While it was a difficult year for skiing pretty much everywhere else in North America, it was exceptional in Vermont.
Non-profit trade association Ski Vermont recently released its annual report, examining the statistics and health of the state’s ski industry. Founded in 1969, Ski Vermont has been publishing annual reports for more than a decade, but the 2025-2026 season stood out. This year, across the organization’s 20 ski areas, Ski Vermont reported a total of 4.357 million skier visits–its largest total since the 2014-15 season. This year also saw a 4.7% increase in visitors from the previous season, while the national average declined 9.1% amid poor snow conditions and uncharacteristic warm weather.
So, what made Vermont’s season different? When the western resorts were desperate for snow and delaying openings, Vermont had already hit the ground running. Early-season snowfall and early, consistent snowmaking temperatures allowed Vermont resorts to open on time. Large, popular resorts like Okemo and Stowe even started their seasons early thanks to repeated snowstorms.
Conditions stayed prime during the core winter months of December, January, and February; months that include peak holidays when people are looking to ski. Christmas, New Year’s, Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and Presidents’ Day weekend all saw boosts in Vermont’s visitation numbers. Steady visitation throughout the core months helped make up for the East Coast’s warm early-March temperatures that shortened the season.
Vermont’s strong season was also heavily supported by its growing snowmaking infrastructure. Many of the state’s resorts have heavily invested in their snowmaking systems over the past decade, helping them to build early bases and open runs even when snowfall is inconsistent. With the 2025-26 winter bringing early cold temperatures, resorts were able to fire up snow guns early and often, allowing for quality early-season conditions.
Resorts averaged 118 days of operations this year, besting the 10-year average of 111 days. Average snowfall totaled 194 inches, 6% above the 10-year average.
Tourism remains a large driver for the state’s economy, accounting for 9% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Each year, tourism generates over $4 billion, supporting more than 31,000 jobs in tourism that make up 10% of Vermont’s workforce. Beyond spending at the resorts themselves, skiers spend money on lodging, restaurants, local shops, and other services, impacting the local economies that surround ski resorts. For small mountain towns, winter tourism remains an important source of revenue.
Vermont continues to serve as the East Coast’s backbone for skiing. With iconic resorts like Stowe, Okemo, Killington, and Sugarbush attracting visitors from all over the country, the state hopes to retain its status as a premier winter tourism destination.
