2024/25 Epic Pass Buyer's Guide

Once again, well before the end of the current ski/snowboard season, Vail Resorts is selling its Epic Pass for next season, with the best rates of the year to ski/snowboard at more than 50 downhill destinations in the US, Canada and Europe.

There are multiple choices for Epic Pass, so you need to decide where you want to ski and how often, and buy the pass to fit. That same advice applies to the Ikon Pass, the Mountain Collective Pass and the Indy Pass.

Rates increase on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, around Labor Day, and again around Thanksgiving, so the longer you wait, the more it will cost.

Prices for next season are 8% more than this year. The Epic Pass for next season is early-bird priced at $982, an increase of $73 over last year’s early-bird price for this season.

The Epic Local pass costs $731, an increase of $55 over last year.

Since walk-up day-of-sale lift ticket prices are between $200 and $300, the Epic Pass pays for itself if you plan to ski more than 5-8 days next season, and it allows you to ski 5 days each in all those 50+ resorts.

It’s a mind-boggling menu of choices.

2024/25 Ikon Pass Buyer’s Guide

Ski the Northeast: Two Money-Saving Passes

Early-Bird Epic Pass Pricing for 2024/25 Season –

Note – The deadline is Sunday, April 14, to get a pass that includes 8 FREE buddy passes.

Epic Pass at $982, for unlimited, unrestricted access to 42 resorts in USA and Canada;
Epic Local Pass at $731, for unlimited, unrestricted access to 29 resorts including Breckenridge and Keystone, plus 10 days total at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler-Blackcomb.
Epic Day Pass customizable with three levels access to ski or ride Vail Mountain from $93 a day;
Military Active and Retired military pass for $172.
Military Pass for Dependents at $561
Northeast Value Pass for 21 resorts from Maine to Penna. at $600

There’s also an Epic Day Pass for all resorts, starting at $44 per day, available only before the start of next season.

The day after the May 27 price increase includes the loss of those 8 free buddy passes, and other perks.

Discounts for Seniors

Despite marketing its military, college and other discount passes, there is no senior discount for the Epic Pass.

The only senior discounts are for local and regional passes, such as the Brighton Pass ($600 for ages 13-61 and $542 for 62+), the Tahoe Value Pass ($450 for $65+ vs. $529 full price).

The Northeast Value Pass ($450 for ages 65-79, same price as teens 13-17, vs. $600 full price) does not show anything for 80+. But there is another discount for 80+ – you just have to know the secret to get it.

The additional discount is available only if you telephone and get lucky reaching a customer service rep who knows it exists. This season, it took me three calls to find that person, to get the pass for $129 – for unlimited skiing Monday-Friday only.

See all the senior discount passes here. https://www.epicpass.com/pass-results/senior-passes.aspx

This is What’s New for 2024/25 Season

Switzerland’s Crans-Montana Mountain Resort:

Skiers and riders will be able to experience Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland for the first time, subject to the close of Vail Resorts’ acquisition. The resort is two and a half hours from Vail Resorts’ other owned and operated European resort, SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun, in Central Switzerland. Crans-Montana Mountain Resort spans more than 4,593 feet of skiable vertical terrain, and approximately 87 miles of trails.

Mobile Pass is coming to Whistler Blackcomb:

The new My Epic app offered a Mobile Pass option to guests at 36 U.S-based resorts, and next season the feature is coming to Whistler Blackcomb. With Mobile Pass guests may store their Pass directly on their phone, put the phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free via Bluetooth® Low Energy technology.

This eliminates the need to wait in the ticket window line or wait for a Pass to arrive in the mail. It will also help reduce plastic and RFID chip waste. Plastic cards will still be available to guests who cannot or do not want to use their phone as their Pass.

Skip the ticket window with improved Buddy Tickets redemption process:

Skiers and riders who lock in an Epic Pass soon will receive 10 Buddy Tickets and six Ski With A Friend Tickets to help friends and family save on lift access. New next season, you and your friends can skip the lift ticket window to redeem those tickets and instead head straight to the slopes. Simply purchase the Buddy or Ski with a Friend Ticket(s) on EpicPass.com, then let the My Epic app and Mobile Pass do the rest.

Pass Holders must scan their Pass first in a lift line, which will activate the Mobile Buddy or Ski with a Friend Ticket within the guest’s My Epic app’s Mobile Lift Ticket feature. Scan and go! Direct-to-Lift access will be available across all Vail Resorts North American destinations resorts for the 2024/25 winter season.

Additional Epic Pass Benefits for 2024/25

Epic Mountain Rewards

Pass Holders receive 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride lessons, equipment rentals and more. Pass Holders also receive summer benefits at eligible resorts, including Summer Scenic Gondola rides, 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, bike rentals and golf.

Epic FlexPay or $49 down

Eligible Pass Holders can apply for easy monthly installments with Epic FlexPay, powered by Uplift. This payment option includes zero down payment, zero interest, and if purchased early, zero payments until September 1. Or,, you can lock in your Pass for a down payment of $49, with the remaining Pass balance processed mid-September.

No Reservations

No reservations will be required at any resort on the Epic Pass for the 2024/25 season, except Telluride Ski Resort. More information on how Epic Pass Holders can make reservations at Telluride next season is available here.

Epic Coverage

Passes are non-refundable except through Epic Coverage, which provides refunds for certain resort closures and personal events such as job loss, injury or illness. Epic Coverage is provided at no additional cost and Pass Holders should review the Epic Coverage Terms and Conditions. Lift tickets are fully refundable but do not provide the value or flexibility of Passes.

See you on the slopes!

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and a current member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.