Colorado ski resorts suffered an abysmal drop in attendance during the 2025-26 season, marking the lowest skier turnout the state has seen in over three decades. According to preliminary data released by the industry trade group Colorado Ski Country USA during its annual meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2026, statewide skier visits fell to an estimated 10.5 million. This steep decline represents a near 24% drop, roughly 3.3 million fewer visits compared to the 13.8 million recorded during the 2024-25 season, which marks a low point not seen since the 1991-92 winter cycle.
The primary catalyst for the plunge was an exceptionally warm and dry winter across the western United States, punctuated by an unprecedented March heatwave that brought summer-like temperatures and rapidly melted away mountain snowpacks. Every single month of the winter season saw average monthly snowfall drop well below the 20-year historical average, according to Colorado Ski Country USA tracking. As reported by the Post Independent and The Denver Post, this lack of snow caused steep declines across every single visitor demographic, including local in-state pass holders, out-of-state travelers, and international tourists.
The dismal snowfall numbers also forced resorts to significantly truncate their winter operations. While Colorado mountains have averaged 144 operational days over the last two decades, poor conditions slashed that average down to just 129 days this past season. To cope with the weather, mountain operations teams and grooming crews had to rely heavily on advanced snowmaking and strategic grooming adjustments to maintain a baseline guest experience. Though lines were shorter and temperatures were unseasonably mild, the overall lack of natural powder kept millions of skiers away from the state’s 28 ski areas.
This regional slump mirrors a larger nationwide trend, but the Rocky Mountain West bore the brunt of the downturn. Preliminary data published by the National Ski Area Association revealed that total ski visits across the United States dropped by roughly 9 million compared to the prior year. The Rocky Mountain region accounted for more than two-thirds of that national decline. Despite the hit, Colorado maintained its historical status as the country’s primary skiing destination, capturing roughly 20% of the entire national market.
Even the state’s largest corporate operators felt the squeeze. Vail Resorts, which operates prominent non-member mountains like Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone, reported in April that its Rocky Mountain region skier visits had plummeted by 25% year-over-year. The drop in traffic rippled directly into resort revenue, with lift ticket revenue falling 5.6%, ski school bookings sliding 12%, and dining sales dropping 11.7%.
Despite the bruising financial metrics, industry leadership praised the resilience of resort workers who kept the slopes functional under historic duress. Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO Melanie Mills noted in a statement that the challenging year highlighted the “experience, dedication, and grit” of the state’s mountain teams. Mills emphasized that while skier visits remain an incredibly vital benchmark for seasonal performance, they are far from the only measure used to gauge the long-term health and stability of the state’s multi-billion-dollar ski industry.