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Comparing Multiple-Resort Season Ski Passes for 2023-2024

Updated Oct. 19, 2023

A new season of ski pass sales is upon us! Epic Passes are now running $969 This is a nominal increase from last year. A full Ikon Pass now runs $1,309.

The Ikon Pass has added a notable resort to its ranks in Alyeska, which is the flagship ski mountain of Alaska. Alyeska receives copious snowfall and offers some of the most unique vistas in skiing—you can see the ocean as you ski—and it is a base for heli-skiiing Alaska's Chugach. The weather is highly variable, however, and Alyeska can be a risky destination trip—I've run into problems of not being able to get up in a helicopter at all, all week, and while the snow totals are impressive, the conditions aren't as dependable as those of the Rockies. The best time to visit is late April, when weather is milder and the days long—the resort will usually run the lifts until 6 pm.

For Epic Pass, the only notable change for next year is that skiers at Telluride—full $969 Epic and Epic Day Pass Skiers get Telluride access—will have to make reservations ahead of time with the resort. The reservation system is being stood up by Vail, likely to give them a little control of how much they're spending on the Telluride partnership per day. Each day an Epic Pass is used at Telluride costs Vail more than $100, which is the most expensive such deal in the industry.

Telluride is not a place that gets crowded or has seen local backlash relating to multi-resort passes, unlike Aspen, Big Sky, Jackson Hole or just about any mountain in Utah.

The Epic Local Pass remains a steal at $676, which is just $7 more than last year. The key to this pass, especially in Colorado and Park City, is to hit busy resorts—Breck, Keystone, Vail, PC—on off-peak days.

The Ikon Base Pass will run $829, but does not include skiing at Aspen, Jackson Hole, Deer Valley, Alta, Sun Valley, Snowbasin and Taos. To add those resorts, skiers can pay an additional $220 (total of $1,049) for five days at each of these mountains, or buy the full Ikon for $1,159 and get 7 days at these partner resorts.

The $220 Ikon upgrade price makes the Mountain Collective pass, which is now $570 for 2023-2024, even more interesting. The Mountain Collective includes two free days at all of those partner resorts except Deer Valley with additional days 50% off. Those who buy the pass in the spring get an additional third day at a resort of their choice. My family buys this pass, FYI, as it fits our needs best.

There are no ski resorts who switched sides from Epic to Ikon or vice versa this season. Telluride was the big puzzle piece and Vail/Epic managed to lock it into another multi-year deal that, for each pass scan, promises to pay Telluride more than any other resort partner in either resort pass network.

The choice for skiers between Epic, Ikon and the Mountain Collective has always been interesting, but becomes more intriguing with each season, especially for those on the Front Range of Colorado, where the choice isn't always obvious.

Bottom line, as with most winters, if you're going to buy a pass, just buy it. Buy it early, save a few bucks and find some peace of mind that you're locked in for next winter. Reservation systems are gone for now, but Vail and Alterra will be watching the numbers (and money) roll in and who knows if they'll limit pass sales at some point or simply increase prices in larger increments as the year goes on.

What's changed on the Ikon Pass for 2022-2023, Including Ikon Session Pass:

After crowds have set upon Crystal Mountain from the Seattle the last three winters, Alterra Mountain Co. has moved that mountain to a premium status; Ikon Base Pass holders will only receive five days at Crystal, just as they did last winter—the big change is that full Ikon Pass holders will only get seven days at Crystal rather than unlimited access. That full season pass at Crystal will require an additional $700 on top of the $1,079 price of the full Ikon Pass.

In addition, Ikon is again offering what it calls the Session Pass, which offers four days of skiing at ski resorts normally accessed on the Ikon Base Pass. Important: In a change from last season, the Session Pass will not grant access to Jackson Hole, Aspen, Alta, Snowbird or Deer Valley. The Session Pass carries holiday blackout dates similar to the Base Pass.

Similar to last season, Ikon Pass buyers who want access to Jackson Hole and the four Aspen Skiing mountains will need to pay an additional $150 for the privilege.

