Get your Epic Passes for ski season before the price increases next month

1 month ago 18

Although kids are going back to school and saying a bittersweet goodbye to summer across the country, now is your last chance to lock in next year's ski plans before ski pass prices increase.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, the best way to pay for your lift tickets is usually with a ski pass instead of individual mountain lift tickets. By purchasing an Epic Pass now, you can avoid overpaying for your days on the mountain by getting what are likely the lowest prices of the year.

An Epic Pass can save you money on skiing even if you are only planning a single trip — or perhaps skiing for as little as one day.

For example, a one-day adult lift ticket at Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado can cost as much as $295 for one single day (for the 2023-2024 ski season). The most you'd pay for one day on the slopes at Beaver Creek or any other Vail-owned mountain if you buy a one-day Epic Pass now for next year is $132. It's an astounding price difference.

Those looking to save money and ski at resorts that are part of the Epic Pass should purchase now for next season in order to get the least expensive pricing for the passes. Current prices will increase Sept. 2, and there are typically small jumps again in fall, spring and at the end of summer.

By purchasing an Epic Pass now, you can lock in your winter skiing for as low as $54 per day for adults (13 and older) and $27 per day for kids ages 5 to 12. Kids younger than 5 can ski for free when accompanied by an adult with an Epic Pass.

Note that the specific per day price depends on the pass you purchase and how often you use it.

If you enjoy Vail Resorts and its partner mountains — some of the biggest names in the industry — an Epic Pass is a great option.

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Epic Pass pricing

The Epic Local Pass — which is available to locals and travel-in skiers alike and covers unlimited, unrestricted access to 29 resorts, including Breckenridge Resort, Keystone Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado — is currently on sale for $746. It also includes unlimited, nonholiday access to Park City Mountain Resort in Utah, Heavenly Ski Resort in California and Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont, plus 10 days at Vail Ski Resort and Beaver Creek in Colorado and Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, among others.

The full Epic Pass, priced at $1,004, unlocks unlimited skiing at Vail Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort, Whistler Blackcomb, Breckenridge Resort, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Stowe Mountain Resort, Keystone Resort, Park City Mountain Resort and many other Vail-owned and partner resorts. You'll also receive seven days at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado and select resorts throughout the Canadian Rockies.

While one pass carries a "local" name, that doesn't mean it's limited to those who live near the mountain; anyone can benefit from tons of skiing throughout the season. "Local" mainly means it has some peak-date restrictions during the busiest holiday times of the year.

There are also many mountain-specific or regional pass options, such as the Northeast Value Pass.

For $613, you can ski all of the Northeast mountains (21 in total) throughout the season. This includes popular options such as Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Snow Ski Resort in Vermont, Hunter Mountain Resort in New York and Mount Sunapee Ski Resort in New Hampshire. While there are a few holiday blackout dates for select mountains and only 10 access days for Stowe, this pass can provide great access to the region.

Additionally, there are significant discounts for students, military personnel (active, retired and dependents), seniors and those with permanent disabilities.

However, if you're only looking to take one or two trips to the mountain, you can instead opt for the Epic Day Pass; this will give you a set number of ski days at a select number of resorts.

An Epic Pass will save you money — even on a short trip

You may not think it's worth getting an Epic Pass if you only ski or snowboard a day or two each season. However, with so many different pass options, you might find one that works perfectly for your ski habits.

The Epic Day Pass has three tier levels based on the mountains included. You can purchase access to 22 resorts (including the smaller Vail resorts), 32 resorts or all 38 mountains.

For a single-day ticket, the adult pass price starts at $52 ($27 for children) for a limited number of ski resorts (those in the Midwest, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania). The cost then jumps to $87 per day for most ski resorts ($44 for kids) or $113 per day ($59 for kids) for the full range of Vail-owned and partner resorts. But with a seven-day pass, the price starts at just $45 per day.

The more days you purchase, the less expensive it is per day. For example, a seven-day pass at the 22 resorts on a nonpeak date is just $311 total or $45 per day. Or, for all access, you're looking at $95 per day. Of course, if you're looking to ski during peak holiday dates (there are only 11 of them), the price goes up slightly; it's capped at $112 per day.

