Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Keystone

12,408′ summit · 3,128′ vert · 3,149 acres · avg 235″/yr

Coin flip — Apr 16–30

Delivered 24″+ in 5 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 12 of 20 · typical 30", most land 22"–36"

Before you book

This bet missed 5 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Keystone · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 15 30 45" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 12" 29" 2022 1" 2025 · 2 of 20
Nov 16–30 24″+ 2 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 14" 29" 2024 0" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 17" 41" 2007 3" 2024
Dec 16–31 30″+ 1 of 10 · 2 busts Long shot 20" 40" 2021 8" 2023
Jan 1–15 24″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 14" 60" 2017 2" 2013
Jan 16–31 30″+ 0 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 15" 32" 2014 7" 2022
Feb 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 17" 42" 2020 9" 2009
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 18" 36" 2026 10" 2016
Mar 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 17" 65" 2019 6" 2012
Mar 16–31 30″+ 0 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 24" 37" 2011 2" 2026
Apr 1–15 24″+ 1 of 10 Long shot 20" 48" 2018 8" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 5 of 10 Coin flip 30" 51" 2024 9" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

Three stacked mountains — a front face for cruising, the Outback for trees and cat-served bowls, and one of the largest night-skiing operations in the country on Dercum. Quietly better than its family branding, especially for glade skiers.

It sits closest of the majors to Denver's traffic shadow — weekends run heavy, weekdays fine. The Outback cat access is cheap and skips the hike. River Run lodging is convenient and mid-priced; Dillon and Silverthorne save real money ten minutes away.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Keystone's odds move on the Apr 16–30 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.