The Spring Skiing Survival Guide

The casualty list keeps growing.

Mt. Shasta Ski Park -- done. Dodge Ridge -- done. Homewood Mountain Resort -- closed without warning on March 17, surprising guests who expected another week. Sierra-at-Tahoe -- shutting down this Sunday, March 22. Snowbasin -- same day, March 22, done for the season. Eagle Point, Cherry Peak, Nordic Valley -- all gone. Magic Mountain in Idaho literally never opened.

And it's not just the small ones getting hit. Major resorts across Colorado have 25+ trails closed. California's snowpack is at 37% of the April 1 average -- the same level as 1976, one of the state's worst drought years. Snowpack is melting at roughly 1% per day. Temperatures are hitting the 60s and 70s at elevation.

This is the season we covered in "The Season That Fell Apart." And it's still falling apart.

But here's the thing -- there's still skiing out there. You just have to know where to look. This is your guide to making the most of what's left, whether you've got a weekend or a few weeks to work with.

The Closure Tracker

Already closed for the season:

• Mt. Shasta Ski Park (CA) -- March 2
• Dodge Ridge (CA) -- March 2
• Magic Mountain (ID) -- never opened
• Nordic Valley (UT) -- February 24
• Cherry Peak (UT) -- March 11
• Eagle Point (UT) -- March 14
• Homewood Mountain (CA) -- March 17

Closing this weekend (March 22):

• Sierra-at-Tahoe (CA) -- operating 3 lifts until Sunday
• Snowbasin (UT) -- closing day party on Earl's Patio
• Mountain High (CA) -- wrapped March 15

Hanging on but operating limited terrain:

• Palisades Tahoe, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar, Boreal -- still open, limited ops
• Most Colorado resorts -- open but with significant trail closures

If you're at a resort and the conditions page says "75% open," read the fine print. In a season like this, that 75% is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Where to Actually Ski Right Now

Tier 1: Go Here. It's Worth the Trip.

Mammoth Mountain, CA -- The best spring skiing in the West, full stop. Mammoth committed to staying open through Memorial Day, and they have the snowpack to back it up. At 11,053 feet, they're above the melt zone that's destroying lower-elevation resorts. If you can only make one more trip this season, Mammoth is the answer. DJs spinning from a gondola car on weekends at Canyon Lodge. This is where spring skiing is supposed to feel fun, not desperate.

Jackson Hole, WY -- They're celebrating their 60th anniversary and going out with a bang. Open through April 12 with $60 lift tickets for closing weekend (nice touch). Spring conditions on the Hobacks, corn snow in Corbet's -- Jackson in spring is genuinely underrated. Spring-like conditions already, but the base is holding.

Snowbird, UT -- The last resort standing in Utah, and historically they make it to late May. Plazapalooza kicks off March 27 with live music every weekend through May 25. If you're in the Salt Lake area, Snowbird is the only smart bet for April skiing.

Alta, UT -- Leading Utah in snowfall at 260 inches (still only half their average, which tells you how bad this year is). Earth Day event on April 12. Alta's elevation keeps it skiing longer than its neighbors. Projected closing: late April.

Tier 2: Still Skiing, But Clock's Ticking

Colorado's Big Resorts -- Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain are all scheduled into April and May, but with significant terrain closures. Breck and Copper are targeting May 10 closing dates. A-Basin -- the perennial last-one-standing -- is aiming for June 14, conditions permitting. The groomed runs are fine. The off-piste is getting sketchy.

Arapahoe Basin, CO -- If any Western resort skis into June this year, it'll be A-Basin. They've done it before in lean years. Their June 14 target is ambitious given the snowpack, but if anyone pulls it off...

Deer Valley, UT -- With their massive expansion (2,000 new acres, 10 new lifts), Deer Valley has more terrain options than ever to find good snow. Plus that $100 lift ticket deal they announced. Projected through mid-April. Also: Shred for Red charity event on March 28.

Park City, UT -- The new Sunrise Gondola at Canyons Village is up and running, which helps with access. Projected mid-April closing, but expect limited terrain.

Tier 3: Worth Watching

Grand Targhee, WY -- On the back side of the Tetons, Targhee always gets more snow than people expect. Spring-like conditions with a few inches possible over the next 10 days. A good plan B if you're heading to Jackson and want variety.

Palisades Tahoe, CA -- Still operating, but the situation is changing fast. Keep an eye on their terrain report. If they can hold through April, the spring events are great. But don't buy plane tickets without checking conditions first.

Killington, VT / Jay Peak, VT -- Here's the wildcard. The East is having a monster season. Jay Peak might crack 400 inches. Killington routinely skis into May. If you're in the eastern half of the country and you want guaranteed spring skiing, Vermont might actually be the better bet than flying west. Stowe's 70th Annual Sunrise Service is April 5, and the Spring Bash + Pond Skim is April 11.

The Spring Skiing Playbook

If you haven't done much spring skiing, the game changes. A few things to know:

Time your runs. The snow follows the sun. First chair gets you firm, fast groomers. By 10:30-11am, south-facing slopes soften into perfect corn snow -- that's the window. By 2pm, it's slush. Plan your day around this cycle and you'll have a blast. Fight it and you'll be miserable.

Go high. Elevation is everything in a low-snow year. Mammoth at 11,000+ feet. Alta and Snowbird in the upper Cottonwoods. A-Basin. These places hold snow because physics is on their side.

Chase north-facing. South-facing slopes melt first. North-facing terrain holds snow days or weeks longer. This matters more in March than January.

Bring sunscreen, not goggles. Okay, bring goggles too. But the spring sun at altitude will absolutely cook you. SPF 50, reapply at lunch.

Check the terrain report the morning of. Not the night before. Not the website from a week ago. Conditions are changing daily. Some resorts are going from "mostly open" to "closing this weekend" with 48 hours notice (hi, Homewood).

The Bigger Picture

This is the second piece we've written about the 2025-26 season falling apart, and it probably won't be the last. But spring skiing in a bad year isn't the disaster people make it sound like. Some of the best days I've tracked on this site have been bluebird spring days with soft corn snow, empty mountains, and $60 lift tickets.

The resorts that are still open want you there. Prices are lower, crowds are thinner, the vibe is looser. Nobody's fighting over a parking spot at 7am. The serious skiers left weeks ago and what's left are the people who actually love being on a mountain.

Is it powder skiing? No. Is it still skiing? Absolutely.

Check our resort pages for live conditions, and use Ski This Week to find the best remaining options. We've also added "What's New" sections to resort pages so you can see what upgrades are coming for next season -- because trust me, next season is already looking better than this one.

See you on the hill. ⛷️