Ikon has also announced the blackout dates for the Ikon Base pass for 2021-2022.

Those who are renewing their Ikon Pass will receive a $100 discount from Alterra/Ikon if they purchase this spring.

Season passes used to be for locals only. But now anybody who is going to put in more than a single long weekend in Colorado, Utah or elsewhere would be well advised to examine their season pass options as they can pay for themselves quickly. Almost all of the top resorts in North America - Jackson Hole, Aspen, Snowbird, Alta, Whistler, Vail, Park City - can be had as some part of a larger pass.

See a map of Epic Pass ski resorts | See a map of Ikon Pass ski resorts

The competition between Alterra's Ikon Pass and Vail Resorts' Epic Pass have created a dynamic environment for ski passes, with two expansive, coast-to-coast options for skiers.

The winter of 2021-2022 will be the fourth in which these two face off. Skiers who put in at least five days will be close to earning their money back when buying either of the full-fledged versions of the passes, which retail at $783 (Epic) and $999 (Ikon). Buying early locks in those prices. All skiers have to do is decide which pass to buy.

We want to help you choose.

The crew at ZRankings has done all the research for you. We calculated the total acreage, the overall ratings of each pass's resort portfolio, its price, the average resort snow quality and more. Then we crunched the numbers so that you can figure out which pass is the best investment for you, where you'll get the most bang for your buck and what you'll need to do to get each pass's highest value. So sit back, marvel at your options and buy quickly before the prices go up—and they're usually going up.

Colorado locals and destination skiers who are focused on skiing Colorado should check our Colorado coverage:

Best ski pass for Colorado—Ikon or Epic?

Best ski pass for Colorado powder chasers—Ikon or Epic?

Likewise, Utah locals and destination skiers who plan on skiing Utah at least once in a season should see our piece on Utah and ski passes:

Best ski pass for Utah skiers - locals and visitors - Ikon or Epic?

And Tahoe/California skiers should see our Tahoe-specific piece:

Best ski pass for Tahoe - Ikon or Epic?

The Mountain Collective shouldn't get lost in the din of excitement around the Epic and Ikon Passes. For those who are taking two long-weekend ski trips in a winter—or three or four—the Collective's benefits offer an attractive play. The $489 price tag can be recovered very quickly for skiers who hit two of its locations.

Price
# of Mountains
Avg PAF
(West)
Top 5 Avg PAF
Avg Snow Score (West)
Top 5 Avg Snow Score
Avg True Snowfall (West)
Full Season Pass?
Free days @ each resort
Half days @ each resort
Ikon Pass
$1079 Full, $769 Base
No. of Mountains
44
77.7
91.8
68.8
81.0
295.5
Yes
Unlimited
N/A
Epic Pass
$841 Full, $626 Local
No. of Mountains
25
77.0
87.9
65.3
74.1
266.3
Yes
Unlimited
N/A
Mountain Collective
$539
No. of Mountains
17
81.4
91.3
71.1
80.5
315.9
No
2
Unlimited
Powder Alliance
Home Mtn Pass Price
No. of Mountains
18
63.9
74.6
61.0
70.2
302.7
No
3
0

Ikon Pass

June Mountain
Pico Mountain
Winter Park Ski Resort

The Ikon Pass is a full-on, fire-breathing challenger to Vail's Epic Pass. The Mountain Collective was the expeditionary force that held back Vail's ambitions as well as it could for several years, but the Ikon Pass is the vehicle that can actually match Vail mountain by mountain, vacation by vacation.

As for which of these two ski passes skiers should buy, we put together something on that: Epic Pass vs. Ikon Pass.

The Ikon Pass itself is a fantastic asset to those who choose to buy it. It offers full, unlimited access to flagship ski resorts across Colorado and California:

Steamboat
Winter Park
Copper Mountain
Mammoth, plus June Mountain and Big Bear
Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows

And now, almost a clean sweep in in Utah:

Solitude
Brighton
Alta
Snowbird
Snowbasin

And it also gets skiers into Eldora, a family spot on the Denver side of the range.

