What’s the Best Ski Pass This Season? A Comparison of Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective, and Indy Passes

While many of us are still enjoying the last days of summer, it's never too early to start thinking about winter. Though planning ahead can seem overwhelming, now is actually one of the best times to buy your ski pass for the 2024-2025 season. All season passes for next year were announced this spring, and prices for some options are only expected to rise as autumn approaches.

In addition to various region- and mountain-specific passes, there are four primary ski pass choices for North American skiers and snowboarders: the Epic Pass, the Ikon Pass, the Mountain Collective, and the Indy Pass.

If your family typically takes just one or two trips to the mountains each season, you might think a season pass isn’t worthwhile. Surprisingly, this often isn't the case.

Single-day lift tickets can often exceed $200 at major mountains, particularly on weekends and peak days, while annual passes begin at around $300. Therefore, many families who love the snow find it more economical to choose a pass instead of purchasing individual lift tickets, even if they plan to ski only a few times. This is especially relevant now that several passes offer options tailored for those skiing for just a handful of days.

Here’s a breakdown of the four primary ski passes to help you determine which option is best for you this ski season.

Ikon Pass

The Ikon Pass grants you access to approximately 50 ski destinations across the globe. This includes renowned resorts like Winter Park, Aspen Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, Stratton Mountain, Sugarbush, and Mont Tremblant.

Recognizing the variety of skiers, Ikon offers four different pass options. This flexibility allows you to choose a pass that suits you and your family while saving money in the process.

The full-access Ikon Pass provides unlimited entry to 17 resorts and up to seven days at 41 additional destinations across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia. The advantage of this pass is the absence of date restrictions, meaning you could theoretically ski every day this winter. Currently, this pass is priced at $1,359 for adults (ages 23 and older), with discounted rates available for children, college students, nurses, and military personnel.

If you don't plan to ski as often — or during peak periods — you might prefer the Ikon Base Pass.

This option comes with blackout dates and limits you to five ski days at select resorts, with some resorts excluded. The Ikon Base Pass is priced at $969 for adults, with similar discounts available for children, college students, nurses, and military members.

For those looking to ski at Jackson Hole, Aspen Snowmass, Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Alta, Snowbasin, and Taos, you can upgrade to the Ikon Base Plus Pass for an additional $250.

If you anticipate skiing less than a few times this winter, consider the Ikon Session Pass, available in two-day, three-day, or four-day packages. The pricing for an adult lift ticket is $289 for two days, $399 for three days, and $479 for four days. You can use these days non-consecutively and across different resorts, such as two days at Steamboat and two days at Mammoth Mountain. Be aware that there are blackout dates for this option.

Both the Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass provide friends-and-family discounts on lift tickets, offering 25% off the standard ticket price for your friends. This discount is applicable at all Ikon Pass mountains during the season, with the exception of certain international resorts, and blackout dates apply. (Note: This benefit is not available with the Ikon Session four-day pass, any child passes, or passes for kids aged 4 and younger.) You’ll also receive slight discounts on food, retail, and more at select resort locations.

If you buy an Ikon Pass for the 2024-2025 ski season but find that your plans have changed and you won’t be using it, you can defer the cost toward a 2025-2026 Ikon Pass — no questions asked. This option is available until December 12, provided the pass is completely unused.

Epic Pass

Among the most popular options available is the Epic Pass, designed to accommodate the needs of every skier or snowboarder.

The Epic Pass is priced lower than its rival, the Ikon Pass, and provides access to 38 destinations in the U.S., along with numerous resorts across Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan. Some notable resorts included with the Epic Pass are Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City, Northstar, Heavenly, Stowe, Okemo, and Whistler Blackcomb.

If you aim to ski across the country on most days of the week, consider the full Epic Pass — just be aware that prices have risen as of early September. It costs $1,025 for adults (ages 13 and older) and $523 for children (ages 5 to 12), offering unlimited access at nearly all locations with no blackout dates. The only exception in the U.S. is Telluride, where you’re limited to just seven days.

Conversely, the Epic Local Pass provides access to most (though not all) of the same resorts, but with some peak date restrictions at select locations. This option is more budget-friendly, priced at $762 for adults (ages 19 and older), $616 for teenagers (ages 13 to 18), and $397 for children (ages 5 to 12).

Military personnel (current, active, or dependents), individuals with disabilities, and college students can avail themselves of discounted rates on select passes.

If you don’t plan on skiing more than seven days this season, you can customize the Epic Day Pass to match the exact number of lift ticket days you require. Resorts will be categorized into three tiers, with lower-priced options available at the less expensive resorts. Pricing will also vary depending on whether you choose to ski during holidays.

With this option, you can ski for as low as $44 per day for adults or $23 per day for children.

Beyond the Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass, there are numerous regional pass options tailored to specific areas across the country. This is perfect for skiers who prefer to focus on particular regions or resorts.

All Epic Pass purchases for the 2024-2025 season include complimentary coverage that safeguards you against job loss, resort closures, stay-at-home orders, and more. Keep in mind that this coverage has certain conditions, but it will provide actual refunds rather than just future credits.

Like previous years, you'll enjoy access to Epic Mountain Rewards, which offers fantastic discounts, including 20% off ski lessons, accommodations, dining, and rentals. This benefit is applicable at all Vail-owned resorts (excluding partner resorts) and is available to all passholders, even those opting for the Epic Day Pass.

