If You Want to Ski Affordably Next Season, Buy Now

New York Times

11-03-2025

While the slopes may still be open across much of North America, it's time to think about next season.
The major passes, including Epic and Ikon, as well as the smaller Mountain Collective, have recently announced sales for the 2025-26 season. The Indy Pass has already completed its early sales, although opportunities to purchase it will likely resurface later.
Though the ski website SnowBrains found that most prices went up between 6 and 7 percent, spring sales are when passes are cheapest.
'Now is the time to save and go skiing for under $100 a day,' said Dan Sherman, chief marketing officer at Ski.com, which offers ski packages.
The term 'passes' has evolved to encompass prepurchased products that start with one-day tickets and aim to wean skiers off the walk-up window. Vail Resorts said three-quarters of its visitors last season used one of its Epic Passes, saving up to 65 percent on window prices.
The strategy, said Mr. Sherman, 'is to get people locked in early and reward them with discounted pricing.'
Here's a look at next season's offerings.
Epic Pass
Despite a rough 2024-25 season in which patrollers at Vail's Park City Mountain Resort waged a strike over the holiday season, Vail Resorts broke the introductory-price $1,000 threshold for its 2025-26 Epic Pass, now on sale for $1,051. (Last year the pass started at $982 and ended at $1,107).
The pass offers unlimited access to Vail's 42 resorts, including Vail Mountain and Breckenridge in Colorado, Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, and Stowe in Vermont.
Next season, Epic Pass will include five days at Verbier 4 Vallées in Switzerland, with more than 250 miles of runs across six ski resorts.
Those purchasing the Epic Pass also get discounts on lift tickets for friends. Pass holders, including those with day passes, receive 20 percent off on-mountain food, lodging, gear rental and lessons.
At Ski.com, Mr. Sherman counted more than 50 Epic configurations across variables like age and location. The Epic Local Pass (now $783) offers more restricted access to the Vail portfolio, but unlimited access to 29 resorts, including Breckenridge, Crested Butte and Keystone in Colorado.
Epic Day Passes, which can be purchased for intervals between one and seven days, start from $47 to $100 a day, depending on the resort.
Vail won't say when prices will increase, but they tend to rise until going off sale; last year Epic passes were available until Dec. 2.
Ikon Pass
Sales of the Ikon Pass, offered by Alterra Mountain Company, begin March 13. The $1,329 pass offers unlimited access to 18 destinations, including Steamboat and Copper Mountain in Colorado; Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe in Calif.; and Crystal Mountain in Washington. Passholders get up to seven days each at 41 resorts, including Aspen Snowmass in Colorado; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, and Killington in Vermont.
The pass also covers resorts abroad, including SkiBig3 in Alberta; Kitzbühel; and — new this year — Ischgl in Austria; Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland; Niseko United in Japan; and Valle Nevado in Chile.
Ikon also has different subscription levels, including the cheaper Ikon Base Pass for $909, with unlimited access at 14 North American destinations and up to five days at 39 destinations worldwide, with blackout dates. Also subject to blackouts, the Ikon Session Pass is available in increments of two, three or four days at one or more of 43 destinations. A two-day pass starts at $259.
Depending on the pass, perks this year include spring skiing, 25 percent off the window rate for friends or family, and discounts on food at several resorts.
The Ikon Pass is typically available through early to mid-December.
Mountain Collective
The Mountain Collective offers two days each at 26 ski areas — many overlap with Ikon resorts — without blackout dates. Currently on sale, the 2025-26 adult pass costs $639 and includes Alta Ski Area and Snowbird in Utah, Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole and Sun Valley.
Abroad, it includes resorts in Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Japan and New Zealand.
Pass holders can get extra days at half off the window rate at most resorts. Friends and family get a 25 percent discount on one-day lift tickets, limited to eight tickets.
Indy Pass
The Indy Pass offers access to two days each at independently owned resorts, mostly in North America.
For the next season, Indy made a guarantee of no fewer than 250 resorts and has added new-to-Indy resorts, including Burke Mountain in Vermont and Corralco Mountain & Ski Resort in Chile.
Sales of the $369 pass closed on March 10, but the company suggests joining the waiting list to learn about new offers. Last October, for example, it reopened sales for a few weeks, closing Nov. 10.
With just two days at each resort, Indy Pass best serves skiers interested in trying several resorts.