This can help you save, considering single-day walk-up passes can start close to $300 per day at resorts such as Vail and Beaver Creek. So, even if you want to ski just one day at Vail Ski Resort during the peak Christmas week, you can purchase an Epic Day Pass in advance and save money.

Note that only Epic four-day, five-day, six-day and seven-day passes with "All Resorts" access include access to Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado and the six resorts of the Canadian Rockies.

Epic Passes provide exclusive discounts

On top of all of that, travelers with the Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Day Pass and more can enjoy discounts through the Epic Mountain Rewards program.

This simple but rewarding program provides the following discounts at Vail Resorts' 37 North American resorts:

20% off food and nonalcoholic beverages (up to $150 per day)
20% off group ski and ride lessons
20% off lodging owned and operated by Vail Resorts
20% off the Epic Mountain Express private or shared shuttles from Denver International Airport (DEN) and Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
20% off gear rentals
20% off select on-mountain activities
One free wax and one 50%-off tune per season at select U.S. locations

Those with an Epic Pass get early access to Vail Resorts' Winter Getaway Sale for up to 35% off room rates for a limited time across hotels and vacation rentals at mountain resorts. Passholders can book preferred lodging beginning Aug. 22 by logging into their Epic Pass account and selecting the sale ahead of public access starting Aug. 27.

Additionally, all 2024-2025 Epic Pass products automatically include Epic Coverage, which provides refunds for personal events such as job loss, injury, illness and certain resort closures.

Ski and ride at world-class resorts

While the Epic Pass is the juggernaut, the less expensive Epic Local Pass is the best value for travelers who don't plan to ski over holidays or during peak periods.

This season, the holiday dates that affect the Local Pass are Nov. 29-30, 2024; Dec. 26-31, 2024; Jan. 18, 2025; and Feb. 15-16, 2025. Keep in mind that some of the regional passes include additional restricted dates. For example, the Northeast Value Pass is also restricted Jan. 18-19, 2025 — the Saturday and Sunday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

Epic Pass

If you're craving access to all of Vail's resorts, with additional access to partner resorts, and don't want to deal with previously mentioned holiday restrictions, the full Epic Pass will fit your needs.

Passes for the 2024-2025 season currently cost $1,004 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $512 for children (ages 5 to 12). There are no full Epic Pass discounts for teens.

This Epic Pass gets you access to:

Vail Ski Resort
Beaver Creek Resort
Breckenridge Resort
Keystone Resort
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Park City Mountain Resort
Heavenly Ski Resort
Northstar California Resort
Kirkwood Ski Resort in California
Stevens Pass in Washington
Whistler Blackcomb
Stowe Mountain Resort
Okemo Ski Resort
Mount Snow Ski Resort
Mount Sunapee Ski Resort
Attitash Mountain Resort in New Hampshire
Wildcat Mountain Resort in New Hampshire
Crotched Mountain Resort in New Hampshire
Hunter Mountain Resort
Liberty Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania
Roundtop Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania
Whitetail Resort in Pennsylvania
Jack Frost Big Boulder in Pennsylvania
Seven Springs Ski Resort in Pennsylvania
Laurel Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania
Hidden Valley Resort in Pennsylvania
Afton Alps in Minnesota
Mount Brighton Resort in Michigan
Wilmot Mountain Resort in Wisconsin
Alpine Valley in Ohio
Boston Mills Brandywine in Ohio
Mad River Mountain in Ohio
Hidden Valley in Missouri
Snow Creek Mountain Resort in Missouri
Paoli Peaks Mountain Resort in Indiana
Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis in Switzerland
Perisher in Australia
Falls Creek in Australia
Hotham Alpine Resort in Australia

Pending a closing acquisition, Crans-Montana in Switzerland will be added to the list.

At partner resorts, the full Epic Pass gets you access to seven days at Telluride Ski Resort, seven days at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, unlimited access to 26 European resorts and five days in Japan.

