TL;DR
Vermont's ski industry defied expectations with a fifth consecutive year of rising skier visits, reaching the highest levels in over a decade. While snowfall was below recent averages, strong visitation and strategic lift ticket management contributed to the success.
Vermont Defies Expectations with Strong Ski Season
Vermont's ski industry has posted impressive results, defying initial concerns about snowfall. Despite a winter that wasn’t particularly heavy in snow, skier visits rose for the fifth year running, reaching levels not seen since 2014-15. The state tallied 4.356 million skier days – a 4.7% increase over the previous season – significantly outperforming the national average.
This resilience is particularly noteworthy given broader trends; Canadian skiers, a vital demographic for Vermont, have been less inclined to cross the border recently.
Snowfall and Regional Variations
The 2025-26 season saw an average snowfall of 194 inches, which was lower than the previous two winters. However, this didn't uniformly impact all areas. Northern Vermont resorts like Jay Peak and Stowe received heavier snowfalls, while Southern Vermont faced slightly drier conditions. Despite this, Magic Mountain in the south bucked the trend with an 11% increase in visitors – a second consecutive year of record attendance achieved through lift ticket capping.
