SAM Magazine—Pagosa Springs, Colo., Nov. 2, 2026—Wolf Creek Ski Area opened for the 2026-27 season on Halloween, Oct. 31, following a storm that delivered 20 inches of snow earlier in the week to the southwestern Colorado ski area. Just one day later, Wolf Creek suspended operations as another storm threatened severe flooding in the surrounding region, prompting mandatory evacuation orders.
An Oct. 23-24 storm left Wolf Creek with a settled 12-inch base at midmountain, allowing the ski area to open roughly 30 percent of its terrain, served by the Treasure Stoke, Bonanza and Nova lifts. Wolf Creek vice president of marketing and sales Rosanne Pitcher told the Durango Herald that skiing conditions were good from top to bottom, although there was running water near the base.
The same storm caused extensive flooding at lower elevations, damaging roads, homes and public infrastructure. Pagosa Springs officials estimated $38 million in municipal infrastructure repairs, while the Colorado Department of Transportation requested $65 million for highway repairs across southwestern Colorado.
U.S. Highway 160 over Wolf Creek Pass, which had closed last week due to flood damage, reopened Oct. 27, but motorists faced alternating single-lane traffic and potentially hourlong delays due to damaged sections of roadway.
A second storm arrived Nov. 1, with forecasts calling for 1 to 3 inches of rain at lower elevations and substantial snowfall in the mountains. Authorities ordered evacuations in flood-prone areas near Pagosa Springs, where the San Juan River was forecast to approach historic flood levels.
“Archuleta County has experienced a 100-year flood with record-breaking flooding in the San Juan River Basin,” Wolf Creek said in a statement posted to its website.
The ski area said it suspended operations as a precaution based on recommendations from local and state authorities.
“All municipal, county and state agencies are under extreme duress,” Wolf Creek said, adding that it had determined a temporary closure was in the public’s best interest.
Wolf Creek had originally planned to operate through Tuesday, Nov. 3, before transitioning to a Friday-through-Sunday schedule until additional snowfall permitted expanded operations.
The ski area said it would remain closed until the evacuation order is lifted.
