10 States Where Kids Ski Free

As you start planning your winter holidays, we're sharing where you can let your kids ski free (or practically free)!

Author:
Kate Bayless
Publish date:
Nov 19, 2023

Momtrends Media

As you start planning your winter holidays, we're sharing where you can let your kids ski free (or practically free)!

Whether your kids are experienced skiers or snowboarders or they are hitting the slopes for the first time this winter, everybody loves free, amiright? Today we're sharing where you can let your kids ski free (or practically free)! Read on for how to save some dough and get your kids on the snow in more than 10 states across the U.S.

We hear from our moms all the time that the sport is getting impossibly expensive, that's why we focus on finding deals and making life easier. We've broken it down state-by-state to make this easier, but keep in mind, you don't have to live in the state to get the discounted pass. Plan accordingly and you could have some awesome winter adventures in front of you! If we are missing a program or state, please contact me and we will update this powerful resource.

Colorado

Colorado offers a passport that gives 3-6th Graders four days of skiing at 20 Colorado ski areas. Whether your student is just getting started, a confident intermediate, or putting the grownups to shame, get more mountains for your money—and 2 free Junior daily rental packages from Christy Sports—with every CSCUSA Ski Passport. Weekends are included with some limited holiday restrictions The passport is $65 for 2023. Register here.

Kids’ Ski Passports are valid at 20 CSCUSA member ski areas: Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Highlands, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Cooper, Copper Mountain, Echo Mountain, Eldora, Granby Ranch, Hesperus Ski Area, Howelsen Hill, Loveland Ski Area, Monarch Mountain, Powderhorn, Purgatory Resort, Snowmass, Steamboat, Sunlight, Telluride, and Winter Park.

Ski Passports blackout dates: December 25, 2023–January 1, 2024; January 13–14, 2024; February 17–18, 2024

Idaho

Your 5th and 6th graders will get 17 mountains for $29 in the 2023 season with the Ski Idaho Passport. And even the BIG resorts are in on this. Idaho has it dialed in for middle school kids.

After you submit the application your passport will be emailed. It gives your 5^th grader three free days at EACH of our 17 participating locations, and your 6^th grader two free days at EACH of our 17 participating locations.

You can either print the passport and bring it with you or pull it up on your smartphone and present it at the ticket office. Either way, your kid’s skiing free. Of course, a parent or guardian must be present, and the passport must be shown at the resort in order to receive the lift ticket.

Participating ski hills reserve the right to limit passport use for any reason and on any scheduled blackout dates that may apply. Ski Idaho Peak Season Passport is non-transferable and non-refundable. Check with your ski hill for full details.

Maine

Kids in Maine can apply for the WinterKids Passport that helps 5th, 6th and 7th graders get outside and get active more often in the winter, with free and discounted tickets, lessons, and rentals at 50 areas all over Maine. Younger kids in preschool through 4th grade can apply for the WinterKids FunPass instead that lets kids try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trails throughout the state for free.

New this year: Winter Kids App (download here)

2023 Annual membership costs $40 and covers a family of five.
More than five people in your family? Additional children can be added at $10 per child by contacting us directly after you sign up.

Michigan

MSIA“Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport allows Fourth and Fifth Graders to Ski All Winter Long in Michigan! Families can obtain a Cold is Cool Ski & Ride Passport App for their 4th and/or 5th graders that gives them up to three free lift tickets or trail passes at 29 participating ski areas, plus additional discounts on the slopes and in Michigan ski shops. MSIA charges $30 for the passport; $25 covers operating expenses and $5 goes to MIsnow, a new charitable organization that helps get underprivileged kids out on our slopes & trails in the winter. MIsnow also works to preserve the strong cultural past of Michigan skiing and protect its future with sustainability education.

In addition to the lift tickets donated by the participating ski areas, Cold is Cool Passport also includes a coupon for 20% off a helmet purchase and $20 off the purchase of $100 at participating ski shops across the state. Some ski areas have also included coupons for equipment rental and free or discounted lessons.

The Passport is an app to download on your phone, making it contactless at the lift ticket window. Use the Winter Kids App (download here)

Once the application is complete, you will receive an email with instructions on how to download the app. To get a lift ticket, you will bring your child and your phone (or other device that you have loaded the app on) to the ski area. Show the offer you want to redeem to the ticket attendant and press the redeem button to receive your child’s lift ticket or other offer in the Cold is Cool App. It’s that simple!

