Walk-up lift ticket prices at major ski resorts have increased dramatically over the past decade. In 2015, a day ticket at Vail cost $119. In 2026, the same ticket at the gate costs $280–$340. The industry's two dominant multi-resort pass programmes — Epic Pass and Ikon Pass — were partly created in response to consumer backlash over these prices, but their own pricing and complexity requires careful navigation.
Epic Pass covers 40+ resorts owned or partnered with Vail Resorts across the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe.
Key included resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Whistler/Blackcomb (Canada), Verbier (Switzerland — limited days), Hakuba Valley (Japan), Perisher (Australia)
| Pass Type | Price (Early Purchase) | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Epic Pass (unlimited) | $1,020–$1,140 | None — unlimited days at all resorts |
| Epic Local Pass | $720–$820 | Blackout holiday periods |
| Epic Day Pass (1–7 days) | $77–$140/day | Resort and date specific |
| Epic 4-Day | $310–$390 | Blackout dates apply |
The early purchase discount: Epic Passes bought before May/June for the following ski season are $200–$300 cheaper than passes purchased in November. The price increases several times over summer/autumn.
Ikon Pass competes directly with Epic and covers different (though occasionally overlapping) resorts.
Key included resorts: Aspen/Snowmass (5 days), Jackson Hole (5 days), Steamboat, Winter Park, Mammoth Mountain, Alta/Snowbird, Squaw Valley, Banff Sunshine (Canada), Niseko (Japan), Chamonix (France — limited days), Thredbo (Australia)
| Pass Type | Price (Early Purchase) | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Ikon Pass | $1,239–$1,359 | Unlimited at most; 5–7 days at premier resorts |
| Ikon Base Pass | $879–$999 | 5 days at most resorts; blackout dates |
| Ikon Session Pass (4-day) | $469–$569 | 4 non-holiday days |
The decision comes down to which specific resorts you want to ski:
The Arlberg region (St Anton, Lech, Zürs, Stuben) is connected into one of Europe's largest ski areas. The Ski Arlberg pass covers the entire region.
Linking Morzine, Les Gets, Avoriaz, Châtel, Champéry and more across two countries — 600km of linked pistes.
Val Thorens, Méribel and Courchevel together form the world's largest linked ski area — 600+km of pistes connected by a single lift pass.
Swiss resorts are the most expensive in Europe:
Epic and Ikon passes are cheapest when bought in March–May for the following season. By November, the price has increased 15–25%. If you know you will ski more than 5–6 days in a season, the full season pass pays for itself.
At virtually every ski resort, the per-day cost drops significantly with longer ticket duration:
Vail example (approximate 2026 prices):
Early season (December before Christmas) and late season (March–April) offer:
Early February (after Martin Luther King weekend in the USA; after UK half-term in European resorts) is often significantly cheaper than the surrounding holiday weeks.
Most resorts sell "beginner area" passes at 30–50% of the full mountain ticket price. For first-time or early beginner skiers spending most time on green runs and the ski school meeting area, these represent excellent value and are often not advertised prominently.
Renting equipment at resort is expensive ($60–$100/day at major resorts). Alternatives: