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The Guide to the Epic Ski Pass
The Epic Pass offers potential savings for winter sports enthusiasts with access to multiple resorts worldwide.
Alisha is a freelance writer and photographer. She is the creator of travel and adventure site Terradrift.com and has written about travel and rewards for many publications, including American Way and Johnny Jet.
A Los Angeles native, Jennifer is a freelance personal finance writer and editor whose goal is to help readers get excited about improving their financial health. She loves using credit card rewards points toward airfare, and recently took a round-trip flight to Southeast Asia entirely on points. Her work has been featured by Forbes, HuffPost, MSN Money and Business Insider.
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Epic Ski Pass holders get access to dozens of resorts and partner mountains around the world. Think of it like a membership: buy it once, use it all winter.
If you're planning to ski multiple days this season, the cost of its most expensive pass, the Epic Pass, could be much cheaper than paying for daily access. Blackout dates and limits on when you can visit may apply, so make sure your favorite resort is included before purchasing.
Here’s what to know about the Epic Pass, including the destinations in its network, pass tiers and pricing, and how to decide if it’s worth buying.
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What’s the Epic Pass?
The Epic Pass is one of three pass options available. It’s the most costly at $1,089 for an adult pass but offers the most flexibility. You’ll get access to more than 90 resorts in its worldwide network and unlimited access to most U.S. destinations, like Vail and Hidden Valley.
You’ll also get limited access to international ski and snowboard destinations in the Canadian Rockies, Japan, and Australia, plus partner resorts in Europe.
Depending on when you purchase, you may also get summer lift access, which can include mountain bike parks or scenic lift rides.
Epic Pass perks
Beyond lift access, pass holders get perks at select resorts including:
Up to 10 Epic Friend Tickets. Get 50% off on ticket window prices for members of your group ages 13+, and 25% off on child lift tickets.
Resort discounts. You’ll get 20% off at many on-resort dining options, resort lodging, and group ski or snowboarding lessons.
Discounts on gear, maintenance, and lessons. The Epic Pass includes a 20% off perk on rental equipment and 50% off one tune-up and one free wax a year.
Discounts on transportation and experiences at a handful of locations.
Pass coverage: You may be able to get a refund or partial refund if you lose your job, a resort closes or you get injured, thus limiting your ability to use your pass.
A key advantage of having the Epic Pass is how easy it is to use. Download the My Epic app on your phone and activate your mobile pass.
The app uses Bluetooth technology that lets you get scanned hands-free. Log in to the app so the pass can be scanned in the background. No more taking gloves off to fumble with your phone — it’s a faster and smoother experience to get from the line to the lift.
You also have the option of using your physical pass and ticket cards to access lifts.
Where are Epic Pass resorts?
Epic Pass mountains and resorts are located all over the world, with the majority in the U.S. Flagship resorts include Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, Heavenly, Northstar and Mount Snow, among others.
There are three main pass levels you can choose from — Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, and Epic Day Pass — depending on how often you plan to hit the slopes this upcoming season.
Epic Pass
The classic Epic Pass offers nearly unlimited access to all Epic Pass resorts with no blackout dates during peak periods like holidays. Most U.S., Canadian and international resorts are included, though a handful — including Telluride in Colorado and select Canadian and Japanese resorts — have caps on the number of days you can visit per season.
Since it's the most inclusive option, it's also the most expensive.
Epic Local Pass
The Epic Local Pass is geared toward U.S.-based skiers who may occasionally travel internationally. It offers unlimited access to many U.S. resorts and limited days at international ones. Some slopes come with restrictions on peak days, so check the fine print if you're planning to go over the holidays.
Epic Day Pass
This flexible option lets you buy one to seven day passes whenever it's convenient. You choose whether those days grant access to all Epic resorts or a specific selection, and whether peak dates are included (which costs more).
Consider this a somewhat a la carte pass for a specific upcoming trip, rather than for the entire season.
Epic Pass
Epic Local Pass
Epic 2-Day Pass
Best for
Destination skiers and maximum flexibility.
U.S. skiers on a budget.
Short trips.
Cost
$1,089 (adults, ages 31+).
$809 (adults, ages 31+).
Starting at $256 (adults, 2-day all resort, off-peak).
Number of unlimited locations
42 destinations.
34 destinations.
None.
Limited stays
Up to 7 days at 17 international and U.S. destinations.
Up to 5 days at 5 international resorts.
Up to 10 days at 3 destinations in North America.
Customizable.
Up to 7 days at 22, 32, or all resorts.
Peak dates, extra cost.
Blackout dates
None.
Yes.
Yes.
Dining and retail discounts
15%.
10%.
None.
Friends and family discounts
Up to 10 passes (50% off for ages 13 or older; 25% off on child lift tickets).
Up to 10 passes (50% off for ages 13 or older; 25% off on child lift tickets)
None.
Epic also offers discounted passes for active military, retired military, veterans and dependents starting at $215.
For those who don't plan to travel far, regional and resort-specific passes are available, starting at $431. The Tahoe Local Pass covers several California resorts; the Northeast Value Pass covers New England, Pennsylvania and the Midwest. There are also dedicated passes for individual resorts if you consistently ski close to home.
When to buy the Epic Pass
All 2026-27 passes are on sale now. Generally, it’s best to purchase passes early in March when they’re at their lowest price, and passes go off sale in December.
For many skiers, yes — but it depends on how often you'll use it, and whether you often ski at partners and destinations within its network.
Assuming the window price for an adult lift ticket is $300 per day, a five-day skiing trip can run $1,500 for the ticket alone. That’s not including costs associated with perks, like food between runs. In this scenario, you’ll more than make up the cost of the Epic pass in one trip.
Consider this before purchasing:
Location. If none of the Epic resorts are near you and you're not planning to travel to one, you can probably skip it. But if your home mountain is on the list and you plan to spend multiple days on the slopes, a pass will almost certainly save you money.
Frequency. The more days you ski, the better the value. Even occasional skiers may benefit from a day pass, which can offer steep savings over full-price lift tickets.
Blackout dates. Check whether peak days such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's are included for the specific resorts you plan to visit (assuming you want to ski during those times). Not all passes and resorts allow holiday access.
Finances: Don’t go into debt for a season-long ski pass. Whether you choose to pay in full or use Epic’s buy now, pay later option, make sure the cost fits your budget before committing. If it doesn't, stick to buying lift tickets on the days you ski.
For the best value, compare the full range of pass options at epicpass.com and choose the one that fits your home mountain, travel plans and budget. There's no need to buy the top-tier Epic Pass if a regional or local option covers everything you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest Epic Pass option? What is the cheapest Epic Pass option?
The cheapest Epic ski pass option is the Epic Day Pass which costs up to $796 for a seven-day pass. It lets you build your pass to your specific needs; choose from one to seven day passes, your preferred resort access level, and whether you’re visiting during peak dates.
Do Epic Pass resorts require reservations? Do Epic Pass resorts require reservations?
Unlike other ski passes, like the Ikon Pass, Epic Pass holders don’t need to make advanced reservations to access mountains.
How many days make Epic Pass worth it? How many days make Epic Pass worth it?
The number of days required to “break even” with the Epic Pass depends on which destination you visit. Generally, four to six days of skiing or snowboarding makes the Epic Pass worth it.