Opening Day at Eaglecrest Ski Area is this Saturday, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Porcupine, Hooter, and Ptarmigan chair lifts will be running. This will be the largest terrain opening Eaglecrest has seen in years.

Some important reminders:

• Expert terrain off-trail (Ptarmigan and Hooter lifts)
• Beware of early season conditions. Unmarked hazards exist.
• A limited number of runs will be groomed.

If you’re renting equipment this season, guests age 18 and under must get pre-fitted. Please call the Snowsports School to schedule your reservation 907-790-2000 ext. 4286. Reservations are available Wednesday–Sunday. If you are 19 or older, you have the option to fill out this form instead of making an in-person appointment.

Guests who are pre-fitted for rental equipment will be able to pick up gear from the outside service window on the Porcupine Lodge’s slopeside deck for the entire winter season. Learn more here.

Eaglecrest Ski Area’s mountain operations staff recently hauled additional rock from the quarry down to the lower Nordic trails; this is the final step of the ongoing Nordic trail improvements started at the beginning of the summer. Rocks were distributed along the lower parking access and Meadow Loop trails before being compacted down into the ground. This effort will improve trail stability during the early season or when the snowpack is low.

Eaglecrest is unique in comparison to many other ski areas because its terrain is largely comprised of muskeg – soggy, muddy ground and pools of water. These conditions make trail maintenance a more difficult challenge, especially along the Nordic trails which are classified as forested wetland or open peatland. By adding and compacting additional rock, the natural snowfall will form a much more durable snowpack than it would on open muskeg land.

If you’re a Nordic skier, you can purchase a Nordic Season Pass or Season Pass Add On or pay your trail fees at the Ticket Office.

In June, Eaglecrest announced that a new format for Hilda Dam Cabin reservations would begin in September. Eaglecrest has since modified that plan.

Starting September 1, 2021 at 10 a.m. Eaglecrest will start releasing cabin reservation dates in three-month blocks. Each block of dates will release three months in advance, always on the first day of September, December, March, and June.

• On September 1, cabin dates from December 1 through February 28 will release.
• On December 1, cabin dates from March 1 through May 31 will release.
• On March 1, cabin dates from June 1 through August 31 will be release.
• On June 1, cabin dates from September 1 through November 30 will release.

This reservation format allows cabins users to book multiple night stays. A three-night limit is strictly enforced. Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and are booked online at store.skieaglecrest.com. Cost is $94.50/day (tax included). The private overnight rental period is from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. The cabin is open for public day use. Learn more here.

Previously, Eaglecrest released 12 months’ worth of dates all at once. The first bulk release was on November 21, 2019 for reservations from December 1, 2019 to November 30, 2020. On July 1, 2020, Eaglecrest released more dates through November 30, 2021.

For more information, call or email the Ticket Office at (907) 790-2000 x214 or [email protected].

Eaglecrest’s Tier 1 Season Pass Sale launches on Thursday, July 1. Purchases may be made online at store.skieaglecrest.com or by calling or visiting the Ticket Office.

Eaglecrest offers a payment plan for Adult, Senior, and College passes. Just make a down payment any time in July, and then pay off your pass with six $50 payments. Payments are automated and biweekly, beginning August 1, 2021.

Guests may also purchase Multi-Visit Cards, Flex Passes, Nordic Passes, and Hilda Dam Cabin reservations, which have a new date release format. Lockers and lesson programs will be available for purchase later in August.

You must register or log in to make purchases online. If you do not remember your information, try the forgot password feature. Call the Ticket Office for assistance at (907) 790-2000 x214 or email [email protected].

Opening Day is scheduled for Saturday, December 4, 2021. Eaglecrest’s regular schedule is Wednesday through Sunday with daily operations over Christmas & Spring Breaks and MLK & Presidents’ Day Weekends. Black Bear Chairlift will continue to run every operating day.

Season Passes and Flex Passes are not transferable. Multi-Visit Cards may be shared with friends and family. Eaglecrest will have additional staff, scanners, and tablets at all chairlifts to assist with RFID gate issues and verify passes.

Eaglecrest’s Tier 2 Season Pass Sale is from Tuesday, September 7 through Monday, November 8, which includes the Juneau Ski Sale. Regular prices begin on November 8, 2021.

Thank you for supporting your local ski area. For more information, go here.