Colorado just closed the books on one of its driest ski seasons in recent memory. The New York Times called it “rocky” and “snow-barren.” CBS News described it as terrible by most metrics. For resort operators across the Rockies, the 2025-26 season was a gut punch — lower skier visits, compressed terrain windows, and frustrated passholders looking for answers. But the offseason playbook for a low-snow year is well established. The resorts that move now will come out ahead in 2026-27.
What the Numbers Are Telling Us
Colorado’s snowpack peaked early and declined fast. Most resorts along the I-70 corridor saw shortened terrain availability through February and March, with spring skiing essentially non-existent at lower elevations. Higher-altitude resorts like A-Basin and Breckenridge held on longer, but the damage to mid-season visitation was already done. What this season confirms is that Colorado can no longer rely on a historically consistent snowpack to carry the marketing message. Climate variability is the new baseline.
The Offseason Playbook for Low-Snow Seasons
Double Down on Snowmaking Infrastructure
Resorts that weathered this season best were those with robust snowmaking systems capable of covering high-traffic beginner and intermediate terrain by opening day regardless of natural snow. If your snowmaking coverage doesn’t protect your most-visited runs from mid-November through at least late January, that’s the number one Snowbird’s capital planning model priority for summer 2026. Efficient, high-output guns — particularly fan guns from manufacturers like Snowatron or SMI Snow Makers — are worth the investment calculus right now.
Build Your Off-Season Revenue Bridge
A bad ski season accelerates the case for summer operations. Mountain biking, hiking, scenic lifts, and music events fill the cash flow gap and keep your staff employed year-round. If your resort doesn’t have a summer program worth marketing, this is the summer to fix that. Your skier database is your warm audience — reach them with something to look forward to before next winter even starts.
What Smart Resorts Are Already Doing
The operators we watch are moving fast on a few fronts this spring: early-bird pass launches (with compelling renewal incentives for frustrated 2025-26 guests), aggressive summer capital project announcements, and honest, transparent guest communications about what’s being fixed. Resorts that hide behind the snow gods look weak. Resorts that own the narrative and promise a better guest experience win back trust.
Your Action Items This Week
- Audit your snowmaking coverage map — identify the terrain you can guarantee from November 15 regardless of weather
- Lock in your summer programming calendar and build a comms plan around it
- Plan your early-bird 2026-27 pass launch with a guest-recovery incentive (discount, perks, or early access)
- Reach your email list before your competitors do — early engagement drives early commits
This season was rough. But the resorts that use the offseason well won’t just recover — they’ll grow. For gear recommendations to help your team prep for next season’s training and operations, check out what Backcountry.com has in the pro shop. The work starts now.
Sources: The New York Times, CBS News
