If you want to ski cheaply next season, buy it now

The slopes may still be open in most of North America, but it's time to think about next season.

Major passes including Epic and Ikon, as well as Small Mountain Collective recently announced sales for the 2025-26 season. IndyPas has already completed early sales, but the opportunity to buy may resurface later.

Ski website Snowbrains has found that most prices have risen 6-7%, but spring sales are when the pass is the cheapest.

“Now is the time to save less than $100 a day and ski,” said Dan Sherman, Chief Marketing Officer at Ski.com.

The term “Passes” has evolved to include pre-registered products that start with a day's ticket and aim to separate skiers from the walk-up window. Vail Resorts said three-quarters of visitors last season used one of its epic passes, saving up to 65% on window prices.

The strategy is to “lock people early and reward them with discounted prices,” Sherman said.

Check out our products for next season.

Epic Pass

Despite the rough season of the 2024-25 season when Patrollers at Bales Park City Mountain Resort went on strike over the holiday season, Bale Resort has broken the $1,000 introductory price for the 2025-26 EPIC Pass and is currently selling for $1,051. (Last year, the pass started at $982 and ended at $1,107).

The pass provides unlimited access to 42 Vail resorts, including Vail Mountain and Breckenridge in Colorado, Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, and Stowe in Vermont.

Next season, Epic Pass will include five days at the Verbier 4Vallees in Switzerland, with over 250 miles of running at six ski resorts.

Those who buy the epic pass will also receive a discount on their friend's lift tickets. Pass holders, including those with day passes, offer 20% discount on mountain foods, accommodation, gear rentals and lessons.

On Ski.com, Sherman counted over 50 spectacular compositions among variables such as age and location. The epic local pass (currently $783) offers more restricted access to the Vail portfolio, but unlimited access to 29 resorts, including Breckenridge, Crested Butte and Keystone in Colorado.

Available in 1-7-day intervals, Epic Day Passes start from $47 to $100 a day, depending on the resort.

Bale doesn't say when prices will rise, but it tends to rise until sales are turned off. Last year, the Epic Pass was available until December 2nd.

Icompass

Sales of Ikon Pass, offered by Alterra Mountain Company, will begin on March 13th. The $1,329 pass provides unlimited access to 18 destinations, including Steamboat and Copper Mountain in Colorado. Mammoth Mountain and Pallissard Tahoe in California. Crystal Mountain in Washington. Pass holders will be earned for up to 7 days each at 41 resorts, including Aspen Snowmass in Colorado. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming and Kilnton in Vermont.

Pass also covers overseas resorts, including Skibig3 in Alberta. Kitsubher; and – new this year – iSchgl from Austria. Zermatt and St. Moritz from Switzerland. Niseko United in Japan. Chilean Barre Nevado.

The icon also has different subscription levels, including a cheap icon base path of $909. There are unlimited access to 14 North American destinations and blackout dates for up to 5 days at 39 destinations around the world. Additionally, Ikon session paths that are subject to blackout are available in 2, 3, or 4 days increments for one or more destinations of 43 destinations. A two-day pass starts at $259.

Depending on your pass, this year's perks include 25% off spring skiing, window rates for friends and family, and discounts on meals at several resorts.

Icompass is usually available from the beginning to the middle of December.

Mountain Collective

Mountain Collective overlaps with Icon Resort for two days in 26 ski areas. The 2025-26 Adult Pass for sale is $639 and includes the Altas Ski Area and Snowbirds in Utah, Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole and Sun Valley.

Overseas, resorts in Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Japan and New Zealand.

Pass holders can get extra days with half the window at most resorts. Friends and family will receive a 25% discount on one-day lift tickets, limited to eight tickets.

IndiPass

IndiPath is an independent resort mainly in North America, and is accessible for two days each.

Next season, Indy has guaranteed over 250 resorts and added new indie resorts, including Vermont's Berk Mountain and Chile's Coralco Mountain & Ski Resort.

Sales of the $369 pass ended on March 10th, but the company suggests joining the waiting list to learn about the new offers. For example, last October, we resumed sales for several weeks and closed on November 10th.

With just two days at each resort, IndyPass serves skiers interested in trying out several resorts.

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