It’s an age-old question. One ski season is winding down, while another looms on the horizon. You want to ski as much as you can, but what pass should you buy?
For many skiers, that boils down to two relatively similar choices: the Epic Pass and the Ikon Pass. These all-consuming multi-pass products are impossible to avoid, and if you live near the mountains, odds are good that one of your local resorts participates in their programs.
Keep reading for a primer on the basics of the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass as you decide which to buy.
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Is the Epic Pass or Ikon Pass Better?
It depends on what you want out of your ski season. Neither the Epic Pass or the Ikon Pass is better than the other. Instead, they shine in different contexts. These are a few factors worth considering before you buy an Epic Pass or Ikon Pass:
- Geography: While the Epic Pass has a larger resort portfolio than the Ikon Pass, don’t be distracted by the numbers. Instead, it’s worthwhile to think hard about where you’ll actually have the time to ski during the winter so you can maximize your investment. The more time you spend in the mountains, the better. So, if you live near a resort with unlimited Ikon Pass access, think about buying an Ikon Pass and skiing there during the weekends. Then, when you plan a ski vacation or two, you can visit other Ikon Pass mountains. The opposite is true if you live near a resort with unlimited Epic Pass access.
- Price: The Epic Pass is cheaper than the Ikon Pass by several hundred dollars, making it the more affordable option.
- Dream destinations: Both the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass have a few world-class resorts that skiers travel from far and wide to visit. The Epic Pass, for example, provides access to the sprawling Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia. The Ikon Pass has Palisades Tahoe, California. Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to ski? Is it available with an Epic or Ikon Pass? That should weigh in your decision-making process.
Should I Buy an Epic or Ikon Pass?
The impact of multi-passes on skiing is significant, controversial, and undeniable. However you feel about the presence of conglomerates and their products within skiing, though, Epic and Ikon Passes are both incredible deals if you plan to ski ten or more days during the winter, especially given how expensive ski tickets have become. Other multi-pass options, like the Indy Pass or Power Pass, should be on your radar, too, particularly for fans of lesser-known ski areas.
The Epic Pass and Ikon Pass Explained
The Epic and Ikon Passes are the most feature-rich ski resort multi-passes on the market. Essentially, they function like a season pass that works at multiple mountains. Each participating destination has varying levels of access. Some are“unlimited”—that’s self-explanatory—whereas others, you can only visit a set number of days during the season.
The Epic Pass is sold by Vail Resorts, while the Ikon Pass is sold by Alterra Mountain Company. Both companies are conglomerates that own multiple ski resorts across the world. Their multi-passes provide access to the ski resorts they own, alongside numerous “partner” mountains that allow Epic or Ikon skiers on their slopes. For instance, Alta Ski Area, Utah, isn’t owned by Alterra, but it is accessible with the Ikon Pass on a limited basis.
While the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass are the most well-known ski multi-passes, they aren’t the only options on the market. Other multi-passes include:
- The Indy Pass
- Mountain Collective
- Power Pass
- Ski California Gold Pass
- Boyne Passport
- Powder Alliance
- Ski Utah Gold Pass
What Ski Resorts Are Available With the Epic Pass and Ikon Pass?
The Epic Pass provides access to 85 resorts; 41 of these resorts have unlimited access. The Ikon Pass provides access to over 60 resorts; 18 of these resorts have unlimited access. The geographic distribution and caliber of these resorts vary.
The Epic Pass has a vast number of humbler ski areas across the Midwest and the East Coast, while the Ikon Pass skews more towards larger, destination-style resorts out West. Still, several big names, like Vail, Colorado; Park City, Utah; and Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, are part of the Epic Pass portfolio. Both multi-passes have an international footprint, too, with a smaller number of participating resorts in Japan, Europe, and Australia.
To view a complete list of resorts, head to the Epic Pass or Ikon Pass website.
Epic and Ikon Pass Types
The Epic Pass and Ikon Pass are only one part of the broader pass programs offered by Vail and Alterra. These are the three tiers:
- Epic Pass and Ikon Pass: These are the most expensive and robust Vail and Alterra offerings. They provide access to the largest number of mountains and don’t have any blackout dates.
- Epic Local Pass and Ikon Base Pass: These passes are a step down from the flagship products. They provide unlimited access to a smaller number of mountains and have some blackout dates.
- Epic Day Passes and Ikon Session Passes: If you know you won't ski more than a few days next winter and want extra savings, consider Epic Day Passes or Ikon Session Passes. These bundles allow you to buy a small number of ski tickets (up to seven for Epic and up to four for Ikon) before the season starts. Similar to the flagship Epic and Ikon products, the Day and Session bundles work at multiple mountains, providing more flexibility than a day ticket for one ski resort.
- Regional passes: Epic offers several smaller-scale regional passes, like the Tahoe Value Pass and the Keystone Plus Pass. These passes are much cheaper than the Epic Pass and could be a good fit for someone who only wants to visit a few ski resorts in a confined geographic area.
What Are Blackout Dates?
The Epic Pass and Ikon Pass don’t have blackout dates. However, the lower-tier products, like the Epic Local Pass or the Ikon Base Pass, do. During these dates, your pass won’t work at specific mountains. They fall during the busiest periods of the winter. Here’s an example—with the Ikon Base Pass, you can’t ski at Mammoth Mountain, California, at all between December 27 and December 31, 2025.
Blackout dates might sound like a drag, but they’re easy to navigate around and only account for a small part of the winter, regardless of whichever pass you choose. So, don’t be afraid to save a few hundred bucks by reaching for one of the lower-tier Epic or Ikon options, even if it includes blackout dates. Make sure you plan in advance, though, and know which dates you can ski. Nothing’s worse than realizing you can’t, in fact, join your family on Christmas Eve because you forgot about blackout dates.
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