Industry News
It’s no secret that the start of the 2025-26 ski season has been fairly lackluster across much of the American West. Colorado, in particular, has struggled mightily due to a lack of early-season snowfall. As of January 4, few resorts have more than 50% of their terrain open, with some failing to open even a quarter of their trails.
Below is a breakdown of the number and percentage of trails currently open at 10 marquee Colorado resorts. These ski areas are among the largest and most renowned in Colorado, and the U.S. more broadly. They typically receive some of the highest and most consistent snowfall totals in the region, making it all the more shocking that so much of their terrain remains closed as we head into mid-winter.
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Beaver Creek: 21/167 trails open (13%)
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Loveland: 21/94 trails open (22%)
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Winter Park: 40/171 trails open (23%)
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Breckenridge: 46/193 trails open (24%)
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Copper Mountain: 39/157 trails open (25%)
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Keystone: 45/142 trails open (32%)
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Vail: 92/277 trails open (33%)
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Snowmass: 41/98 trails open (42%)
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Purgatory: 51/107 trails open (48%)
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Steamboat: 93/183 trails open (51%)
Incredibly, with the holidays already behind us, the average amount of terrain open across Colorado’s ten largest ski resorts by skiable acreage (excluding Telluride due to a ski patrol strike and Silverton due to its lack of official trails) sits at just 31%. This striking figure is the result of historically low snowfall, with statewide snowpack currently at only 62% of the median, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
While the start to winter has certainly been nothing to write home about, it’s worth remembering that there are still several months left in what is a very young ski season. With some precipitation on the horizon, there may yet be hope for Colorado skiers and riders as the heart of winter approaches. So do your snow dances, drink your Ullr, and pray to the winter gods for a badly needed late-season turnaround.
