Green Mountain State — Despite snow tallies that would make you think they had a down winter, Vermont’s skier visits rose for the fifth year in a row.
Vermont Biz reports that members of Ski Vermont tallied 4.356 million skier visits during the 2025-26 season, a 4.7% rise over the year prior. This was the best skier metrics for Vermont since the 2014-15 season, which was regarded as one of the best in the state’s history. This total was 13.8% above the national average last winter, which was regarded as one of the worst ever out west. Cross-country ski centers in Vermont also did well. With around 339,000 visits, this was a 5.1% rise over the prior year.
It was definitely a cold winter for Vermont, which tends to bring skiers to the mountains. However, it wasn’t the snowiest, as the average snowfall of 194 inches was below that of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Northern Vermont ski resorts did well snow-wise, with Jay Peak and Stowe getting pounded. While Southern Vermont ski resorts didn’t see as much snow, visitation there was still strong. This included Magic Mountain, which saw an 11% increase in visitation. It was Magic’s second straight year of bringing in a record number of guests while also capping lift tickets.
“Vermont is known for exceptional snow and its authentic community,” said Ski Vermont President Molly Mahar. “Ski areas are committed to providing an unforgettable experience for visitors, and worldclass snowmaking and ski programming are an important part of that. Ultimately it comes down to showcasing all that Vermont ski areas provide visitors. It’s an experience that brings people back and these numbers bear that out.”
It’s impressive considering a key factor. Canadians are more reluctant to visit the U.S. right now for… just reasons. Out of any state, Vermont is the most reliant on Canadian skier visitation. While some Canadians decided against visiting this past winter, Vermont gained ground with domestic visitors who decided against trips out west.
2026-27 Preview
Next season will see continued investments at Vermont ski resorts, particularly at Killington. The Snowdon Triple will be replaced by a new fixed-grip quad chairlift. Smaller investments are planned at other mountains, but a few ski resorts are planning big investments for 2027.
We’ll see if the expected El Niño winter will impact visitation. Typically, El Niño doesn’t bode well for Northeastern ski resorts.
Image/Video Credits: Ian Wood, MyNBC5-WPTZ
