Lee Canyon Opens Nov. 20 With a New Chairlift

by Ryan Rose

What Happened

Lee Canyon announced its season plans in early November. News 3 reporter Lourdes Trimidal laid out the main points in a Nov. 7 story. The resort opens for winter on Friday, Nov. 20. The Wild West Bowl terrain starts operating on Saturday, Dec. 12.

The new terrain has six trails built for intermediate and advanced riders. To get there, guests start at the main base and ride the Bluebird chairlift. From there they can reach the Wild West Bowl chair. So this is not a separate area with its own parking lot. It connects to the part of the mountain people already know.

"The Wild West Bowl chair increases our skiable vertical drop to 1,000 feet," Bean said in the News 3 report. He also said the terrain is now more varied and the time on the snow is more efficient and fun. OnTheSnow currently lists Lee Canyon's vertical drop at 860 feet, so the new chair would add about 140 feet to that number.

News 3 says Lee Canyon announced three new lifts this season and named only the Wild West Bowl chair. FOX5 reported in October that beginner terrain is getting a new rope tow and a magic carpet lift. The Lee Canyon website also promotes a new "Let 'em Ride" Rope Tow for 2026-27. That is good news for kids and first timers, since they will not be heading to the new bowl any time soon.

Food is changing too. News 3 reports a revamped menu at the Bighorn Grill and the Bristlecone Bar.

FOX5 got a close look at the work in October. Reporter Les Krifaton wrote that crews installed the lift towers on Monday, Sept. 28. At that point, crews were still clearing trees and putting snowmaking lines in the ground. "Getting the towers up is a huge milestone in the project but we've got a bit of work to do," Bean told FOX5.

Bean also shared what he thinks the lift will mean. "To see this finally taking place is going to change what Lee Canyon does for Las Vegas and how people will use the mountain," he said. That is a big claim, but the map backs up part of it. OnTheSnow lists 29 runs and five lifts at Lee Canyon. Six more trails is a real jump for a resort that size.

A quick note on the numbers, because the reports do not all match. Early plans from April called the area West Bowl and listed five trails. The newest report says Wild West Bowl and six trails, so that is what we are using here. The lift length and rise also differ. April reports said 2,200 feet long with a 650 foot rise. FOX5 said in October that it spans 1,370 feet and rises 800 feet. We could not settle that one, so treat those two sets of numbers with care.

Here is the short version:

Season opens: Friday, Nov. 20
Wild West Bowl opens: Saturday, Dec. 12
New terrain: six trails for intermediate and advanced riders
How to get there: main base, then the Bluebird chair, then the Wild West Bowl chair
Vertical drop with the new chair: 1,000 feet
Where: 6725 Lee Canyon Road, in the Spring Mountains of Clark County

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

Most people do not move to Southern Nevada for the snow. That is what makes Lee Canyon such a fun part of living here. You can leave a neighborhood with palm trees and be at a ski hill in about an hour. Lee Canyon's own directions page says it is just under an hour from the Strip, and its base sits at 8,510 feet, per OnTheSnow.

Stock photo of two snowboarders riding down a groomed snowy slope

For a local skier who has been at this for a while, the new bowl is the headline. Six new intermediate and advanced trails give you more choices without driving to Utah, Arizona or California. A longer vertical drop means a longer run from top to bottom. On a hill this size, that is something you will feel.

There is another reason this matters, and it is about crowds. April reports said the new four-person chair could carry up to 1,800 people per hour. More lift capacity in a new part of the mountain gives people somewhere else to go on a busy day. It may not end the weekend lines, but it should help spread people out. We will all find out together in December.

Families have a reason to pay attention as well. Lee Canyon's season pass page lists a free Power Kids Pass for children 12 and under. The page says it needs no adult pass purchase, has no blackout dates and works at all 10 Power Pass mountains. If you have young kids, read the current terms on the resort's website and sign them up before your first trip.

The pass page also lists an Active Duty Military Pass and a Free Super Senior Pass. With Nellis and Creech so close, the military pass is worth a look for local service members. Check the website for who qualifies.

Beginners should not feel left out of this story. The Wild West Bowl is not built for them. The new rope tow and magic carpet are. If your kid is learning this winter, those are the two upgrades that will matter most.

Groups with mixed skill levels may get the most out of this season. Stronger riders can head for the bowl while newer ones stay close to the base on the beginner lifts. Since you reach the new chair by way of Bluebird, look over the trail map and pick a place and time to meet back up. Remember, cell service on the mountain road is limited, so make that plan before you split up.

Background and History

Lee Canyon has been changing fast. News 3 reports that the Wild West Bowl is part of a seven-year transformation with $30 million in investments. The resort is owned by Mountain Capital Partners, which also runs other mountains in the Southwest, according to Powder magazine.

The list of recent work is long. Lift Blog reports new chairlifts went in during 2012, 2014 and 2023, and a new lodge opened in 2019. Powder says that lodge is the Hillside Lodge, and it notes the resort has added a downhill mountain bike park. Powder also called the West Bowl lift the fourth new lift in three years.

