On Tuesday, Jan. 13, Colorado hit its lowest snowpack as a state since official statewide measurements began in 1987, with the state sitting at 62 percent of that date’s median.
As of the end of the day Tuesday, the San Miguel, Dolores, Animas and San Juan basins sat at 56 percent of median, according to National Resource Conservation Service data.
The Wolf Creek summit, the data shows, had 8.2 inches of snow water equivalent at the end of the day on Jan. 13, which is 52 percent of the date’s median snow water equivalent of 15.8 inches.
The Archuleta County and Wolf Creek Pass area is classified as abnormally dry by the U.S. Drought Monitor.
But, despite below-average snowfall this season, Wolf Creek Ski Area has been able to open 100 percent of the mountain to skiers and borders and has hit record numbers, with its busiest days this season coming over the winter break between Christmas and New Year’s.
According to an email to The SUN from the ski area’s marketing team, “Generally, December 27th through 31st are some of the busiest days of the ski season across the industry. Wolf Creek’s previous busiest day on record was December 28th, 2010, with a skier count of 6,355.”
The email notes that a few factors this season lead to the ski area’s busiest day over the holiday break being Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, “with a skier count of 6,512 skiers/snowboarders.”
The email explains, “Some factors that we believe contributed to the skier count include Telluride being closed, Wolf Creek having 100% of the mountain open with all lifts operating, and nearly 70 inches of snowfall by the end of December. Employees have also worked very hard and farmed roughly 40,000 barrels of snow to supplement the natural snowfall and distribute the farmed snow throughout the runs/trails where it is needed. Hopefully, there is a change in the weather pattern, and not only Wolf Creek, but all ski areas and resorts see a shift that favors consistent snowfall and cooler, more winterlike weather.”
As of press time Wednesday, the ski area reported a year-to-date snowfall of 81 inches, with a midway snow depth of 35 inches.
No snowfall is predicted for the area for the next week, with multiple forecasts indicating that the next chance for snow may be around Jan. 22-24.
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