In 2022, Sun Valley and Snowbasin, who have now switched sides twice, moved back to the Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective after being on the Epic Pass since 2019-2020. Skiers with the full Ikon Pass receive seven days at each mountain, with fewer or no days on lesser passes.

Sun Valley has a lot of history in the sport, particularly with skiers hailing from California, but it has never been a major destination from those coming from the east. The resort hopes this deal helps change that.

Snowbasin's addition to the Ikon Pass is likely more relevant to more people, as it gives Ikon yet another ski resort in Utah to go along with Deer Valley, Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. The Epic Pass is now limited to just Park City inside of Utah.

In addition, the Ikon Pass comes with limited access—either 5 or 7 days, depending if skiers buy the full version of the pass ($1259) or the Base version ($929) to a panoply of of other stalwart ski resorts, including a slew of mountains that are not owned by Ikon's parent, Alterra. Among this group (Base pass skiers need to pay $220 extra for five days at Jackson Hole, Alta, Aspen, Sun Valley, Deer Valley, Snowbasin and Taos):

Jackson Hole
Snowbird and Alta
Big Sky
Aspen - all four mountains
Deer Valley (Alterra owned)
Summit at Snoqualmie
Taos
Brighton
Revelstoke
Taos
7 days together at: Banff Sunshine, Norquay, Lake Louise

Many skiers will be pushed toward the Ikon Pass thanks to these independent resorts. A family could combine a week trip during the holidays, another week at spring break and a long weekend trip to a combination of resorts such as Jackson Hole, Deer Valley and Steamboat—with all skiing covered by the Ikon Pass. This is the kind of top-shelf variety that, before, was only available to Epic Pass holders.

In the east, the Ikon pass offers full access to a wide collection of ski resorts, from Loon Mountain, Killington and Sunday River, among others. Skiers who spend serious time mining New England will want to consider the Ikon Pass.

Ikon passholders also receive the ability to purchase up to 10 single-day lift tickets at 25% off for friends and family. This discount is valid at all Ikon Pass destinations.

  Resort
True
Snowfall*
Lift
Ticket
Days to
Payback
     Acreage PAF
Score
Alpine Meadows
CA
363 in $139 2400 acres 75.0 more
Winter Park Ski Resort
CO
347 in $144 3081 acres 85.4 more
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
CO
314 in $76 900 acres 78.7 more
Bear Mountain Resort - CA
CA
83 in $79 748 acres 49.0 more
Sun Valley Ski Resort
ID
196 in $115 2054 acres 71.7 more
Snowbasin Ski Resort
UT
316 in NA 2820 acres 74.3 more
The Summit at Snoqualmie
WA
387 in NA 1981 acres 67.9 more
Eldora Mountain Resort
CO
225 in NA 680 acres 60.0 more
Snowbird
UT
497 in $98 2500 acres 94.2 more
Jackson Hole
WY
368 in $130 2500 acres 99.0 more
Alta Ski Area
UT
517 in $89 2200 acres 93.5 more
Solitude Mountain Resort
UT
437 in NA 1200 acres 84.0 more
Aspen Snowmass
CO
295 in $149 3132 acres 88.9 more
Revelstoke
BC
367 in NA 3031 acres 85.0 more
Big Sky Resort
MT
286 in NA 5809 acres 86.9 more
Aspen Mountain - Ajax
CO
250 in $149 675 acres 83.0 more
Steamboat Ski Resort
CO
368 in $99 2965 acres 88.3 more
Mammoth
CA
354 in $125 3500 acres 84.5 more
Aspen Highlands
CO
252 in $149 1028 acres 83.8 more
Brighton Ski Resort
UT
504 in NA 1050 acres 82.2 more
Taos Ski Resort
NM
254 in $86 1294 acres 79.9 more
Deer Valley Resort
UT
275 in NA 2026 acres 81.5 more
Copper Mountain
CO
278 in $78 2465 acres 78.1 more
Red Mountain Resort
BC
274 in NA 1686 acres 74.4 more
Mt. Bachelor
OR
383 in NA 3683 acres 73.3 more
Aspen Buttermilk
CO
200 in $149 470 acres 69.0 more
Sunshine Village
AB
258 in $70 3358 acres 72.0 more
Lake Louise Ski Area
AB
171 in $68 4200 acres 66.4 more
Killington
VT
240 in NA 752 acres 61.4 more
Cypress Mountain
BC
350 in NA 1482 acres 61.9 more
June Mountain
CA
268 in $89 500 acres 55.1 more
Sugarloaf
ME
173 in NA 1056 acres 53.2 more
Pico Mountain
VT
250 in NA 265 acres 50.5 more
Mont Tremblant
QC
156 in NA 654 acres 53.6 more
Sunday River Ski Resort
ME
150 in NA 743 acres 52.6 more
Blue Mountain
ON
110 in NA 251 acres 49.1 more
Stratton Mountain
VT
189 in NA 600 acres 46.6 more
Loon Mountain
NH
171 in NA 370 acres 43.2 more
Snowshoe Mountain
WV
156 in NA 235 acres 39.1 more
Windham Mountain
NY
110 in NA 269 acres 33.8 more
Crystal Mountain Resort
WA
413 in NA 2600 acres 77.2 more
Palisades Tahoe
CA
369 in $139 3600 acres 81.5 more
Sugarbush
VT
267 in NA 508 acres 61.3 more
Alyeska Resort
AK
488 in $75 1500 acres 80.3 more