CHECK YOUR PASSPORT APP FOR EXCLUSION DATES AND THE SKI AREA’S WEBSITE before heading to the slopes. Know before you go!

You can also show proof of grade at a participating ski shop and gain instant access to the Cold is Cool App. No need to wait for MSIA’s approval or upload proof of grade!

Minnesota

The 4th Grade Passport offers every 4th grade student in Minnesota the opportunity to ski and snowboard for free. The goal is to help introduce families to the how much fun they can have together outside in the winter. The Passports go on sale each year in late summer and remain available until early February. There are more than a dozen mountains participating. The 2023 Passport costs $34.95 (no price increase this year!)

New Hampshire

The SnowSport Passport provides 4th and 5th graders with one free lift ticket plus an additional offer ranging from free rentals to discounts on adult lift tickets to BOGO deals at over two dozen New Hampshire downhill and cross-country ski areas. Apply for the passport online or by mail.

Students in the program will receive one lift ticket or trail pass voucher to each of Ski New Hampshire's 30+ member ski areas. The Passports are $59 and are accessible through the WinterKids app which would need to be downloaded to the parent's phone.

Black-out dates for this program are:

Christmas break: Tuesday, December 26, 2023 - Monday, January 1, 2024
Martin Luther King Weekend: Saturday, January 13 – Sunday, January 14, 2024
President’s Weekend: Saturday, February 17– Monday, February 19, 2024
February break: (one day) Saturday, February 24, 2024.

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New York

This year the Kids Learn to Ski or Ride Passport returns with more ski areas accepting it during holiday periods! Like in the past the Passport is valid seven days a week except for holiday periods at certain ski areas as noted. The program is open to 3rd and 4th graders from any State or country and no reservations at ski areas are required. The fee is $41.

The program offers free skiing for your third and fourth graders with an adult purchase, it can be used up to two(2) times per participating ski area. A valid adult ticket purchase is one on the ski area website or at the ticket window and includes season passes as well. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE RENTALS OR LESSONS!

Holiday Periods are:

Christmas week (12/23-1/1/24)
MLK Weekend(1/13 - 1/15/24)
President’s week (2/17 – 2/25/24)

This year once again the Passport is a digital “card” that you can show on your phone or print off to take with you to the ski area and will include a photo of your child that you upload during the application on the Passport. Once your application is processed you will be emailed your Passport "digital card" that you can print or show on your phone. It is also available in your profile on our Passport system so you can access and email it to yourself anytime you wish.

Once you receive your Passport in your email (check your inbox or spam folder) you can show the PDF on your phone or print and take with you to the ski area. The ski area will record the 16 digit number and once approved will give your child a ticket when you purchase one. If you purchase your ticket ahead online just take your child to the ski area with the Passport and present with your ticket at the ski area ticket window or guest services for redemption.

Oregon

It's a mountain-by-mountain situation in Oregon.

Mt. Bachelor: When you buy an advanced online "Kids Ski Free" at Head to Mt. Bachelor 3-of-3 day adult lift ticket, children 12 & under ski absolutely FREE for the same duration. Select any consecutive 3-day period up to April 23, 2024. Secure this offer by purchasing at least 7 days before your visit. Get the details head to Mt. Bachelor. Mt.Bachelor offers a ticket that quickly sells out
Over at Anthonylakes.com they offer 5th & 6th graders a FREE lift ticket, rental & mandatory lesson. And an accompanying adult discount gets a $25 lift ticket if they want to ski. No need to pre-purchase/reserve (even if tickets are sold out online). Just come to the ticket booth to purchase upon arrival. Attendance pays! If your child attends 7 out of 8 Sundays, they may then purchase a season pass for the remaining season and following winter for only $150!
Get more Oregon ski free deals here.

Utah

Ski Utah Passport gives middle schoolers a chance to ski or board for just $69. Passports also include a variety of additional deals and discounts from resorts and partners, from discounted buddy passes and gear rentals to summer activities at select Utah resorts. All grades receive 3 days at each of Utah's 15 resorts! 45 Days for $69 (prices go up December 1, 2023.

