Ski and Snowboard Visits in the U.S. Dropped 14% in 2025-2026

May 5, 2026

U.S. ski and snowboard visits plummeted 14% in the 2025-2026 season, dropping from 61.6 million to 52.6 million, according to National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) data. This marked a roughly 14 million visit decline, ranking as one of the industry’s weakest seasons and 9% below the 10-year average.

Poor weather, including the lowest national snowfall in over a decade at 112 inches versus a 169-inch average, drove the downturn, with challenging conditions like slow starts, rain, and record March warmth hitting the West hardest. The Rockies experienced the steepest regional drop to 20.1 million visits from 26.5 million, while the Pacific Northwest hit a low of 3.2 million; Northeast visits rose slightly to 12.9 million, and the Southeast hit 4.8 million, its second-best decade mark.

Extra-large resorts bore the brunt, falling 20% to 27.3 million visits despite comprising over half of totals. NSAA President Michael Reitzell highlighted the industry’s weather dependency but noted optimism for a rebound next season amid expected El Niño snow and historical recovery patterns after weak years. The Inertia