New Data Shows Just How Far Skier Visits Fell in Colorado This Winter
Skier visits to Colorado's mountains took a dive this winter, dropping to 10.5 million from the past season's total of 13.9 million.
The 3 million or so decline, highlighted by preliminary data from the trade group Colorado Ski Country USA, came amid a winter that doesn't really need an introduction at this point: in Colorado and many other western states, hot weather and little snow made for one of the toughest seasons in memory.
Other stats highlight the challenge ski resort operators faced, according to CSCUSA.
All visitor segments-in-state, out-of-state, and international-declined. So did the length of the ski season, which fell from the 20-year average of 144 days to 129 days. Snowfall was well below average for every month of the winter, CSCUSA noted.
The numbers don't come as a surprise following the National Ski Areas Association's preliminary assessment of the 2025-26 season, which was released in early May. Nationwide, skier visits dipped to 52.6 million from 61.5 million the previous year.
Those results, NSAA president and CEO Michael Reitzell said in a release, demonstrated clearly "how dependent our industry remains on regional weather patterns."
"Challenging conditions across much of the West-including a slow start, rain events, and record March warmth-significantly impacted visitation throughout the season," he continued.
The story of this past winter wasn't a monolith, though.
The Northeast and the Southeast both tallied their second-best seasons of the past decade, visitation-wise, according to the NSAA. Many mountains there had a rip-roaring start with ample snow. And, in Pennsylvania, Camelback Resort stayed open far later than normal, setting a new closing date record of May 5.
Despite the drop-off out West, Melanie Mills, president and CEO of CSCUSA, said this past winter "revealed the experience, dedication, and grit of Colorado's resorts and the teams behind them."
"Their work supports mountain economies, keeps people connected to the mountains, and sustains the experience that generations of Coloradans and visitors come here to share," she added. "Skier visits are an important metric, but they are far from the only measure of the health of our industry."
On a positive note, the group's release noted that warmer weather brought newer skiers to the slopes, with shorter lift lines and well-groomed, approachable terrain helping beginners build confidence.
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 10:13 AM.