Track pass usage/availability at any time on any device Use the Pass Portal to track your redemption history, lift tickets available and exclusive discounts for your 4th, 5th or 6th grader.

Vermont

The Fifth Grade Passport in Vermont offers participating students up to 90 days of nearly free skiing and riding at Vermont’s alpine and Nordic resorts. Passport holders receive a booklet containing coupons for three free lift tickets at each alpine resort and 1-3 coupons for cross-country trail passes at each Nordic center. Note: Passport holders need to be accompanied by a ticket or pass-holding adult and each adult may bring up to two Passport holders. Some blackout dates apply. The Fifth Grade Passport costs $30 for 2023.

Washington

Kids living in or visiting the Northwestern Rockies can take advantage of the 5th Grade Ski & Ride Passport allowing 5th graders to ski or snowboard for free at each Ski NW Rockies' participating resorts including Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain, and 49 Degrees North. There is a one-time $23 processing fee due at the time of application.

You must apply for your child's passport online at www.5thgradeskipassport.com

To use, pull up your passport on your mobile device (or print it out) and take it with you to the ski hill. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the passport to be valid. Present the passport to the designated ticketing window, DO NOT turn the passport in, the ski hill will not collect them, the passport is yours to keep for the duration of the season. The mountain will track passport usage by the unique number printed on the passport. b. A tip for those mountains where you may not have good wi-fi or phone service if you're planning on showing the passport on your mobile device at the mountain. Save the PDF as a document onto your mobile device and that way you do not have to rely on cell phone service or wi-fi connections to show your passport.

Blackout dates: Christmas – 12/18/23 through 1/1/24, MLK – 1/13/24 through 1/15/24, and President’s – 2/17/24 through 2/19/24.

West Virginia

The West Virginia Passport Program allows any child in the 4th or 5th grades to ski or snowboard for FREE starting Monday, January 1, 2024. Participating resorts: Winterplace, Oglebay, Canaan Valley, Snowshoe and Timberline Mountain. Fee is $40, plus tax for administrative fees.The 4th & 5th Grade Passport may be used to obtain up to three (3) Junior lift tickets and one (1) free rental at participating resorts during the 2024 season. Resort benefits determined by each ski resort. Find out more here www.goskiwv.com/passport-program/

Program Includes:

3 Lift Ticket Coupons: Winterplace, Oglebay, Canaan Valley and Timberline Mountain.
1 Lift Ticket Coupon: Snowshoe.
Rental Coupon: There will be one free rental coupon in each booklet that can be used at either Winterplace, Oglebay, Canaan Valley, Snowshoe and Timberline Mountain.

Rules: The coupon recipient is responsible for calling any participating ski resort 24 to 48 hours in advance of your ski date to ensure redemption policies have not changed at the resort do to unforeseen resort limitations.

Ski Free Kid Programs — More Ski Free Passes for Kids
Power Kids

More Ski Free Passes for Kids

Power Pass: This is huge! Kids 12 and under get a FREE Power Kids season pass that’s good at all Power Pass mountains! It’s totally FREE – no strings attached! Arizona Snowbowl (Flagstaff, AZ), Purgatory Resort (Durango, CO), Hesperus Ski Area (Durango, CO), Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort (Taos, NM), Pajarito Mountain Ski Area (Los Alamos, NM), Brian Head Resort (Brian Head, UT), Nordic Valley Ski Resort (Eden, UT). More details here www.pajarito.ski/power-kids/
Epic School Kids Pass: GET 4 FREE DAYS EACH AT 5 COLORADO RESORTS (closed for the 2023-24 season, mark your calendars for next year). The Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack is a free program for Kindergarten through 5th graders that provides four days of skiing and riding at each of the state’s top-ranked resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte.
Grade verification: If you renewed your child/children by the October 11th deadline but have not yet completed in-person grade verification, please stop by a Front Range Epic Mountain Gear store to provide grade verification. Enrollment for the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack is not available at the Frisco Epic Mountain Gear location. Verification must be completed before using the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack and cannot be completed at resorts. Get details here.
Pennsylvania: The SnowPass program for students in 4th or 5th to ski free in Pennsylvania was suspended in 2021. But, there is good news, there is a list of budget options organized by SkiPA. Get all the details here.