KELLOGG, Idaho (Dec. 15, 2025) — Skier visits at Idaho ski resorts have exceeded 2.0 million annually since winter 2020-21 — including an all-time record 2.5 million during the 2022-23 ski season — according to an economic impact report Ski Idaho commissioned from Boulder, Colo.-based research firm RRC. Skier visits also reached 2.4 million during winter 2024-25, the second highest on record, and 2.1 million in winter 2023-24.

A skier visit (or skier day) represents one person visiting a ski area for all or any part of a day or night for the purpose of skiing, snowboarding, or other downhill riding. Specifically excluded are cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowtubing, and skiing by on-duty employees.

RRC found that Idaho ski areas have captured a growing share of western U.S. skier and snowboarder visits, reaching a record 6.2 percent share in winter 2024-25. The study also revealed Idaho was the 10th ranked state for skier visits during both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons out of 37 states with ski areas. Plus, RRC reported Idaho ski areas account for an expanding share of skier and snowboarder visits nationally, hitting a record 3.9 percent share during winter 2024-25.

SIXTH HIGHEST IN SKIER DAYS PER CAPITA

Based on 2023-24 data, Idaho is the sixth highest state in terms of skier days per capita, earning an index of 412, which means Idaho residents enjoy 4.12 times more skier days per capita than average. The only states with higher skier visit indexes are Vermont (754), Colorado (571), New Hampshire (504), Montana (499), and Maine (429). Almost tied with Idaho, Utah (410) ranked seventh.

Approximately 140,000-200,000 Idaho residents — 7 percent to 10 percent of the state’s population — downhill ski or snowboard in a given season.

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SKI INDUSTRY CONSIDERABLE

Skiers and snowboarders spent a total of $402 million in Idaho during the winter of 2023-24 — $199.7 million (49.6 percent) at Idaho ski areas and $202.6 million (50.4 percent) at other businesses. The industry also directly or indirectly generated $569 million in gross domestic product in Idaho, equivalent to 0.5 percent of Idaho’s 2023 GDP.

Meanwhile, total economic output during fiscal year 2023-24 exceeded $1 billion, increasing 74 percent from $584 million in FY 2020-21. This included $544 million in direct output (vs. $350 million in FY 2020-21) and $472 million in indirect and induced output (vs. $233 million in FY 2020-21).

Indirect effects are economic effects stemming from business-to-business purchases in the supply chain. Induced effects are economic effects stemming from household spending of labor income after removal of taxes, savings, and commuter income.

Between winter 2020-21 and winter 2023-24, Idaho ski areas saw lift ticket and season pass revenue jump 26 percent, while food/beverage and accommodations/lodging revenue leaped 51 percent and 65 percent, respectively.

Meanwhile, summer operations revenue climbed 60 percent from $41.0 million in 2020 to $65.8 million in 2023.

Capital expenditures for fiscal year 2023-24 were up 175 percent compared to FY 2020-21 at $186.8 million vs. $67.9 million, respectively. Investments in new and upgraded lifts soared by 363 percent and expenditures on other on-mountain facilities and support leapt 341 percent.

All this economic activity translated into 7,653 year-round equivalent jobs during FY 2023-24 — 4,892 direct jobs and 2,761 indirect and induced jobs. This represents 34 percent growth since FY 2020-21’s 5,703 total jobs.

Idaho’s ski industry generated $304 million in labor income — including $170 million directly and $134 million through multiplier effects. This represents growth of 79 percent compared to FY 2020-21’s $170 million in labor income. Labor income includes all forms of employment income, including wages, benefits, and proprietor income.

The study also found skiing represents upwards of 8 percent of Idaho’s travel economy depending on the metric — 6.6 percent based on earnings, 7.4 percent based on employment, and 8.0 percent based on visitor expenditures. Plus, skiing and snowboarding directly or indirectly account for upwards of 0.6 percent of Idaho’s total economy depending on the metric — 0.4 percent based on earnings, 0.5 percent based on contribution to gross domestic product, and 0.6 percent based on employment.

The report also noted the state’s thriving skiing and snowboarding industry helps provide seasonal balance to Idaho’s summer-dominated travel industry, contributes significantly to its quality of life, and improves employee recruitment and retention at Idaho businesses.

NEARLY HALF OF IDAHO SKIERS FROM OUT OF STATE

Slightly more than half of Idaho ski area visitors in the winter of 2023-24 — 57.4 percent — resided in the Gem State and 42.6 percent were from out of state.

