Data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Tuesday doubled down on a trend ski resorts have known and seen for years: they’re at the mercy of how much snowfall Mother Nature delivers each season. Overall visitation throughout the U.S. dropped by roughly 14 million in the 2025-2026 winter compared to the previous year, which the association attributed to the lowest national snowfall total in more than a decade.
“Few seasons demonstrate as clearly as this one how dependent our industry remains on regional weather patterns,” said NSAA president and CEO Michael Reitzell. “Challenging conditions across much of the West — including a slow start, rain events, and record March warmth — significantly impacted visitation throughout the season.”
The Rockies saw one of, if not the largest drops in visitation this season even though the region still carried the largest overall number of 20.1 million visits (compared to 26.5 million in 2024-2026). The Northeast, which typically matches numbers in the Pacific Northwest, came in second overall with 12.9 million visits (up from 12.53 million in 2024-2025). The Southeast also saw a notable bump with 4.8 million visits (up from 4.42 million visits), the second best season of the past decade for both regions. The Pacific Northwest finished last in skier visits with 3.2 million. In total, the U.S. saw 52.6 million visits, a 14 percent drop from last year (61.648 million) and a nine percent drop from the average of the past 10 years.
A press release from the NSAA also grouped ski resorts by size, revealing that “Extra-Large” ski areas saw the largest decline with 27.3 million visits. That number constituted a 20 percent drop for those larger resorts even though it represents more than half of the nation’s overall skier visits.
As mentioned, snowfall totals also dropped overall this past year and were the lowest in over a decade. The 10-year national snowfall average sat at 169 inches, but this year’s totals only added up to 112 inches nationally.
Resorts are obviously happy to have this season behind them. An incoming El Niño is expected to bring plenty of snow and a big winter in 2026-2027, but past trends suggest a slow season typically sets up a big rebound the next winter, regardless.
“We’ve seen time and again that a lower-snow season is often followed by a strong rebound,” said Reitzell. “With continued investment, a stable base of participants, and the passion that drives skiers and snowboarders, we’re already looking ahead to next season.”
