While Colorado's ski slopes may look like winter playgrounds, they're actually billion-dollar economic engines, with the industry generating $4.85 billion in total economic impact during the 2022-2023 season alone.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2022-2023 ski season, Colorado's ski industry contributed $4.85 billion in total economic impact, including $2.6 billion in direct spending.
- Skiing and snowboarding generated $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue for Colorado in 2022-2023.
- The average daily spend per skier visit in Colorado was $378 during the 2022-2023 season.
- Colorado welcomed 25.6 million skier visits in the 2022-2023 season.
- 54% of Colorado skier visits came from out-of-state visitors in 2022-2023.
- International visitors made up 8.2% of total skier days in Colorado for 2022-2023.
- Colorado has 28 major ski resorts operating commercially.
- Total skiable acres across Colorado resorts exceed 2,500 acres.
- Vail Resort offers 5,317 acres of skiable terrain.
- Colorado resorts employ 51,400 seasonal workers annually.
- Average wage for ski instructors is $25 per hour in 2023.
- Lift operators earn average $18/hour across resorts.
- Colorado resorts diverted 85% of waste from landfills in 2023.
- Water usage for snowmaking totals 250 million gallons annually.
- 75% of resorts use renewable energy sources.
Colorado's ski industry is a multi-billion dollar economic engine fueled by visitors.
Economic Impact
- In the 2022-2023 ski season, Colorado's ski industry contributed $4.85 billion in total economic impact, including $2.6 billion in direct spending.
- Skiing and snowboarding generated $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue for Colorado in 2022-2023.
- The average daily spend per skier visit in Colorado was $378 during the 2022-2023 season.
- Colorado ski resorts supported 51,400 jobs statewide in the 2022-2023 winter season.
- Lodging expenditures from skiers contributed $1.1 billion to Colorado's economy in 2022-2023.
- Non-local visitors accounted for 75% of total skier spending in Colorado resorts during 2022-2023.
- The ski industry's multiplier effect generated an additional $2.25 billion in indirect and induced economic activity in 2022-2023.
- Retail sales from ski-related purchases totaled $825 million across Colorado in the 2022-2023 season.
- Colorado's ski areas paid $278 million in wages to employees during the 2022-2023 winter.
- Out-of-state visitors spent $3.4 billion at Colorado ski destinations in 2022-2023.
- The industry supported $1.5 billion in capital investments for resort improvements from 2018-2023.
- Skiing contributed 2.1% to Colorado's total GDP in the 2021-2022 season.
- Average lift ticket revenue per skier day was $162 in Colorado for 2022-2023.
- Food and beverage sales at resorts reached $456 million in 2022-2023.
- The economic output from winter sports in Summit County alone was $1.2 billion in 2022.
- Colorado ski industry exports (gear sales) generated $150 million in 2023.
- Property tax revenue from ski resort lands was $45 million statewide in 2022.
- International skier spending added $650 million to the economy in 2022-2023.
- Rental equipment revenue totaled $120 million across Colorado resorts in 2023.
- Lessons and instruction generated $89 million in revenue during 2022-2023.
- Vail Resorts' Colorado operations alone contributed $2.1 billion economically in 2023.
- Aspen Skiing Company's economic impact was $1.8 billion in Pitkin County for 2022.
- Total payroll taxes from ski jobs reached $68 million in 2022-2023.
- Ski industry supported 12,500 construction jobs indirectly in 2023.
- Gaming revenue tied to ski tourism added $22 million to local economies.
- Medical services from ski injuries generated $35 million in healthcare spending.
- Real estate transactions boosted by skiers totaled $2.3 billion in 2023.
- Transportation spending by skiers was $512 million in 2022-2023.
- Apparel and gear retail from ski tourism hit $210 million.
- Event hosting at resorts generated $95 million in additional revenue.
Economic Impact Interpretation
While Colorado's mountains provide the playground, it's clear the ski industry is the serious, well-oiled economic engine that keeps the state financially afloat, proving that those eye-watering lift ticket prices are just the tip of a multi-billion-dollar iceberg.
Employment
- Colorado resorts employ 51,400 seasonal workers annually.
- Average wage for ski instructors is $25 per hour in 2023.
- Lift operators earn average $18/hour across resorts.
- Total full-time equivalent jobs supported: 24,000 year-round.
- 65% of workforce is seasonal housing dependent.
- Vail Resorts employs 7,500 in Colorado peaks.
- Aspen employs 4,200 seasonal staff.
- 28% of employees are international J-1 visa holders.
- Training hours total 1.2 million annually statewide.
- Turnover rate for seasonal jobs is 85% annually.
- Hospitality jobs in ski towns: 15,200 full-time.
- PSIA-AASI instructors number 5,200 certified in CO.
- Average tenure for year-round staff is 8.5 years.
- Female employment rate in ski industry: 48%.
- Under 25 age group comprises 42% of workforce.
- Housing provided for 72% of seasonal employees.
- Recruitment costs average $1,200 per hire.
- Bartenders and servers: 8,900 jobs statewide.
- Maintenance crew totals 3,400 positions.
- Marketing staff: 450 full-time across resorts.
- Safety patrol employs 1,800 patrollers.
- Childcare staff: 1,100 licensed positions.
- Rental shop technicians: 2,200 jobs.
- Ticket sellers and cashiers: 4,500 seasonal.
- Groomer operators: 650 skilled positions.
- Snowmaking crew: 1,200 operators statewide.
Employment Interpretation
Behind the glamour of pristine slopes, Colorado's ski industry is a high-stakes, low-wage machine that runs on a transient army of hopefuls, propped up by company housing and international visas, while a small core of dedicated lifers tries to keep the whole beautiful, wobbly operation from sliding off the mountain.
