When planning their excursions, backcountry and out-of-bounds skiers rely on avalanche bulletins that provide information about the danger level, the snow conditions and other safety-relevant aspects. The users of avalanche bulletins and accompanying information maps are charged only a nominal price that covers the transmission costs (e.g. costs for internet use) but does not bear a relationship to the costs of providing this information. Under these conditions, it is not possible to use market information to place a monetary value on avalanche bulletins. Here, we present a contingent valuation study to estimate the economic value of avalanche bulletins to the users. For this purpose, we draw on data of an internet-based survey, which asked users of the Swiss avalanche bulletin about their valuation of improved avalanche information. Based on the stated answers, we are able to (i) estimate the willingness-to-pay for improvements in the avalanche bulletins and - by making assumptions about the reduction in avalanche fatalities due to the improved bulletin service - to (ii) value the avalanche bulletin in monetary units.