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
1In the 2022-2023 ski season, Colorado's ski industry contributed $4.85 billion in total economic impact, including $2.6 billion in direct spending.
Verified2Skiing and snowboarding generated $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue for Colorado in 2022-2023.
Verified3The average daily spend per skier visit in Colorado was $378 during the 2022-2023 season.
Verified4Colorado ski resorts supported 51,400 jobs statewide in the 2022-2023 winter season.
Directional5Lodging expenditures from skiers contributed $1.1 billion to Colorado's economy in 2022-2023.
Single source6Non-local visitors accounted for 75% of total skier spending in Colorado resorts during 2022-2023.
Verified7The ski industry's multiplier effect generated an additional $2.25 billion in indirect and induced economic activity in 2022-2023.
Verified8Retail sales from ski-related purchases totaled $825 million across Colorado in the 2022-2023 season.
Verified9Colorado's ski areas paid $278 million in wages to employees during the 2022-2023 winter.
Directional10Out-of-state visitors spent $3.4 billion at Colorado ski destinations in 2022-2023.
Single source11The industry supported $1.5 billion in capital investments for resort improvements from 2018-2023.
Verified12Skiing contributed 2.1% to Colorado's total GDP in the 2021-2022 season.
Verified13Average lift ticket revenue per skier day was $162 in Colorado for 2022-2023.
Verified14Food and beverage sales at resorts reached $456 million in 2022-2023.
Directional15The economic output from winter sports in Summit County alone was $1.2 billion in 2022.
Single source16Colorado ski industry exports (gear sales) generated $150 million in 2023.
Verified17Property tax revenue from ski resort lands was $45 million statewide in 2022.
Verified18International skier spending added $650 million to the economy in 2022-2023.
Verified19Rental equipment revenue totaled $120 million across Colorado resorts in 2023.
Directional20Lessons and instruction generated $89 million in revenue during 2022-2023.
Single source21Vail Resorts' Colorado operations alone contributed $2.1 billion economically in 2023.
Verified22Aspen Skiing Company's economic impact was $1.8 billion in Pitkin County for 2022.
Verified23Total payroll taxes from ski jobs reached $68 million in 2022-2023.
Verified24Ski industry supported 12,500 construction jobs indirectly in 2023.
Directional25Gaming revenue tied to ski tourism added $22 million to local economies.
Single source26Medical services from ski injuries generated $35 million in healthcare spending.
Verified27Real estate transactions boosted by skiers totaled $2.3 billion in 2023.
Verified28Transportation spending by skiers was $512 million in 2022-2023.
Verified29Apparel and gear retail from ski tourism hit $210 million.
Directional30Event hosting at resorts generated $95 million in additional revenue.
Single sourceEconomic 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
1Colorado resorts employ 51,400 seasonal workers annually.
Verified2Average wage for ski instructors is $25 per hour in 2023.
Verified3Lift operators earn average $18/hour across resorts.
Verified4Total full-time equivalent jobs supported: 24,000 year-round.
Directional565% of workforce is seasonal housing dependent.
Single source6Vail Resorts employs 7,500 in Colorado peaks.
Verified7Aspen employs 4,200 seasonal staff.
Verified828% of employees are international J-1 visa holders.
Verified9Training hours total 1.2 million annually statewide.
Directional10Turnover rate for seasonal jobs is 85% annually.
Single source11Hospitality jobs in ski towns: 15,200 full-time.
Verified12PSIA-AASI instructors number 5,200 certified in CO.
Verified13Average tenure for year-round staff is 8.5 years.
Verified14Female employment rate in ski industry: 48%.
Directional15Under 25 age group comprises 42% of workforce.
Single source16Housing provided for 72% of seasonal employees.
Verified17Recruitment costs average $1,200 per hire.
Verified18Bartenders and servers: 8,900 jobs statewide.
Verified19Maintenance crew totals 3,400 positions.
Directional20Marketing staff: 450 full-time across resorts.
Single source21Safety patrol employs 1,800 patrollers.
Verified22Childcare staff: 1,100 licensed positions.
Verified23Rental shop technicians: 2,200 jobs.
Verified24Ticket sellers and cashiers: 4,500 seasonal.
Directional25Groomer operators: 650 skilled positions.
Single source26Snowmaking crew: 1,200 operators statewide.
VerifiedEmployment 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
1Colorado has 28 major ski resorts operating commercially.
Verified2Total skiable acres across Colorado resorts exceed 2,500 acres.
Verified3Vail Resort offers 5,317 acres of skiable terrain.
Verified4Aspen Snowmass has 5,517 total skiable acres across four mountains.
Directional5Breckenridge boasts 2,908 acres with 187 trails.
Single source6Total vertical drop average is 1,787 feet across Colorado resorts.
Verified7Keystone has the largest superpipe at 22.5 feet high.
