Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Your favorite ski resort is probably on public land. Probably a National Forest. Ski resort in Colorado? Probably on the White River National Forest. Ski resort in California? Probably on the Tahoe National Forest.
Our National Forests are home to just 25% of America's ski areas, and yet they host HALF of all skiers nationwide each year. That's a staggering statistic for a land use which only takes up .1% of National Forest Land.
The implications of ski resorts on public land are far reaching and raise important questions about how we use public lands in general. We discuss in this video. Enjoy.
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Support National Park Diaries on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
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Sources and Resources:
fs.usda.gov/speeches/ski-areas-enduring-partnership
nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/the-future-of-ski-resorts-on-public-lands
nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/ski_areas_per_season_thru_2022.pdf
usda.gov/media/blog/2019/02/08/world-class-winter-sports-your-national-forest
travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/mountain-ski-resorts/americas-most-visited-ski-resorts
aspentimes.com/news/forest-service-eases-disclosure-on-ski-area-fees-after-complaint-by-vail-resorts
summitdaily.com/news/colorado-ski-resorts-paid-about-19-million-last-season-to-use-the-white-river-national-forest
congress.gov/99/statute/STATUTE-100/STATUTE-100-Pg3000.pdf
congress.gov/112/plaws/publ46/PLAW-112publ46.pdf
fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/landmanagement/planning/?cid=STELPRDB5333326
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/71459958.pdf
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/historyofskiing/2022/05/02/symbiosis-or-antagonism-the-relationship-between-the-forest-service-and-the-ski-industry-when-developing-forest-lands-since-1986%EF%BF%BC/
sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/812011/000081201102000023/exhibit995a.htm
gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/colorado-s-white-river-is-the-country-s-busiest-national-forest-with-a-1-6b/article_f205b8c2-8167-11ed-b2df-63a8f45e818d.html
cpr.org/2021/06/08/michael-bennett-joe-neguse-ski-resorts-forest-service-shred-act-bill
web.archive.org/web/20191129014631/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/28/travel/skinning-ski-aspen.html
congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3686
cpr.org/2021/06/08/michael-bennett-joe-neguse-ski-resorts-forest-service-shred-act-bill
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Images and Music
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid NOS
USFS
Storyblocks
Your favorite ski resort is probably on public land. Probably a National Forest. Ski resort in Colorado? Probably on the White River National Forest. Ski resort in California? Probably on the Tahoe National Forest.
Our National Forests are home to just 25% of America's ski areas, and yet they host HALF of all skiers nationwide each year. That's a staggering statistic for a land use which only takes up .1% of National Forest Land.
The implications of ski resorts on public land are far reaching and raise important questions about how we use public lands in general. We discuss in this video. Enjoy.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Support National Park Diaries on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: @nationalparkdiaries
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sources and Resources:
fs.usda.gov/speeches/ski-areas-enduring-partnership
nationalforests.org/our-forests/your-national-forests-magazine/the-future-of-ski-resorts-on-public-lands
nsaa.org/webdocs/Media_Public/IndustryStats/ski_areas_per_season_thru_2022.pdf
usda.gov/media/blog/2019/02/08/world-class-winter-sports-your-national-forest
travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/mountain-ski-resorts/americas-most-visited-ski-resorts
aspentimes.com/news/forest-service-eases-disclosure-on-ski-area-fees-after-complaint-by-vail-resorts
summitdaily.com/news/colorado-ski-resorts-paid-about-19-million-last-season-to-use-the-white-river-national-forest
congress.gov/99/statute/STATUTE-100/STATUTE-100-Pg3000.pdf
congress.gov/112/plaws/publ46/PLAW-112publ46.pdf
fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/landmanagement/planning/?cid=STELPRDB5333326
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/71459958.pdf
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/historyofskiing/2022/05/02/symbiosis-or-antagonism-the-relationship-between-the-forest-service-and-the-ski-industry-when-developing-forest-lands-since-1986%EF%BF%BC/
sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/812011/000081201102000023/exhibit995a.htm
gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/colorado-s-white-river-is-the-country-s-busiest-national-forest-with-a-1-6b/article_f205b8c2-8167-11ed-b2df-63a8f45e818d.html
cpr.org/2021/06/08/michael-bennett-joe-neguse-ski-resorts-forest-service-shred-act-bill
web.archive.org/web/20191129014631/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/28/travel/skinning-ski-aspen.html
congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3686
cpr.org/2021/06/08/michael-bennett-joe-neguse-ski-resorts-forest-service-shred-act-bill
-------------------------------------------------------
Images and Music
Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid NOS
USFS
Storyblocks
