats — a pilot designed to test how well the technology could preserve small amounts of snow through the summer. After a long, warm season, the mats preserved 85% of the stored snow, beating Aspen Snowmass’ 80% target. The resort is celebrating the success by opening the snow to riders for two days this weekend. The saved snow at Snowmass will become a free rail park at Makaha Terrain Park on October 3 and 4, timed to National Play Outside Day on October 3.

The rail park is about an acre of snow with several rail and box features for skiers and riders of all levels. Aspen Snowmass is offering it as a gift to the local community, and for two days, the snow belongs to everyone. It also lands on closing weekend for summer activities at Snowmass: rails in the morning, bike park in the afternoon.

• Related: Snowfarming Pilot with Snow Secure Mats at Aspen Snowmass, CO, Beats Own Target, Retaining 85% of Snow Through the Summer

The details:

WHEN: Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• WHERE: Makaha Terrain Park on Snowmass. Riders carry their gear up Coney Express to the mid station (there’s no snow at the base), take a short walk down to the park, and walk out to the Snowmass Mall via the road.
• COST: Free for everyone, no reservation needed.
• ACCESS: Eligible 2025-26 passes can be scanned at Coney Express. Anyone else can pick up a complimentary lift ticket at the base.
• Helmets recommended. No food, drinks, or sightseeing access, and facilities are limited, so bring water and snacks.

Aspen Snowmass was the first ski destination in Colorado to deploy advanced insulation mats to preserve winter snow through the summer months. The initiative relies on patented technology from Finnish company Snow Secure to shield existing snowpack from warm seasonal temperatures, ensuring a stronger, more sustainable foundation for the upcoming 2026-27 ski season. The mats themselves are rated to last at least 10 years of seasonal use.

• Related: Aspen Snowmass Becomes Colorado’s First Resort to Use Snow Secure Storage Mats to Save Snow for Next Winter

European resorts have used insulated snow piles for decades, most commonly relying on sawdust and wood chips rather than synthetic mats. Research from the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) in Davos has found that a sawdust layer of at least 30 to 40 centimeters (12-16 inches) is enough to absorb most of the incoming solar heat during the day, and that even a 5°C rise in ambient temperature only costs about 3% additional snow depth when insulation is properly applied. Sawdust-based snow farming has typically preserved between 70% and 80% of stored snow through summer.

Aspen Snowmass’ 85% retention rate beat its own 80% target, giving the resort an encouraging result from its first summer testing of the Snow Secure system widely used in Europe.