Snowbasin Resort, Utah, will close its 2025–26 ski season on Sunday, March 22, earlier than expected, as unseasonably warm temperatures and low snowfall brought one of the most challenging winters in recent memory. The March 22 closure is significantly earlier than Snowbasin’s typical mid-April closing dates and appears to be the earliest end to a season in recent years.
The announcement was confirmed by General Manager Davy Ratchford, who pointed to weather conditions as the primary factor behind the decision. “This is not ideal. This is not what we wanted,” Ratchford said. “But Mother Nature had a different plan for us this year.”
The early closure comes in stark contrast to recent winters. Just three years ago, Snowbasin recorded one of the snowiest seasons in its history. This year, however, the resort faced persistent challenges, including warm temperatures and rain events during key holiday periods.
Rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, combined with limited snowmaking windows, made it difficult to maintain consistent conditions across the mountain. Despite these obstacles, resort teams worked tirelessly to preserve terrain through snowmaking, grooming, and snow management efforts.
While snow conditions proved difficult, Snowbasin reported record-high guest service scores for the season—an outcome Ratchford attributed to both staff efforts and visitor attitude. “There are a lot of ways this season could have gone,” he said. “But we’ve seen a great amount of respect from our guests to our employees, and from our employees to our guests.”
The resort emphasized the role of its operational teams, particularly ski patrol, snowmaking, and grooming crews, in maintaining the on-mountain experience throughout the winter.
The challenges at Snowbasin reflect broader conditions across Utah, where fluctuating temperatures have impacted ski operations statewide. Ratchford noted that approximately 25,000 people in Utah rely on the ski industry for employment, underscoring the wider significance of difficult seasons. “This is not our doing—this is Mother Nature,” he said, adding that resorts across the state have faced similar pressures in trying to maintain operations. In a rather unusual move, Ratchford suggested visitors explore other resorts in the state that will remain open longer. “There’s still a great skiing around the state of Utah so please go check out some of the other great mountains that Utah has to offer,” Ratchford urged. “They’re all working incredibly hard just like we were to keep things going and create a great experience, so please check out all of the other resorts in Utah—and please come back to us in the summer,” he added.
Snowbasin will mark the end of its 85th ski season with its annual Basin Bash event on March 22. The closing celebration will feature an ’80s theme, including live music, a costume contest, and on-mountain festivities. The resort plans to keep six lifts operating through the final weekend, including Needles Gondola and Wildcat Express, with skiing and dining available across key areas of the mountain.
As winter operations conclude, Snowbasin is shifting focus to its summer season, which will include the development of a new lower-mountain bike park. Ratchford also expressed optimism for a return to more typical conditions next winter. “We’ve learned a lot through this season,” Ratchford said. “We’re proud of what our team accomplished, and we’re already looking ahead.”