Epic Pass

Beaver Creek Resort
Kirkwood
Keystone Resort

Vail Resorts' Epic Pass was among the pioneers in the business of bundling season passes. With the Epic Pass you'll get unlimited access to the entire North American catalogue of North of Vail Resorts: Beaver Creek, Whistler-Blackcomb, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, and Wilmot. Internationally, Australia's Perisher resort is also Epic.

The vanguard resort of southwest Colorado, Telluride, is also part of the full Epic Pass, which will grant skiers seven days at the mountain. Also in the Epic fold in the farther reaches of Colorado is Crested Butte, where Epic Pass skiers get unlimited access. Crested Butte is fully owned by Vail, so all Epic Passes qualify for days there. Telluride, however, will require reservations beginning the winter of 2023-2024 for Epic Pass skiers. Also, only the full-priced Epic Pass and Epic Day Passes of four days of more for which users have paid for the all resorts option qualify for days at Telluride.

Elsewhere, Vail's Epic Pass includes Steven's Pass, in Washington State, as well as some of the stalwarts of the Canadian Rockies: Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, and Nakiska.

The comparative chart above focuses on the full Epic Pass, which is $909. There is another version of this pass, the Local's Epic Pass, which runs around $676 and comes with some blackout restrictions, which are detailed below.

In total, the Epic Pass grants access to 31,650 acres of ski terrain. The average PAF of the resorts, excluding the three urban resorts, is a respectable 81.3 and the average true annual snowfall of those resorts is 320 inches.

Quite a lineup.

With Wilmot Mountain in Southeast Wisconsin, Vail's tally of Midwestern urban resorts is up to three. Wilmot is an hour from Chicago and less than an hour from Milwaukee, Afton Alps is less than an hour from Minneapolis and Mt. Brighton is less than an hour from Detroit. These hills are great for teaching the kids and give skiers in these markets extra incentive to go with the Epic Pass, which can double as the local pass and the vacation pass.

If you want to spend less and can deal with restrictions and blackout dates, the Epic Local Pass is a more affordable option. You'll get unlimited access to Breckenridge, Keystone, Wilmot, Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton and 10 days of holiday-restricted access to Vail and Beaver Creek plus restricted access to Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.

If you're not going to ski more than 7 days, the Epic 7-Day is an excellent option with 7 days unrestricted accessto the whole Vail empire for $710, including Telluride and the Canadian Rockies resorts.