The greater Boise Designated Market Area accounted for nearly one-third of all skier visits that season — 32.7 percent. The Spokane DMA, which includes a great deal of North Idaho, accounted for more than one-sixth of visits at 16.4 percent. The Idaho Falls/Pocatello and Twin Falls, Idaho, DMAs accounted for 9.4 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively, with Seattle/Tacoma rounding out the top five markets at 5.3 percent.

Completing the top 10 hometowns of Idaho ski area visitors were Los Angeles and Salt Lake City at 2.4 percent each, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose at 1.6 percent, and New York City and Portland at 1.5 percent each. Missoula, Mont., contributed 1.2 percent of visitors, the area encompassing Yakima and the Tri-Cities region of Washington State accounted for 1.1 percent, Denver represented 1.0 percent, and Butte/Bozeman, Mont., and Chicago each proffered 0.8 percent.

MALES, HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN, SLIGHTLY AFFLUENT

Idaho skiers and snowboarders tended to be male, accounting for 61 percent of ski area visits vs. 39 percent for females. A little more than one-fifth were youths (10 percent were 12 or younger and 12 percent were ages 13-17), one-fifth were between 18-34 (7 percent were 18-24 and 13 percent were 25-34), more than one-third were between 35-54 (20 percent were 35-44 and 17 percent were 45-54), and another one-fifth were 55 or older (12 percent were 55-64, 7 percent were 65-74, and 1 percent were 75 or older).

Among visitors who were age 18 or older, households with children contributed the greatest number of skier and snowboarder visits at 42 percent, and households with children no longer at home ranked number two at 24 percent. Couples with no children accounted for 17 percent of visits and single individuals with no children comprised the remaining 16 percent.

Skiers and snowboarders visiting Idaho have a range of incomes but skew affluent. One-third, 35 percent, enjoyed annual pre-tax household income of $100,000-199,999. A little more than one-fifth, 22 percent, earned $50,000-99,999. People reporting under $50,000 comprised 16 percent and those bringing in $200,000 or more annually accounted for the remaining 27 percent.

MAINLY SEASON PASSHOLDERS ON SKIS

The bulk of Idaho ski area visits — 58 percent — were made by season passholders. Daily and multi-day passes comprised 35 percent of visits, with off-duty employee visits and comp tickets accounting for 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.

Nearly three-quarters of visitors — 71 percent — used alpine equipment and fully one-fourth — 25 percent — rode snowboards. Other equipment like alpine touring and snowbikes accounted for 2 percent, and 2 percent of visitors employed telemark gear.

Nearly two-thirds of visits — 61 percent — were day trips and 39 percent were overnighters.

Gem State ski area visitors tend to express high satisfaction with their experience. On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being extremely dissatisfied and 10 being extremely satisfied), Idaho ski areas earned ratings of 9.1 in overall employee service and overall lesson experience, 8.9 in overall rental experience and overall visit satisfaction, 8.5 in overall skiing/boarding experience and quality of grooming, 8.3 in overall value for price paid, and 8.2 in overall food and beverage.

ABOUT SKI IDAHO

Founded in 1982, the Idaho Ski Areas Association, a.k.a. Ski Idaho, is a nonprofit association funded in part by the Idaho Travel Council via the state’s 2 percent lodging tax paid by travelers and collected by hotel, motel, private campground, and vacation rentals owners. With ski areas boasting a sum total of 29,000 feet of vertical and spanning more than 22,000 acres, Idaho is home to America’s first destination ski resort, the birthplace of the chairlift, and often considered the soul of skiing. Its 19 family friendly alpine ski areas offer trails and backcountry for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and skill levels, breathtaking views, hundreds of inches of fresh powder, affordable passes, and short lift lines. Many Ski Idaho destinations open for the summer season, as well, to provide lift-served mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, hiking and trail running, disc golf, horseback riding, and more. Visit skiidaho.us for more details.

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VIDEO LINKS
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SKI IDAHO SIZZLE REEL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwAKl3kD1bA

SKI IDAHO YOUTUBE CHANNEL
www.youtube.com/Idahosoulofskiing

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MEDIA CONTACTS
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Carly Kumar, 208.651.1861, info@skiidaho.us

Tony Harrison, 208.880.9814, press@skiidaho.us