Industry News
Mt. Ashland Ski Area in southern Oregon has officially closed for the 2025–26 winter season after a historically difficult year marked by extremely low snowfall and unusually warm temperatures.
In an announcement on social media to its community, the nonprofit ski area said the season ended after just 17 operating days and seven twilight night sessions, far below a typical winter for the mountain. Despite the short season, the resort thanked its staff, guests, and supporters for helping it operate through challenging conditions.
“We can’t do this year after year without you,” the ski area said in a statement, acknowledging locals, visitors, and employees who helped keep the mountain running. The resort noted that staff “did the absolute most with the least this season,” managing to reopen the mountain three separate times as conditions briefly improved.
Located about 20 miles south of Ashland near the California–Oregon border, Mt. Ashland Ski Area is one of the few community-owned ski resorts in the United States. The mountain sits high in the Siskiyou Mountains with a base elevation around 6,400 feet and terrain reaching nearly 7,500 feet.
Mt. Ashland had a difficult start to the season, following low snowfalls across much of the Western states. It was forced to pause operations several times during the season, most recently on February 28.
The ski area typically offers around 200 acres of terrain served by multiple lifts and is known for its steep fall-line runs, local atmosphere, and views stretching across southern Oregon and northern California. Because of its relatively small footprint and reliance on natural snowfall, the resort is particularly vulnerable to difficult winters.
Because the resort did not reach its 50-day operating guarantee for season pass holders, Mt. Ashland announced compensation for returning passholders.
During the upcoming spring pass sale:
- Returning unlimited season passholders will receive a 33% discount.
- Returning twilight passholders will receive a 24% discount.
The ski area also announced that the Locker Lodge will remain open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of March so seasonal locker renters can retrieve their belongings.
Despite the difficult winter, the ski area is already shifting focus toward community events and the next season. The resort encouraged locals to attend its upcoming Bavarian Night celebration, a popular end-of-season gathering, and to watch its events calendar for additional offseason activities.
While the 2025–26 season ended earlier than anyone hoped, Mt. Ashland officials emphasized their appreciation for the mountain’s tight-knit community. Even in a year with record-low snowfall, they said, the mountain still delivered moments that matter most to skiers: powder days, sunny turns, and time on the hill together.
