Image Credit: Sierra-at-Tahoe.

USA — It’s shaping up to be a disastrous week for the Western U.S. ski industry. A warm heat wave has arrived, bringing warm temperatures to the region. With most ski resorts having below-average snowpacks, it’s a recipe for disaster. This ski season, we’re seeing a larger-than-average number of ski resorts across the West calling it a season early.

Here’s a list of ski resorts in the Western U.S. that are closed for the season earlier than expected. This includes currently open mountains that have announced earlier-than-anticipated closing dates. This list will be updated as more closings are (likely) announced in the days ahead.

Arizona

  • Mount Lemmon Ski Valley: Slopes presumably never opened this winter.
  • Sunrise Park: Closed earlier this month.

California

Colorado

  • Chapman Ski Hill: Closed earlier this month.
  • Ski Cooper: Closing March 22nd.
  • Cuchara: Announced today that it’s closed for the season.
  • Howelson Hill: Closing March 22nd.
  • Kendall Mountain: Last operated February 28th.
  • Lake City: Hasn’t operated this winter.
  • Sunlight Mountain Resort: Closing March 22nd.

Idaho

  • Bald Mountain: Didn’t operate this winter.
  • Blizzard Mountain: Likely won’t open this winter.
  • Cottonwood Butte: Didn’t open.
  • Little Ski Hill: Closed March 14th.
  • Magic Mountain: Never opened.
  • Pebble Creek: Closure announced last week.
  • Rotarun: Closed March 15th.
  • Soldier Mountain: Closure announced on March 6th.

Montana

  • Bear Paw Ski Bowl: Hasn’t operated this winter.

New Mexico

  • Ski Apache: Closed earlier this month.
  • Pajarito: Closed earlier this month.
  • Sandia Peak: Closed since February.
  • Ski Santa Fe: Closing on March 22nd.

Oregon

  • Cooper Spur: Didn’t open this winter.
  • Hoodoo Ski Area: Wants to reopen, but it needs new snow.
  • Mt. Ashland: Closed on February 28th.
  • Mt. Hood Skibowl: Closed since February, rope tow park just closed.
  • Warner Canyon: Likely didn’t open this winter.
  • Willamette Pass: Wants to reopen, but needs new snow.

Utah

  • Cherry Peak: Closed last week.
  • Eagle Point: Closed on Sunday, March 15th.
  • Nordic Valley: Closed since early March. End-of-season party planned for Sunday, March 22nd.
  • Snowbasin: Closing March 22nd.
  • Snowland: Technically not an early closing, but it ended its comeback season on March 7th.

Washington

  • Loup Loup Ski Bowl: Reportedly hasn’t operated this winter.
  • Mt. Spokane: Closed last Sunday.

Wyoming

  • Snow King: Closing on March 22nd, plus the annual snowmobile hill climb event has been cancelled.

Image/Video Credits: Sierra-at-Tahoe, Willamette Pass Resort

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out...