  Resort
True
Snowfall*
Lift
Ticket
Days to
Payback
     Acreage PAF
Score
Hunter Mountain
NY
125 in NA N/A 240 acres 46.5 more
Attitash Resort
NH
155 in NA N/A 307 acres 42.0 more
Mount Snow
VT
167 in NA N/A 590 acres 41.9 more
Mount Sunapee Resort
NH
100 in NA N/A 233 acres 35.6 more
Telluride Ski Resort
CO
276 in NA N/A 2000 acres 95.6 more
Vail Ski Resort
CO
354 in $165 5.1 5289 acres 90.8 more
Park City Mountain Resort
UT
288 in $122 6.9 7300 acres 86.1 more
Beaver Creek Resort
CO
325 in $165 5.1 1815 acres 84.9 more
Fernie Alpine Resort
BC
376 in NA N/A 2504 acres 78.8 more
Breckenridge Ski Resort
CO
282 in $154 5.5 2358 acres 81.7 more
Kirkwood
CA
459 in $99 8.5 2300 acres 80.3 more
Crested Butte Ski Resort
CO
253 in $108 7.8 1547 acres 79.5 more
Stevens Pass Resort
WA
474 in NA N/A 1125 acres 76.7 more
Keystone Resort
CO
235 in $125 6.7 3148 acres 76.0 more
Northstar at Tahoe
CA
316 in $130 6.5 3170 acres 73.8 more
Kicking Horse Resort
BC
253 in NA N/A 2800 acres 70.2 more
Heavenly
CA
321 in $125 6.7 4800 acres 73.3 more
Stowe Mountain Resort
VT
305 in $92 9.1 485 acres 67.7 more
Okemo Mountain
VT
167 in NA N/A 632 acres 49.1 more
Nakiska Ski Resort
AB
99 in NA N/A 1021 acres 49.1 more
Wildcat Mountain Ski Resort
NH
225 in NA N/A 225 acres 47.4 more
Kimberley Alpine Resort
BC
150 in NA N/A 1800 acres 46.9 more
Mont-Sainte-Anne
QC
184 in NA N/A 526 acres 45.1 more
Afton Alps
MN
55 in $56 15.0 300 acres 29.3 more
Whistler
BC
419 in $78 10.8 8171 acres 88.5 more

Mountain Collective

Aspen Mountain - Ajax
Snowbird
Taos Ski Resort
Founded in 2012, the Mountain Collective Pass was the first competitor to Vail's Epic Pass. A group of elite ski resorts came together to form the Collective as a way to combat the sheer awesomeness of the Epic Pass. Rather than offering unlimited skiing at each resort, the Collective created something different entirely.

Here's how it works: with the purchase of the pass, skiers are granted access to two free days at each ski destination. There are 10 North American destinations that include 17 mountains, which are listed below in a table.

The Mountain Collective remains one of the best ways to put together two ski trips a season at a very attractive price. A trip to Jackson Hole and a trip to Aspen, with five lift tickets between each of them, could by itself top $850, if a skier is buying tickets at the window. Add in more days and the savings continue to mount. It doesn't take much to make the Collective a worthwhile investment.

Certain mountains are grouped together into destinations. The four Aspen mountains are one destination; Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village are one destination; and Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are one destination. Jackson Hole, Stowe, Taos, and Mammoth are single resort destinations.

New Zealand's Coronet Peak/The Remarkables is a full Mountain Collective partner, joining the other international destination, Thredbo of Australia.

With the MCP, you're getting access to three of the highest ranked resorts in North America: Jackson Hole, Snowbird and Alta. So while it might not be unlimited access, the MCP brings plenty of elite powder and terrain. You're also getting 41,757 acres of skiable North American terrain and an average PAF (Western resorts only) of 82.9. The average true snowfall at Collective resorts is 312 inches. And you can't beat the quality of the snow. Alta has a perfect total snow score; Snowbird isn't far behind with a score of 95.1.

Supply is limited at the $449 price, so expect prices to go up throughout the year as the ski season draws nearer. Get it early you'll get a kids pass for only $99. You'll also get an additional day at the resort of your choice.

Perhaps the best part of the deal is the deal you get for additional lift tickets after your two days at each destination. These tickets are discounted 50% at the ticket counter as long as supplies last. Not only does mean you're not limited to just two days at each destination but it means that the MCP can be used as a local pass.

