Crowd calendar · 2026-27 season
Monarch Mountain
Monarch Pass, ColoradoIndy PassSnow Pass· Open Dec 4 – Mar 28
Tap a day to see why, then plan a trip around it.
QuietModerateBusyPacked 3"+ snow forecast
December 2026
SMTWTFS
January 2027
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February 2027
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March 2027
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Busy stretches to avoid
- Thanksgiving weekendNov 25 – Nov 29
- School holidaysDec 20 – Dec 25
- Christmas–New Year peakDec 26 – Jan 1
- Monarch peak-price dates (Dec 26 to Jan 2), when window prices are highestDec 26 – Jan 2
- School holidaysJan 2 – Jan 3
- MLK weekendJan 16 – Jan 18
- Presidents' Day weekendFeb 13 – Feb 15
- Monarch peak-price SaturdayFeb 15
- Presidents' week school breakFeb 16 – Feb 19
- Colorado spring break, Denver metro districts (Boulder Valley, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Aurora)Mar 15 – Mar 19
- Monarch peak-price dates (Mar 16 to Mar 20)Mar 16 – Mar 20
- Colorado spring break, Colorado Springs, Jeffco, Adams 12 and Pikes Peak districtsMar 22 – Mar 26
- Easter weekendMar 26 – Mar 29
Beating the crowds
- Tuesday to Thursday is quietest almost everywhere, and often cheaper.
- Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 9:30 am and 1:30 pm are when the main and lower lots fill. Arrive before 9:30 am or plan on the Paradise lot or the Crest lot at the top of Monarch Pass, which runs shuttles to the lodge.
- Vehicles over 26 feet and any vehicle towing a trailer are not allowed in the lots on peak days, including Dec 26 to Jan 2, Feb 15 and Mar 16 to Mar 20.
- Monday through Friday is the low-price window, and mid-week storms often leave fresh snow for several days with fewer skiers. Riders on the Garfield lift mid-morning reportedly find fewer lines.
- Carpool or use the Elevation Brewing park-and-ride lot in Poncha Springs (winter only). Monarch has no public shuttle.
Ski Monarch Mountain for less
Get every cost per person with sources, the cheapest place to stay, quiet dates and a day-by-day plan. Takes about a minute.
Plan a cheap trip herePlaces to stay nearby
The cheapest beds are usually a town or two down the road. Split a whole house with your group.
This is a forecast from patterns: weekdays, national holidays, school breaks, pass blackout dates and events. Resorts don't publish lift-line data, so treat it as a guide. Snow forecast from Open-Meteo.