EPIC PASS
Launched in 2008, Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass is one of the most well-known and widely used multi-resort passes today. Every season, new destinations are added to an already stacked lineup, making it an attractive pass to renew year-over-year.
What's Included?
How Much?
Who Should Get It?
The Epic Pass is a fantastic multi-resort option for skiers who want the best that Colorado and California have to offer, as well as any significant time on European mountains. Going Epic also makes sense for those who want a four or seven-day ski week at one, non-local destination.
With so many different pass variations, you can easily find something that will fit your needs.
IKON PASS
This year, the Alterra Mountain Company released the Ikon Pass, which many consider to be a worthy alternative to the Epic Pass. In its first season, the Ikon Pass features an equally impressive set of resorts and tens of thousands of skiable acres.
What's Included?
Ikon Pass holders get unlimited skiing at 14 resorts and up to 7 days at 20 partner resorts. The pass essentially absorbed the Rocky Mountain Super Pass which provided access to Colorado resorts, including Steamboat, Copper, and Winter Park, and then added a number of non-Colorado, U.S. destinations and international mountains.
Several of the more notable domestic destinations on this year’s Ikon Pass are Jackson Hole (WY), Big Sky (MT), Aspen (CO), and Deer Valley (UT). On the international front, the pass provides access to the four-resort mountain, Niseko United, in Japan, Thredbo in Australia, and several Canadian resorts, including Tremblant.
How Much?
The full Ikon Pass costs $1049 and the more limited Ikon Base Pass costs $749. The Base Pass provides unlimited, unrestricted access to 8 resorts and limited access to 26 others, which still includes the mountains in Australia and Japan.
Similarly to how Epic works, skiers can also purchase a number of local passes should they want to stick to their neighborhood mountains.
Who Should Get It?
The Ikon Pass is worth considering for anyone who is seeking an adventure outside of the Epic Pass. Alterra Mountain Company has brought together a number of iconic mountains previously not available on one pass, making it an exciting option for those needing a change.
Ikon Pass resorts aren’t as geographically clustered as those on the Epic Pass, making it a more attractive option for traveling skiers who want more days on each mountain than what is offered on the Mountain Collective pass.
MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE
Founded in 2012, the Mountain Collective pass has been the best option for those who want to see the world on their skis. It is the go-to pass for the non-committal, adventurous soul and is worth a try at least once in a lifetime for serious skiers.
What's Included?
The Mountain Collective pass comes with 17 destinations with 2 days of skiing at each. The resorts span the U.S., Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, France, and Chile.
There is some overlap between the Mountain Collective pass and the Ikon Pass as both provide access to resorts such as Aspen (CO), Alta (WY), and Squaw Valley (CA), but the Mountain Collective also gets you Idaho’s Sun Valley, Banff / Lake Louise in the beautiful Canadian Rockies, and Chamonix in France. You also have access to New Zealand and Chile, two destinations not available on the other two passes.
How Much?
The Mountain Collective costs $469 for adults and only $99 for kids under 12. Although the pass itself is more affordable, keep in mind that skiers make up for it in airfare if they are, in fact, making the most of the pass.
Who Should Get It?
The Mountain Collective pass is best suited for those who are planning a heavy season of travel and want to check off a number of bucket-list resorts. Mountain Collective skiers can get a taste of nearly twenty dream destinations on five continents.
BREAKING IT DOWN
All three passes offer incredible opportunities to ski multiple resort destinations. Choosing which pass is best is really up to you. Here’s our simple recommendation you can use to find your pass:
- Determine which resort destinations you want to visit this winter.
- See which passes offer access at those destinations.
- Divide the pass price by the number of days you’ll use it to see which gives you the best value.
If you still can’t decide, here’s a helpful breakdown:
EPIC PASS
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Total Resorts: 65
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Unrestricted Access: 19 Resorts
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Restricted Access: 41 Resorts
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Add'l Pass Options Available
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Bonus Discounted Tickets for Friends
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Vail Resorts + MORE
IKON PASS
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Total Resorts: 38
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Unrestricted Access: 14 Resorts
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Restricted Access: 25 Resorts
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Add'l Pass Options Available
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Bonus Discounted Tickets for Friends
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Includes CMH Heli Ski
MOUNTAIN COLLECTIVE
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Total Resorts: 17
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2 Days at each resort
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50% off Add'L DAYS
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NO BLACKOUT DATES
ULTIMATELY - YOU CAN'T GO WRONG
Cover photo courtesy Mauro Paillex / Unsplash
