Skiing and snowboarding are big business in California and Nevada.
A new economic impact report commissioned by Ski California estimates that the two states’ ski industry generated $3.2 billion in total economic output in 2025.
The industry also supported more than 20,000 jobs and generated more than $523 million in federal, state and local tax revenue, according to the report prepared by Triple Point Strategic Consulting and SMG Consulting.
The findings were released Sept. 21 as Ski California’s 36 member resorts prepare for the 2026-27 winter.
It is important to distinguish the $3.2 billion figure from resort revenue. Ski California describes the number as the industry’s total economic footprint, meaning the figure is intended to measure the broader economic activity associated with skiing and snowboarding rather than simply the money collected at ticket windows.
More Than 20,000 Jobs Depend on the Industry
The new report estimates that California and Nevada skiing supports more than 20,000 jobs.
Those jobs extend beyond lift operators, ski patrollers and instructors. Ski destinations also create demand for lodging, restaurants, transportation, retail and other businesses in the mountain communities surrounding resorts.
That broader impact is particularly significant in places such as the Lake Tahoe region and Eastern Sierra, where winter tourism is a major component of the local economy.
Ski California represents 36 downhill and cross-country ski areas across the two states, including Mammoth Mountain, Palisades Tahoe, Heavenly, Northstar California, Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe.
The scale of participation helps explain the economic footprint.
California and Nevada ski areas recorded more than 7.2 million skier visits during the 2024-25 season, the third-highest total of the previous decade. Resorts averaged a 140-day operating season, which Ski California said was 24 percent longer than the national average.
More Than $523 Million in Tax Revenue
The updated report also estimates that skiing and snowboarding generated more than $523 million in tax revenue across federal, state and local governments in 2025.
That is one of the more notable numbers in the new report because it illustrates how the economic effects of ski tourism extend beyond the resorts themselves.
Ski California member resorts also reported more than $22.6 million in community giving programs. Those contributions supported education, environmental stewardship, public safety and other programs in the communities where the resorts operate.
The $3.2 Billion Number Has Appeared Before
Interestingly, $3.2 billion is not a new milestone for the California and Nevada ski industry.
Ski California’s previous economic research estimated that 35 member resorts also produced $3.2 billion in economic output during the 2018-19 period. The association’s current newsroom still references that earlier figure.
The new 2025 report is an updated analysis produced by Triple Point Strategic Consulting and SMG Consulting.
Ski California’s Sept. 21 announcement does not provide enough methodological detail to determine whether the 2025 and 2018-19 figures should be compared directly. For that reason, the new $3.2 billion estimate is best viewed as an updated measurement of the industry’s current footprint rather than evidence that the industry grew to $3.2 billion from a lower previous figure.
California Ski Season Is Approaching Quickly
The report arrives as resorts across California and Nevada prepare for another winter.
Mammoth Mountain currently plans to open Nov. 13, followed by Heavenly and Northstar California on Nov. 20. Palisades Tahoe is targeting Nov. 25, Sugar Bowl Nov. 27 and Kirkwood Dec. 4.
Many other mountains have not yet committed to an opening date and will wait for natural snowfall and snowmaking conditions.
Ski California is also heading into the season after its unusual $4,250 Gold Pass sold out. The fully transferable pass provides unrestricted access to all 36 participating California and Nevada ski areas.
Together, those 36 mountains represent a ski industry that extends well beyond chairlifts and lift tickets.
According to the latest estimate, skiing and snowboarding now account for a $3.2 billion economic footprint across California and Nevada, support more than 20,000 jobs and generate more than half a billion dollars in annual tax revenue.
About Ski California
Ski California® is a 501(c)(6) (aka California Ski Industry Association®) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association representing 36 ski resorts in California and Nevada. The organization develops and maintains strong relationships with government officials, tourism groups, media, and ski industry leaders to advocate for industry-related initiatives and perspectives that affect mountain communities and businesses. Ski California also provides industry education and researches, analyzes, and pursues safety while preserving the integrity of mountain sports and the natural environment in which they are enjoyed by millions each year.