Most Epic passes also include Ski With a Friend Tickets and Buddy Tickets, allowing you to purchase discounted tickets for friends and family skiing alongside you. If you didn't buy your pass before May 27, Buddy Tickets with fixed pricing may not be included, but you will still have access to Ski With a Friend Tickets, which have variable prices depending on the ski day.

Mountain Collective

The Mountain Collective boasts a network of 25 resorts, featuring renowned names like Aspen Snowmass, Taos Ski Valley, Banff Sunshine, Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, and Snowbasin.

This pass grants you two days of skiing or boarding at each resort without any blackout dates; subsequent days are available at a 50% discount. Importantly, there are no holiday restrictions with this pass, making it ideal for peak week trips.

Mountain Collective offers a limited number of passes at an initial price before the rates typically increase. Currently, the pass is priced at $629 for adults, $509 for teens aged 13 to 18, and $229 for children 12 and under.

Naturally, the more you ski at participating resorts, the lower your daily cost becomes. At the current pricing, the Mountain Collective pass typically pays for itself after four to five days of skiing.

Indy Pass

This pass made its debut at the start of the 2019 ski season and has steadily gained traction over the years.

The Indy Pass operates much like the Mountain Collective, limiting you to a set number of days at each resort. With over 180 smaller, independently owned ski areas to choose from, there’s plenty of terrain to explore. Plus, cross-country skiing enthusiasts can access many cross-country resorts, which are included in the total count of resorts.

This pass grants you two days at each participating resort. If you wish to ski a third day, you’ll receive a 25% discount off the standard ticket price.

Unfortunately, all passes sold out back in March. However, you can join their waitlist for a chance to snag a pass if they become available for this winter. Last year, passes sold out around the same time, but sales reopened briefly in the fall, so it's wise to keep an eye on your email notifications once you're on the waitlist.

If you manage to grab a pass for this winter — or if you’re planning ahead for next year — the Indy Pass has two options: the Indy+ Pass and the Indy Base Pass. The Indy+ Pass lets you ski at any open resort, while the more budget-friendly Indy Base Pass comes with blackout dates. These blackout dates vary by resort rather than a fixed schedule.

Earlier this year, when the passes were available, the Indy+ Pass was priced at $469 for adults and $259 for kids 12 and under, while the Indy Base Pass was just $349 for adults and $199 for kids 12 and under. There’s also a pass for cross-country resort access at a lower rate.

Additionally, passholders can enjoy discounts at a list of allied resorts, which include 50% off midweek and non-peak weekend lift tickets and 25% off during holidays and peak weekends.

The Indy Pass stands out as a much more budget-friendly option compared to the Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective passes. Since these resorts are independent, you’ll likely encounter fewer crowds and better rates for lessons. Indy Pass holders can also benefit from lodging deals at select mountains.

While it may be challenging to secure a pass for the 2024-2025 season, it's definitely worth considering for next year — or if the waitlist opens up this fall (as it did in 2023).

Explore the Indy Pass mountains by region: West, Rockies, Midwest, East, Mid-Atlantic, and Japan.

Which ski pass reigns supreme?

The big question (or rather, the $300 to $1,000-plus question): Which annual ski pass is the best?

For an economical ski pass that grants access to the highest number of resorts, the Indy Pass is your best bet. It’s roughly a third of the cost of other passes (albeit limited to two days per resort). While it’s currently unavailable for purchase, hopefully, the waitlist for additional pass sales will open up soon.

For access to numerous premium ski resorts, the Epic Pass is hard to surpass. The local version is also a fantastic option if you’re not planning to ski during peak days.

The Ikon Pass provides unlimited skiing at many sought-after resorts as well.

Determining the best pass depends on your preferred skiing locations during the winter.

If you're looking to hit some well-known mountains but prefer shorter trips to different resorts, the Mountain Collective offers access to popular destinations at a more affordable rate. You just need to be open to varying your resort choices.

The more restrictive tiers within the Ikon and Epic families are excellent ways to save if you plan to avoid skiing during busy holidays like Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend, or Presidents Day weekend.

With numerous pass options available, it’s wise to outline your desired resorts before determining which pass is the best fit. Naturally, price will also be a significant factor in your choice.

Final thoughts

Selecting an annual ski pass can be quite challenging. Passes typically go on sale throughout the fall, giving you time to consider your options. However, early pricing discounts for some passes have already passed, so you’ll want to act before higher prices take effect.

When deciding on a pass, consider where and when you plan to ski, whether you’d like to spread out the cost, how often you intend to hit the slopes, and what protections are in place in case the season presents unexpected challenges.

I like to take into account which resort areas feature points-friendly hotels, allowing us to stay close to the mountain without breaking the bank on lodging. To complicate things, some mountains are included on multiple passes. So, grab a warm cup of cocoa and plan out all the details for your winter ski trips while comparing the specifics of each option.

My family is set to purchase the Epic Pass for the fourth consecutive year. Last winter, we enjoyed over 20 days of skiing across resorts in New Hampshire (our home mountain), Vermont, and Colorado. This brought our daily cost down to around $30 per person — even less for my kids. When compared to standard lift prices, this was an incredible bargain.

Even if you don’t find yourself on the slopes every weekend like my family does, planning ahead and buying a pass can still save you a significant amount of money for next winter.