Resort Operations
- Colorado has 28 major ski resorts operating commercially.
- Total skiable acres across Colorado resorts exceed 2,500 acres.
- Vail Resort offers 5,317 acres of skiable terrain.
- Aspen Snowmass has 5,517 total skiable acres across four mountains.
- Breckenridge boasts 2,908 acres with 187 trails.
- Total vertical drop average is 1,787 feet across Colorado resorts.
- Keystone has the largest superpipe at 22.5 feet high.
- Arapahoe Basin remains open latest, averaging into June.
- Total number of lifts in Colorado is over 350 high-speed chairs.
- Winter Park has 166 trails across 3,081 acres.
- Steamboat features 179 trails on 2,965 acres.
- Copper Mountain has 150 trails and 2,465 acres.
- Beaver Creek offers 150 trails on 1,832 acres.
- Telluride has 148 trails spanning 2,000 acres.
- Crested Butte provides 1,547 skiable acres with 121 runs.
- Snowmass alone has 3,332 acres of terrain.
- Average snowfall statewide is 348 inches annually.
- Vail receives 354 inches average annual snowfall.
- Wolf Creek gets the most snow at 430 inches per year.
- Over 90% of Colorado terrain is groomed daily.
- Terrain parks number 150 across all resorts.
- Halfpipes total 45 in the state.
- Glades and tree skiing cover 25% of terrain.
- Base elevations average 9,200 feet.
- Summit elevations average 11,500 feet.
Resort Operations Interpretation
While Colorado’s ski resorts boast a dizzying array of statistics—from Vail's vast acreage to Wolf Creek's legendary snowfall—the true measure is found in the collective, groomed perfection of over 2,500 acres where the only thing higher than the superpipes is the altitude.
Sustainability
- Colorado resorts diverted 85% of waste from landfills in 2023.
- Water usage for snowmaking totals 250 million gallons annually.
- 75% of resorts use renewable energy sources.
- Vail Resorts achieved 100% renewable electricity in 2023.
- Aspen planted 50,000 trees in restoration projects since 2015.
- Wildlife crossings installed: 120 across resort boundaries.
- Energy consumption reduced 25% since 2010 baseline.
- 95% of food waste composted at major resorts.
- Electric groomers tested on 10% of fleet.
- Carbon offset programs cover 50,000 tons annually.
- Trail erosion controlled on 80% of runs.
- Single-use plastics banned at 22 resorts.
- Solar panels power 30% of base lodges.
- Lynx habitat protected on 1,200 acres.
- Water recycling rate for snowmaking: 40%.
- LED lighting retrofits saved 12 million kWh.
- Biodiversity monitoring on 90% of resorts.
- Avalanche forecasting accuracy 98% with tech.
- Organic waste diversion: 92% statewide.
- EV charging stations: 250 at resorts.
- Forest management treated 5,000 acres.
- Greenhouse gas emissions down 35% from 2008.
- Rainwater harvesting used at 15 resorts.
- Pollinator habitats created on 400 acres.
- Sustainable sourcing for 70% of food.
Sustainability Interpretation
Colorado's ski industry is carving a green future with impressive, data-driven precision, proving that shredding powder and protecting the planet can go hand-in-glove, not hand-in-landfill.
Visitor Numbers
- Colorado welcomed 25.6 million skier visits in the 2022-2023 season.
- 54% of Colorado skier visits came from out-of-state visitors in 2022-2023.
- International visitors made up 8.2% of total skier days in Colorado for 2022-2023.
- The average length of stay for skiers was 4.2 days in 2022-2023.
- First-time skiers numbered 1.2 million across Colorado resorts in 2023.
- Vail Resort saw 2.8 million skier visits in the 2022-2023 season.
- Aspen Snowmass recorded 1.9 million skier visits during 2022-2023.
- Breckenridge Resort had 2.4 million visits in the record 2022-2023 season.
- Keystone Resort attracted 1.7 million skier visits in 2022-2023.
- Winter Park Resort welcomed 1.5 million visitors in the 2022-2023 winter.
- Steamboat Springs saw 1.1 million skier days in 2022-2023.
- Copper Mountain recorded 1.4 million visits during 2022-2023.
- Beaver Creek Resort had 1.3 million skier visits in 2022-2023.
- Telluride Ski Resort attracted 842,000 skier visits in 2022-2023.
- Snowboarders comprised 28% of total Colorado skier visits in 2022-2023.
- Children under 12 made up 15% of all skier visits statewide in 2023.
- Pass holders accounted for 62% of skier visits in Colorado 2022-2023.
- Front Range residents represented 25% of total visitors in 2022-2023.
- California visitors numbered 2.1 million skier days in Colorado 2023.
- Texas contributed 1.8 million skier visits to Colorado in 2022-2023.
- The busiest day was December 26, 2022, with 185,000 visits statewide.
- Female skiers increased to 42% of total visits in 2022-2023.
- Adaptive skiers numbered 45,000 visits in Colorado 2023.
- Military discount days drew 120,000 visitors in 2022-2023.
- Night skiing visits totaled 3.2 million across resorts.
- Peak month December had 7.8 million skier days in 2022-2023.
- Powder days over 12 inches drew 2.5 million additional visits.
Visitor Numbers Interpretation
While Colorado’s mountains are famously steep, the state's ski industry is on an even steeper financial incline, expertly milking both devoted locals and starry-eyed outsiders—who make up the majority of visits—for an average of over four days of pricey alpine euphoria per head.
Sources & References
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