There’s nothing like the thrill of skiing and snowboarding—but it’s no secret that mountain sports are expensive hobbies. After purchasing cold weather gear, travel, and lodging, the last thing you want to do is overpay for lift tickets.
For frequent skiers, that means buying a season pass, of which there are two main options: the Ikon Pass and the Epic Pass. Both unlock unlimited access to dozens of ski resorts in the US and Europe (Ikon also covers select mountains in Canada, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan). Picking which pass is best for you depends on how frequently you plan on skiing, and where.
The cheapest time to buy a season ski pass is in March, when the early bird prices are first announced. This week, the 2024/2025 Epic Pass went on sale for $982, a $73 increase from last year. The pass unlocks unrestricted access to 42 resorts including Vail Mountain, Whistler, Park City, and Breckenridge. By comparison, a single day pass at Vail currently costs $299. In addition to covering your own lift tickets, the Epic Pass also provides up to 10 discounted “buddy tickets” and a 20% discount on food and beverage at on-mountain restaurants.
New for the Epic Pass next season is access to Switzerland’s Crans-Montana Mountain, contingent on the close of Vail Resorts’ acquisition of the resort. The addition would be the company’s second ski resort in Europe, joining Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis, also in Switzerland.
For a slightly less expensive $731, the Epic Local Pass provides unlimited access to 29 mountains in the US and 10 days total to use at Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb. However, Local Pass holders must adhere to a list of blackout dates around peak holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s.
Ski the East enthusiasts may opt for the $600 Northeast Value Pass, which provides access to 21 resorts in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, including the Vermont ski mountains Stowe, Mount Snow, and Okemo. If you only plan on skiing between one to seven days per season, another option is Epic’s customizable day pass, which can cost up to 65% less than traditional daily lift tickets.
No matter which version of the pass you pick, prices will only go up from here. The Epic Pass typically sees a cost bump in September and October, and stops selling in late November or early December. Pro tip: If you bought a lift ticket this year at one of the North America mountains owned or operated by Vail Resorts, you can redeem the cost of a single day’s ticket, up to $100, towards a 2024/25 Season Pass.
Even though this year’s ski and snowboard season is just starting to wind down, there’s no better time to start planning next year’s winter getaways—whether that means journeying to the world’s “snowiest destination” in remote Japan or opting for some well-earned aprés relaxation at these top-tier ski resort spas.