Epic Local Pass

For the 2024-2025 season, the Epic Local Pass provides unlimited access to:

Breckenridge Resort
Keystone Resort
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Stevens Pass
Okemo Ski Resort
Mount Snow Ski Resort
Mount Sunapee Ski Resort
Attitash Mountain Resort
Wildcat Mountain Resort
Crotched Mountain Resort
Hunter Mountain Resort
Afton Alps
Mount Brighton Resort
Wilmot Mountain Resort
Alpine Valley
Boston Mills Brandywine
Mad River Mountain
Hidden Valley in Missouri
Snow Creek Mountain Resort
Paoli Peaks Mountain Resort
Liberty Mountain Resort
Roundtop Mountain Resort
Whitetail Resort
Jack Frost Big Boulder
Seven Springs Ski Resort
Laurel Mountain Resort
Hidden Valley Resort in Pennsylvania

You'll also get access (with holiday restrictions) to Park City Mountain Resort, Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort, Kirkwood Ski Resort and Stowe Mountain Resort.

The Epic Local Pass includes 10 total combined days (with previously mentioned holiday restrictions) at Vail Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort and Whistler Blackcomb.

Additionally, if you plan to ski outside of North America, you'll receive five days in Japan at Hakuba Valley and Rusutsu Resort and five days in Switzerland at Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis and Crans-Montana (access subject to acquisition close).

In short, if you can work around a few restrictions, the current Epic Local Pass pricing is a deal at $746 for adults, $388 for children ages 5 to 12 and $603 for teens between 13 and 18. To compare, a seven-day, restricted Epic Day Pass is currently $661 for adults, so you can ski unlimited times throughout winter without paying too much more money.

Hot tip: If you're looking to purchase the Northeast Value Pass or Ohio Pass and you have a child who's 5 or 6 years old, you can purchase a Tot Pass. This pass is significantly cheaper. It's less than $50 (pricing depends on when you purchase the pass), but you'll need to call Vail or a local resort to purchase it. As we've learned from the past few years, if the representative isn't aware of this particular pass, you should ask to speak to someone else.

Vail Resorts 2024-2025 opening dates

As of Aug. 14, Vail Resorts has announced opening dates for select properties, starting in October at Keystone Resort, followed by:

Nov. 8: Breckenridge Resort
Nov. 15: Vail Ski Resort
Nov. 22: Whistler Blackcomb, Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort and Park City Mountain Resort
Nov. 27: Beaver Creek Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Dec. 6: Kirkwood Ski Resort and Stevens Pass

"Opening days for additional resorts will be announced closer to the winter season," per a statement issued by Vail Resorts.

What's changed with Epic Pass for this year

If you had an Epic Pass last year, you'll be happy to know that options are almost identical despite the price increase of approximately 8%.

There aren't many changes, but you'll now see the Mobile Pass option at more mountains — such as Whistler Blackcomb — and improvements to Buddy Ticket redemption. Buddy Tickets are deeply discounted single-day lift tickets with a fixed price for each resort; they are offered for a limited time to guests who purchase an eligible pass product.

The main change is that Switzerland's Crans-Montana also joined the program for the 2024-2025 ski season.

Epic launched a new app to replace the EpicMix app, too. With the new app, your phone will serve as your lift ticket at most resorts. You can also use the app to buy your Epic Pass, Buddy Tickets and Ski With a Friend tickets.

New this winter, guests at four Colorado resorts can also access My Epic Assistant in the app for artificial intelligence resort assistance at Vail Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort, Breckenridge Resort and Keystone Resort.

There will also be a few new lift upgrades, with projects at various resorts, including Whistler Blackcomb, Hunter Mountain Resort, Afton Alps, Perisher and Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis.

Bottom line

For years, the most cost-effective way to ski at major mountains has been with a pass. But now, with single-day lift tickets knocking on the door of $300 per day, it's essential to plan ahead and get some kind of Epic Pass to avoid paying those incredibly high rates.

Based on how much we skied last year, our Epic Pass rate came to approximately $30 per day, including six days in Vail and Breckenridge. This is a huge savings compared to the day rates at most mountains throughout the U.S. — even the independent resorts not part of the Epic Pass.

On top of those more accessible prices to get you on the lift, you can also potentially use your hotel points to stay near (or even on) the mountain to keep your out-of-pocket ski prices as low as possible. Just make sure you plan ahead.

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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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