Even before the current downhill season ends, season passes are now on sale for the 2024/25 ski and snowboard season, at the lowest early bird rates of the year.
Whether you buy an Ikon Pass, Epic Pass, Mountain Collective Pass, Indy Pass, or a pass from one specific favorite area or group of destinations in one region, depends on how often you intend to ski or ride, and where, and your age.
It’s not easy to figure out the best deal from the mind-boggling array of prices and perks, including discounts for renewals over new purchases.
Here are the top deals from the top passes. Do your due diligence to figure out which one is right for you.
Note that prices generally increase around Memorial Day, again over the summer, again around Thanksgiving, and go off-sale when the new season begins. So buy now for the best price.
We are listing prices for ages 21-64. There are different prices for children, college students and seniors. As we said, it’s a mind-boggling array – and I would rather be skiing than trying to figure out which is the best pass for me for next season.
Ikon Pass
The Ikon Pass is good at more than 50 destinations in the US, Europe and Japan, including Jackson Hole, Steamboat, Big Sky, Alta, Snowbasin, Sun Valley, Mammoth, Revelstoke and Zermatt – although some are available only on the upgraded Plus pass. Passes provide up to five days at each resort.
New pass perks for next season include discounts on The North Face outdoor gear and a company that ships skis, and more discounted “buddy” passes for friends and family
2024/25 Ikon Pass Pricing for adults to 64 –
- Ikon Pass starting at $1,249 ($1,689 CAD)
- Ikon Base Pass starting at $869 ($1,169 CAD)
- Ikon Session Pass starting at $259 ($349 CAD)
There also are discounts for 65+, military and dependents, college students.
For more pricing and perks information, see our full 2024/25 Ikon Pass Buyer’s Guide
Epic Pass
This is for 42 resorts owned by Vail Resorts, including Vail, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Park City, Whistler/Blackcomb, Stowe, Killington and Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland.
Pass perks include 20% off food and beverage at Vail-owned restaurants, and no reservations required except at Telluride.
2024/25 Epic Pass Pricing for adult to age 64 –
- $982 for the basic Epic Pass for all destinations worldwide
- $731 for the Epic Local Pass for 29 destinations in the US and Canada
- $600 for the Northeast Value Pass, limited to 20+ destinations in Penna, NY, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire
- $561 for the Military Pass, for active and retired military
Compare all Epic Pass offerings, including regional Passes, on our full 2024/25 Epic Pass Buyers Guide
Mountain Collective
This is a true hybrid pass, since it includes several downhill destinations also on the Ikon pass, such as Jackson Hole, Banff/Lake Louise and Snowbasin, and international destinations including Valle Nevado in Chile, The Remarkables in New Zealand and Japan’s Niseko.
The advantage of the Mountain Collective Pass is that it is cheap – just $602 – and has no blackout dates. The disadvantage is that it offers only two days at each, unlike Ikon and Epic which provide five. But additional days are discounted, which varies by area.
Indy Pass
You can’t beat the Indy Pass if you love small, family-oriented downhill destinations – or the price – just $349 for adults and $199 for kids.
New resorts for next season are –
- Big Moose Mountain, Maine
- Mt. Eyak, Alaska
- Mt. Washington Alpine Resort, British Columbia
- Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Colorado
- Steeplechase, Minnesota
- Wintergreen Resort, Virginia
- Wisp Resort, Maryland
Availability is limited. More information here.
Which pass will you buy?
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.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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