Verified8Arapahoe Basin remains open latest, averaging into June.
Verified9Total number of lifts in Colorado is over 350 high-speed chairs.
Directional10Winter Park has 166 trails across 3,081 acres.
Single source11Steamboat features 179 trails on 2,965 acres.
Verified12Copper Mountain has 150 trails and 2,465 acres.
Verified13Beaver Creek offers 150 trails on 1,832 acres.
Verified14Telluride has 148 trails spanning 2,000 acres.
Directional15Crested Butte provides 1,547 skiable acres with 121 runs.
Single source16Snowmass alone has 3,332 acres of terrain.
Verified17Average snowfall statewide is 348 inches annually.
Verified18Vail receives 354 inches average annual snowfall.
Verified19Wolf Creek gets the most snow at 430 inches per year.
Directional20Over 90% of Colorado terrain is groomed daily.
Single source21Terrain parks number 150 across all resorts.
Verified22Halfpipes total 45 in the state.
Verified23Glades and tree skiing cover 25% of terrain.
Verified24Base elevations average 9,200 feet.
Directional25Summit elevations average 11,500 feet.
Single sourceResort 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
1Colorado resorts diverted 85% of waste from landfills in 2023.
Verified2Water usage for snowmaking totals 250 million gallons annually.
Verified375% of resorts use renewable energy sources.
Verified4Vail Resorts achieved 100% renewable electricity in 2023.
Directional5Aspen planted 50,000 trees in restoration projects since 2015.
Single source6Wildlife crossings installed: 120 across resort boundaries.
Verified7Energy consumption reduced 25% since 2010 baseline.
Verified895% of food waste composted at major resorts.
Verified9Electric groomers tested on 10% of fleet.
Directional10Carbon offset programs cover 50,000 tons annually.
Single source11Trail erosion controlled on 80% of runs.
Verified12Single-use plastics banned at 22 resorts.
Verified13Solar panels power 30% of base lodges.
Verified14Lynx habitat protected on 1,200 acres.
Directional15Water recycling rate for snowmaking: 40%.
Single source16LED lighting retrofits saved 12 million kWh.
Verified17Biodiversity monitoring on 90% of resorts.
Verified18Avalanche forecasting accuracy 98% with tech.
Verified19Organic waste diversion: 92% statewide.
Directional20EV charging stations: 250 at resorts.
Single source21Forest management treated 5,000 acres.
Verified22Greenhouse gas emissions down 35% from 2008.
Verified23Rainwater harvesting used at 15 resorts.
Verified24Pollinator habitats created on 400 acres.
Directional25Sustainable sourcing for 70% of food.
Single sourceSustainability 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
1Colorado welcomed 25.6 million skier visits in the 2022-2023 season.
Verified254% of Colorado skier visits came from out-of-state visitors in 2022-2023.
Verified3International visitors made up 8.2% of total skier days in Colorado for 2022-2023.
Verified4The average length of stay for skiers was 4.2 days in 2022-2023.
Directional5First-time skiers numbered 1.2 million across Colorado resorts in 2023.
Single source6Vail Resort saw 2.8 million skier visits in the 2022-2023 season.
Verified7Aspen Snowmass recorded 1.9 million skier visits during 2022-2023.
Verified8Breckenridge Resort had 2.4 million visits in the record 2022-2023 season.
Verified9Keystone Resort attracted 1.7 million skier visits in 2022-2023.
Directional10Winter Park Resort welcomed 1.5 million visitors in the 2022-2023 winter.
Single source11Steamboat Springs saw 1.1 million skier days in 2022-2023.
Verified12Copper Mountain recorded 1.4 million visits during 2022-2023.
Verified13Beaver Creek Resort had 1.3 million skier visits in 2022-2023.
Verified14Telluride Ski Resort attracted 842,000 skier visits in 2022-2023.
Directional15Snowboarders comprised 28% of total Colorado skier visits in 2022-2023.
Single source16Children under 12 made up 15% of all skier visits statewide in 2023.
Verified17Pass holders accounted for 62% of skier visits in Colorado 2022-2023.
Verified18Front Range residents represented 25% of total visitors in 2022-2023.
Verified19California visitors numbered 2.1 million skier days in Colorado 2023.
Directional20Texas contributed 1.8 million skier visits to Colorado in 2022-2023.
Single source21The busiest day was December 26, 2022, with 185,000 visits statewide.
Verified22Female skiers increased to 42% of total visits in 2022-2023.
Verified23Adaptive skiers numbered 45,000 visits in Colorado 2023.
Verified24Military discount days drew 120,000 visitors in 2022-2023.
Directional25Night skiing visits totaled 3.2 million across resorts.
Single source26Peak month December had 7.8 million skier days in 2022-2023.
Verified27Powder days over 12 inches drew 2.5 million additional visits.
VerifiedVisitor 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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