What You Need to Know About the Epic Pass
Many families rely on a season pass that offers multiple mountains on one pass. Vail Resorts offers the Epic Pass and it has become increasingly popular. With the full Epic Pass, you get unrestricted access to multiple mountain resorts, including popular destinations like Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, Breckenridge, and Park City. This means you can hit the slopes as often as you’d like during the season.
These passes WILL go off sale in the fall and they WILL go up in price after the spring. Savvy families budget for this purchase a year in advance. There is 0% financing available (with some restrictions), so that can help make the burden a little lighter. If you plan to ski 5 or more days at a Vail Resort you should consider this product.
Listen to Top Advice
Listen to advice on the best ski pass for your family. In general, if you plan to ski at a Vail Resort for even one day you should get a pass. Tickets at the resort will cost $200 or more per day. You can slash that price in half by buying in advance. Listen to our podcast to learn more.
Highlights of the Epic Pass for the 2024/25 season
You have your choice of passes. Be sure to compare this to the Ikon Pass (an overall more expensive option) and Indy Pass.
- Epic Pass $982: including 10 Buddy Tickets and six Ski with a Friend. Price is for ages 13 and up. Kids 5-12 are $501. This is the premier pass an gives you unlimited access at all Vail Mountains with no blackout dates.
- Epic Local Pass $731: Ski and ride Vail, Breck, Park City and more with unlimited access. But you won't be able to ski everywhere. You'll only get 10 combined days of access to Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, excluding restricted peak dates. Read the fine print on this one. the $731 is for adults 19+. It's $591 for teens 13-18 and $380 for kids 5-12.
- Northeast Value Pass: $600 Provides access to 21 resorts across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, including Stowe, Mount Snow, and Okemo in Vermont; Hunter Mountain in New York; Wildcat, Attitash, Crotched, Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire; Seven Springs, Liberty, Whitetail, Roundtop in Pennsylvania and more. The Northeast also offers a tot pass for $49 for ages 5-6.
- Epic Active Military Pass $172 To honor the service of Vail Mountain's founders from the 10th Mountain Division, and men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force, Vail Resorts offers the Epic Military Pass.
- Epic Veteran's Pass $561 To honor the service of Vail Mountain's founders from the 10th Mountain Division, and men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force, Vail Resorts offers the Epic Military Pass.
- Epic Day Pass from $93 a day: customizable with three levels of resort access. Skiers and riders who only want to visit one or a few days next season can save up to 65% off lift tickets by buying an Epic Day Pass now.
- Kids Under 4 Ski Free: Kids 4 and under will continue to receive free lift access when accompanied by an adult. The 4 and Under Pass goes on sale during Spring prior to the ski season. To be eligible for this pass for the season, the child must be 4 years old or younger at time of purchase. You can purchase the 4 and Under Pass by visiting a resort to purchase in-person or by calling Guest Services at (970) 754-0005.
- Epic School Kids: Available in Colorado, Utah and Whistler. It’s a free program, making it an excellent way for kids to explore the mountains and develop their skills. K-5 in Colorado get 4 days free skiing at each of the epic resorts. Epic SchoolKids program offers a free first-timer lesson and rental package for participating children who have never skied or snowboarded. Find out more here.
- Adaptive Pass $492: For ages 13+ and $252 ages 5-12. Vail Resorts qualifies a permanent disability as a permanent physical, mental, or sensory impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, or working. Check if your child qualifies for an Epic Adaptive pass- some IEP's count. Ask your doctor and check in with Epic as this is specific to your case (but worth exploring). Find out more here.
- College Pass $661: Pretty self explanatory. Comes with 10 buddy passes if you buy early. Excludes peak days at some resorts. In addition there are a slew of additional college options based on region. Dive in here.
Using the Epic Pass at Breckenrdige
Momtrends Media
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"Our Pass options are designed to provide an incredible value to the best mountain resorts, whether you plan to ski and ride one day or every day," said Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch. "Guests can expect to have a better experience at our mountain resorts year after year thanks to our continued investments and innovations, including lift upgrades as well as our new My Epic app that provides interactive trail maps, lift line wait times and new Mobile Pass technology, each designed to enhance your day on mountain."
Note on kids: If your kids are "aging up" buy the passes as BEFORE the big birthdays. For instance if they are 12, turning 13 in September, buy it now and you'll save hundreds of dollars.
New next season
Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland is set to join the Epic Pass (subject to acquisition close).
Lift Upgrades: Vail plans to spend more than $214 million on lifts. Mountain resort projects planned to launch ahead of, or during, the 2024/25 winter season include Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Hunter Mountain in New York, Afton Alps in Minnesota, Perisher in Australia and Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland.
Epic Pass Benefits
Pass Holders get access to Epic Mountain Rewards for savings on the rest of their on-mountain trip:
- 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride lessons, equipment rentals and more.
- With Mobile Pass on the My Epic app, Pass Holders can also store their Pass directly on their phone, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned, hands free via Bluetooth® Low Energy technology.
- Epic FlexPay or $49 down: Eligible Pass Holders have access to apply for easy monthly installments with Epic FlexPay, powered by Uplift. This payment option includes zero down payment, zero interest, and if purchased early, zero payments until September. Alternatively, guests may opt to lock in their Pass for a down payment of only $49, with the remaining Pass balance processed mid-September.
- No Reservations: No reservations will be required at any resort on the Epic Pass for the 2024/25 season, except Telluride Ski Resort. More information on how Epic Pass Holders can make reservations at Telluride next season is available here.
- Epic Coverage: Passes are non-refundable except through Epic Coverage, which provides refunds for certain resort closures and personal events such as job loss, injury or illness. Epic Coverage is provided at no additional cost and Pass Holders should review the Epic Coverage Terms and Conditions. Lift tickets are fully refundable but do not provide the value or flexibility of Passes.
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