Stock photo of young children in bright vests skiing together on a snowy mountain slope during a lesson

The last big expansion went east. KTNV reported that the Ponderosa quad chair opened on the southeast side of the mountain, serving Bonanza Ridge, Foxtail Alley and Limber Pine Lane. Resort officials told KTNV it was the first major chairlift project since 2014, when the Bluebird quad replaced Chair 2. That project was part of a $7 million plan that also added about 450 parking spots.

Now the growth is heading west. Lee Canyon's site lists 445 acres of lift-served and hike-to terrain. OnTheSnow breaks that down as 195 acres served by lifts and 250 acres you have to hike to. The new bowl was planned with snowmaking throughout, according to Lift Blog. In a place where snow can be hit or miss, that part counts.

Last winter is a good reminder of why. Powder reported that Lee Canyon closed its 2025-26 season on March 22. The season before that, lifts ran until April 13. Snow near Las Vegas does not follow a set schedule. FOX5 reported that Bean is hopeful a strong El Nino forecast will bring plenty of it this year.

What Happens Next

The first date to watch is Friday, Nov. 20. That is opening day for the 2026-27 season. The second date is Saturday, Dec. 12, when the Wild West Bowl is scheduled to begin operating. FOX5's October report said the lift would be running when the season opens in December. News 3's newer report gives the Nov. 20 opening and the Dec. 12 bowl date, and we are going with those.

Two details were NOT FOUND in any report we could check. Opening day hours: NOT FOUND. The list of trails that will be open on Nov. 20: NOT FOUND. The resort's site shows a fall chairlift schedule, but that is not a winter schedule. Check Lee Canyon's website or snow report close to the day you plan to go.

Keep in mind that both dates depend on real life. Weather and construction can change a plan like this, and in early October crews still had work left to do. Before you promise your kids a ride on the new lift, check for an update that week. A date on a calendar is a goal until the chair is actually turning.

There are three things to watch before Dec. 12. First, watch for the resort to confirm the date. Second, watch the snow and the snowmaking, since new trails need enough cover to open. Third, watch which trails open first. News 3 says the bowl has six trails, but it does not say all six will open on the first day.

Expect the holiday weeks to be busy. Lee Canyon's directions page warns that traffic is heavy on weekends and holidays. Thanksgiving falls just days after opening day, and the new bowl opens ahead of the Christmas rush. If you can go on a weekday, you will likely have an easier time on the road.

Stock photo of a mountain road lined with tall snow covered pine trees on a gray winter day

Ryan's Take

A new chairlift is not going to move home prices in Las Vegas, and I am not going to pretend it will. What it does is add to a part of life here that people from out of state never expect. We have a real ski hill in our own county. You can ski in the morning and be home in the valley for dinner. For anyone thinking about moving to Las Vegas, that surprise is worth knowing, because this town is a lot more than the Strip.

If quick mountain trips are a big deal to your family, it is fair to think about that when you pick a neighborhood. Lee Canyon is reached from US 95 going northwest, so areas like Centennial Hills and Skye Canyon are on that side of the valley. Summerlin and the southwest can get there too, with a longer run across town. It will not be the reason you buy a house. It can be a nice tiebreaker when two homes feel close.

Stock photo of a family unloading skis and a sled from the back of an SUV on snowy ground

What You Can Do

Start by picking your date. Go on or after Nov. 20 for the start of the season. Go on or after Dec. 12 if you want the new terrain. Lee Canyon is at 6725 Lee Canyon Road, Las Vegas, NV 89124.

Buy what you need before you drive up. News 3 says to get lift tickets, season passes, rentals and lessons in advance at leecanyonlv.com, and the resort's site tells guests to book early for the best rates. We are not listing ticket prices here because they change, so check the website for the day you want.

Match the trip to the people going. If someone in your group has never skied, a lesson is a good first step, and Lee Canyon's website lists adult and private lessons. Stay near the beginner lifts that first day. The six new trails are for intermediate and advanced riders, so save the bowl until you are ready for it.

Then get ready for the road. These tips come from Lee Canyon's directions and winter driving pages:

Check nvroads.com or call 511 before you leave. Lee Canyon warns that closures and chain rules can start suddenly.
Save your directions first. The resort says there is no cell service on the way up the mountain.
Learn the signs. R-1 means chains or snow tires on all vehicles. R-2 means chains on all vehicles, except 4WD or AWD vehicles with snow tires. R-3 means chains on all vehicles, and the resort says that one is rarely used.
Pack chains even if you drive a 4WD or AWD vehicle. Conditions and rules can change while you are up there.
Start with a full tank, and bring water, snacks, warm layers and a charged phone with a backup charger.
Go slow, brake early and never pass a snowplow.

Take the rules seriously. In a past storm, KTNV reported that snow tires or chains were required on State Routes 156 and 157, and that drivers without them could be turned around. A little planning at home can save you a long, cold wait on the side of the road.

Thinking about what part of the valley fits your family's weekends? I am always happy to talk it through. Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com