UNITED STATES — Data collected by the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) sheds light on a difficult winter for the American ski resort economy.
According to NSAA’s preliminary data, the 2025/2026 winter season drew an estimated 52.6 snowsports visits to U.S. ski areas, which represents a 9.1% decrease from the 10-year average. That figure is also 9 million visits shy of the previous winter’s total, placing ’25/’26 in 32nd out of 48 recorded seasons. NSAA’s press release noted that unusually dry and warm weather in the West was responsible for much of the dip.
“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. “Challenging conditions across much of the West — including a slow start, rain events, and record March warmth — significantly impacted visitation throughout the season.”
While resorts in the West toughed out a difficult season, consistent snowfall in the Northeast and “extensive snowmaking coverage” in the Southeast led those regions to see their second-best seasons of the past decade, NSAA noted. The national snowfall average was estimated at 112 inches, significantly lower than the 10-year average of 169 inches, per the org.
“We’ve seen time and again that a lower-snow season is often followed by a strong rebound,” Reitzell said. “With continued investment, a stable base of participants, and the passion that drives skiers and snowboarders, we’re already looking ahead to next season.”
One other pertinent statistic shared by the NSAA this month: Season passes accounted for 49% of the visits, and daily and multi-day tickets accounted for 31%. The association noted that season pass usage “has begun to stabilize over the past two seasons, signaling a maturing market.”
