Colorado Ski Industry Faces Challenges Amid Low Snowfall

Snowflakes dance around the chairlift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort on a busy Valentine's Day in February 2026. The sound of skis gliding down the slopes and the murmur of conversations fill the air. Skiing remains the largest economic driver of Colorado's $18.1 billion outdoor recreation economy, contributing $1.6 billion in direct spending. That's what draws folks to the Western Slope, where the rugged landscape and abundant snowfall typically make for a skier's paradise.

This season, though, the winter that wasn't has taken a toll on the industry. The National Ski Areas Association's preliminary surveys show a drastic decline in skier visits nationwide - 9 million fewer visits than the previous season. That's a number that resonates deeply in our community, where skiing is a livelihood for many. The nation's nearly 500 ski areas hosted around 52.6 million skier visits, down from 61.6 million visits in 2024-25.

"Few seasons demonstrate as clearly as this one how dependent our industry remains on regional weather patterns," NSAA President and CEO Michael Reitzell said in a statement. He's right, of course - the lack of snow in the Rockies and farther west has been a major factor in the decline. Record-high temperatures and weak snow have made it difficult for resorts to operate at full capacity. This scenario is particularly troubling for local business owners, especially given the reliance on tourism in our area.

The numbers are stark: 20.1 million visits in the Rocky Mountain region, compared to 26.5 million in 2024-25. That's a drop of over 6 million visits, a significant blow to the local economy. And it's not just the ski resorts that are feeling the pinch - local hotels, restaurants, and shops all rely on the influx of tourists that come with a robust ski season. The average snowfall nationally in the 2025-26 season was 112 inches, off 33% from the 10-year average of 169 inches. That's what makes this season's decline so alarming - it's not just a minor dip, but a significant departure from the norm.

Here's the thing, though: snowmaking machines have been working overtime to try and compensate for the lack of natural snow. The number of days that resorts operated remained flat, around 110 days, which reveals the strength and increasing reliance on snowmaking across the U.S. resort industry. It's a stopgap measure, to be sure, but one that's become increasingly necessary in recent years.

Picture this: a snow-making machine under the Corona lift at Eldora ski area, blowing at full blast on a Sunday afternoon in January 2026. It's a scene that's become all too familiar in the West, where resorts are struggling to make up for the lack of natural snow. And that matters because, for many of these resorts, snowmaking is essential to their operation. Without it, they'd be forced to close up shop, leaving locals and tourists alike without a place to ski.

The decline in skier visits has significant implications for our community, where skiing drives a substantial portion of the economy. The entire ecosystem of businesses that rely on skiing is affected, from equipment rentals to lodging. As we look to the future, it's clear that the ski industry will need to adapt to a changing climate, one that's increasingly unpredictable and prone to extreme weather events. For now, though, the focus is on making the most of a bad situation, and finding ways to mitigate the effects of a winter that wasn't.

A skier glides down the mountain, the snow-covered peaks stretching out behind them. It's a beautiful sight, one that's familiar to anyone who's spent time on the slopes. But this season, it's a sight that's been all too rare, a reminder of the challenges that the ski industry is facing in the face of a changing climate. The snowflakes continue to dance around the chairlift, a fleeting glimpse of beauty in an otherwise difficult season.