Here's the math: If Jackson is your local mountain, you'll use your two days early in the season and each additional day will be just $65, rather than the full priced $130. With a season pass to Jackson priced at $1760, you would need to ski 23 days before you'd lose money on the MCP. By the time you've skied four days at Jackson using the MCP you've already saved money in comparison to buying daily lift tickets.

One thing you're not getting with the MCP is wide access to Colorado. You've got the four Aspen mountains plus A-Basin. In comparison, the Epic Pass includes Beaver Creek, Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte and, for full Epic Pass holders, seven days at Telluride, which is the best place to ski in Colorado by our estimation.

  Resort
True
Snowfall*
Lift
Ticket
Days to
Payback
     Acreage PAF
Score
Alpine Meadows
CA
363 in $139 5.8 2400 acres 75.0 more
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
CO
314 in $76 12.2 900 acres 78.7 more
Sun Valley Ski Resort
ID
196 in $115 7.4 2054 acres 71.7 more
Snowbasin Ski Resort
UT
316 in NA N/A 2820 acres 74.3 more
Snowbird
UT
497 in $98 9.0 2500 acres 94.2 more
Jackson Hole
WY
368 in $130 6.3 2500 acres 99.0 more
Alta Ski Area
UT
517 in $89 10.1 2200 acres 93.5 more
Aspen Snowmass
CO
295 in $149 5.2 3132 acres 88.9 more
Revelstoke
BC
367 in NA N/A 3031 acres 85.0 more
Grand Targhee
WY
466 in NA N/A 3000 acres 82.4 more
Big Sky Resort
MT
286 in NA N/A 5809 acres 86.9 more
Aspen Mountain - Ajax
CO
250 in $149 5.2 675 acres 83.0 more
Aspen Highlands
CO
252 in $149 5.2 1028 acres 83.8 more
Taos Ski Resort
NM
254 in $86 10.5 1294 acres 79.9 more
Aspen Buttermilk
CO
200 in $149 5.2 470 acres 69.0 more
Sunshine Village
AB
258 in $70 13.4 3358 acres 72.0 more
Lake Louise Ski Area
AB
171 in $68 13.9 4200 acres 66.4 more

Powder Alliance

Timberline Lodge
Monarch Mountain
Timberline Lodge
  Resort
True
Snowfall*
Lift
Ticket
Summit
Elevation
     Acreage PAF
Score
Eaglecrest Ski Area
AK
350 in NA 2600 ft 640 acres 66.6 more
Mt. Hood SkiBowl
OR
350 in NA 5027 ft 960 acres 58.1 more
Whitewater
BC
395 in NA 6567 ft 1184 acres 87.6 more
Loveland Ski Area
CO
344 in NA 12700 ft 1800 acres 77.8 more
Bridger Bowl Ski Area
MT
303 in NA 8800 ft 2000 acres 73.5 more
Sugar Bowl Resort
CA
453 in $103 8383 ft 1500 acres 69.5 more
Timberline Lodge
OR
450 in NA 8540 ft 1415 acres 71.4 more
Schweitzer Mountain Resort
ID
284 in NA 6400 ft 2900 acres 66.7 more
Castle Mountain Resort
BC
278 in NA 7463 ft 1400 acres 66.4 more
Silver Star Mountain Resort
BC
223 in NA 6280 ft 3065 acres 59.7 more
Arizona Snowbowl
AZ
202 in $69 11500 ft 777 acres 55.9 more
Angel Fire Resort
NM
210 in NA 10677 ft 445 acres 52.2 more
China Peak
CA
300 in NA 8709 ft 430 acres 51.4 more
Marmot Basin
AB
160 in NA 8570 ft 1675 acres 53.9 more
Mountain High Resort
CA
120 in NA 8200 ft 290 acres 42.9 more
Monarch Mountain
CO
284 in NA 11952 ft 800 acres 63.7 more
Sierra-at-Tahoe
CA
389 in NA 8852 ft 2000 acres 67.5 more
Silver Mountain Resort
ID
353 in NA 6300 ft 1600 acres 65.5 more