Thank you to 4.9 million people who visited SummitDaily.com in 2024. That number is about 21% lower than 2023, but those readers packed a punch. Views for the entire year totaled 32 million, which is 29% more than last year.

More than 18 months after launching our registration process, Summit Daily has 40,979 registrants. That’s up from 25,000 last year.

Our readers love traffic and travel and weather and ski resort updates. They love to stay updated on real estate market updates and new businesses, as well as public safety and crime trends.

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These are the top 15 stories that people read at SummitDaily.com:

1. ​​Colorado mountain towns are full of vacant trophy homes and short-term rentals. Some officials want permission to tax them.

Published: Sept. 4
Views: 400,406
In response to a housing crisis, over a dozen Colorado mountain towns have supported state legislation allowing local taxes on vacant homes and short-term rentals. The proposed taxes aim to incentivize homeowners to rent to full-time residents and generate revenue for affordable housing initiatives.

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2. Winter storm colliding with Thanksgiving traffic on I-70 led to more than 50 citations for Colorado’s traction law

Published: Nov. 28
Views: 348,005

During a major winter storm coinciding with Thanksgiving travel on Interstate 70, Colorado State Patrol issued over 50 citations for violations of the state’s traction law, which mandates adequate tire tread or traction devices in severe weather. The storm, bringing 18 to 24 inches of snow to Summit County, led to multiple road closures and highlighted the critical importance of proper vehicle equipment to ensure safety and prevent traffic disruptions during hazardous winter conditions.

3. Heavy traffic expected on I-70 mountain corridor as 3 of Colorado’s most popular winter events fall on the same weekend

Published: Jan. 26
Views: 237,675
Heavy traffic overwhelmed Colorado’s I-70 mountain corridor during a weekend when three major winter events occurred simultaneously in Breckenridge, Vail, and Aspen. This convergence significantly increased travel times and congestion along the interstate, causing delays for travelers navigating the area.

4. Months into new regulations, short-term rental owners say they may need to sell their properties in Summit County

Published: March 28
Views: 182,000
In Summit County, Colorado, new short-term rental regulations have led some property owners to consider selling their homes, fearing the loss of their foothold in the mountain community. These rules aim to balance the tourism-driven economy with the need for more workforce housing, but owners express concerns about potential revenue loss and the broader impact on local businesses.

5. Witness reportedly saw man adjusting his snowboard binding before he fell 47 feet from chairlift at Keystone Resort

Published: Dec. 12
Views: 163,534
A 32-year-old snowboarder at Keystone Resort fell approximately 47 feet from the Ruby Express chairlift while attempting to adjust his bindings with the safety bar up. He was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood with serious injuries. The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board’s investigation found no lift malfunction, attributing the fall to the rider’s actions.

6. Battling hallucinations and exhaustion, ex-Summit County resident sets fastest known time on Colorado Trail route

Published: Aug. 31
Views: 160,338
Former Summit County resident Brent Herring set a new fastest known time on a Colorado Trail route, completing the 485-mile journey in 10 days, 17 hours, and 38 minutes. During the trek, Herring battled exhaustion and hallucinations, highlighting the mental and physical challenges of such endurance feats.

7. Colorado mountain town liquor store owners say things are getting dire. Legislators are heeding their warning.

Published: April 18
Views: 147,500
Locally-owned liquor stores in Colorado mountain towns are struggling financially following the implementation of Proposition 125, which allows grocery stores to sell wine. Many store owners have reported sharp declines in wine sales and fear losing their foothold in the market as competition intensifies. The change has disrupted the balance between independent businesses and larger grocery chains in these communities.

8. A Montana historical society treasured this photo as one of its oldest. This summer, they discovered it was actually taken in Breck.

Published: Sept. 1
Views: 144,523
In 1969, the Montana Historical Society received an ambrotype photograph labeled “French Gulch, Aug. 23, 1862,” believed to depict a Montana mining camp and considered one of their oldest images. In July 2024, after 55 years, archivists determined the photo actually depicted Breckenridge, Colorado, leading to its return to Breckenridge History.

9. Here’s how much snow Colorado ski resorts got over the past 24 hours

Published: Oct. 22
Views: 133,585
A late October storm dropped measurable amounts of snow onto Colorado ski resorts, including 12.5 inches at Copper Mountain Resort.

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10. Concerns grow in Colorado’s mountain towns as U.S. Forest Service freezes hiring for swath of seasonal employees

Published: Oct. 26
Views: 133,053
In September 2024, the U.S. Forest Service announced a nationwide hiring freeze for all non-fire seasonal employees, a decision that could significantly impact Colorado’s mountain communities, where national forests are integral to local economies and recreation.

11. Dog recovering after mountain lion attack near Keystone

Published: Jan. 30
Views: 109,481
A mountain lion attacked a dog near Keystone, Colorado, in January 2024, leaving the animal with serious injuries, including the loss of an eye. The attack was one of many on area pets and animals, including at least two more in early February. Eventually, a mountain lion was captured and euthanized in Silverthorne.

12. Almost 6 million birds flew over Colorado in 1 night, with more incoming. Dimming outdoor lights can help their journey.

Published: Sept. 6
Views: 108,103
On a single night, nearly 6 million birds migrated over Colorado, with more expected to follow. To assist their journey, the National Audubon Society and DarkSky International are urging Coloradans to dim outdoor lights, as excessive illumination can disorient and endanger migrating birds.

13. Breckenridge sees ‘unprecedented demand’ for its program that pays homeowners to convert properties into workforce housing

Published: July 9
Views: 88,923
Breckenridge’s Housing Helps program, which offers financial incentives to homeowners for placing deed restrictions on their properties, has seen an unprecedented surge in demand. This program is crucial in addressing the town’s affordable housing crisis by ensuring more homes remain available for the local workforce.

14. Colorado’s snowpack is less than a month away from its historical peak. So where do levels stand?

Published: March 18
Views: 88,463
Colorado’s snowpack levels approached historical peak, with most basins reporting above-average snowpack. Monitoring snowpack is crucial for the state’s water resources, as it significantly influences spring and summer streamflow, affecting water availability for agriculture, municipalities, and ecosystems.

15. Two snowboarders fell 37 feet from a chairlift at Breckenridge Ski Resort within a week — in nearly the same spot

Published: Dec. 20
Views: 82,432
Breckenridge Ski Resort has confirmed that two people fell from chairlifts within a week of each other. Ski patrol responded Friday, Dec. 13, after a 31-year-old man fell from the Beaver Run Chair on Peak 9, Breckenridge Ski Resort said in a statement. In a separate incident, Monday, Dec. 16, ski patrol responded after a 21-year-old fell from the same lift, according to the ski resort. Both guests were transported to the Breckenridge Medical Center on Peak 9.