SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
The Ikon Pass is a ski membership that provides access to a collection of ski resorts around the world. The most expensive pass from Ikon includes unlimited access to more than a dozen Ikon Pass resorts and up to seven days per year of access to other resorts, plus buddy passes and discounts on food, drinks and retail purchases.
The Ikon Pass is an excellent choice for people who plan on skiing multiple days each winter. With many lift tickets running between $200 and $300 per day, just one multiday ski vacation can justify the cost.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
What Ikon Pass resorts are included?
There are 76 global destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia Newsweek where passholders can ski and snowboard. However, access may be limited depending on what type of Ikon ski pass you have. Limited blackout dates apply to the Ikon Base Pass.
Resorts in the United States
For the 26/27 season, the Ikon Pass covers resorts across 18 U.S. states, with destinations concentrated in the West, Rockies and Northeast.
| West (6) | Pacific NW (6) | Rockies (15) | Midwest (2) | East (10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palisades Tahoe. Sierra-at-Tahoe. Mammoth Mountain. June Mountain. Big Bear Mountain Resort. Snow Valley. | Sun Valley. Alyeska Resort. Crystal Mountain Resort. The Summit at Snoqualmie. Mt. Bachelor. Schweitzer. | Aspen Snowmass. Steamboat. Winter Park Resort. Copper Mountain. Arapahoe Basin. Eldora Mountain Resort. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Big Sky Resort. Taos Ski Valley. Deer Valley Resort. Solitude Mountain Resort. Brighton. Alta Ski Area. Snowbird. Snowbasin. | The Highlands. Boyne Mountain. | Stratton. Sugarbush Resort. Killington - Pico. Snowshoe Mountain. Sunday River. Sugarloaf. Loon Mountain. Camelback Resort. Blue Mountain Resort. |
International mountain resorts
International travelers can take advantage of Ikon Pass resorts across 13 countries. Southern Hemisphere locations make it possible to ski year-round since their season starts just as the North American season winds down.
| Canada (8) | South America (1) | Europe (6) | Oceania (5) | Asia (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West SkiBig3. Revelstoke Mountain Resort. Cypress Mountain. RED Mountain. Panorama. Sun Peaks Resort. East Tremblant. Blue Mountain | Chile Valle Nevado. | Andorra Grandvalira Resorts Andorra. Austria Kitzbühel. France Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley. Italy Dolomiti Superski. Switzerland Zermatt Matterhorn. St. Moritz. | Australia Thredbo. Mt Buller. New Zealand Coronet Peak. The Remarkables. Mt Hutt. | Japan Niseko United. Arai Snow Resort China Yunding Snow Park. South Korea Mona Yongpyong |
When planning your ski vacation, keep in mind that some ski resorts require reservations. While this can be frustrating, limiting access prevents overcrowding.
What ski pass options are available?
| Ikon Pass | Ikon Base Pass | Ikon Session Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | From $1,399 (adults). | From $924 (adults). | From $299 (adults 2-day). |
| Unlimited | 18 resorts. | 18 resorts (fewer premium). | None. |
| Limited | Up to 7 days each at select resorts. | 5 days at select resorts. | 2, 3 or 4 days at 43 resorts. |
| Blackout dates | None. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Dining and retail discounts | 15%. | 10%. | None. |
| Friends and family discounts | 15 passes (25% off). | 8 passes. | None. |
Ikon Pass (Best)
The Ikon Pass offers the most benefits and ski lift access of any pass. There are no blackout dates, and it includes unlimited access at 18 destinations. This means you can ski or snowboard as much as you want at these locations throughout the ski season.
With the Ikon Pass, you'll receive up to seven days each at additional destinations. Passholders also receive a 15% discount on food, beverage and retail purchases at select destinations. You can use up to 15 friends and family discounts per season, each at 25% off.
New for 26/27: returning Ikon Pass holders can choose from Renewal Rewards, including up to $300 in mountain credits, a Marriott Bonvoy award night, free gear rental days or a pass discount.
Ikon Base Pass
For skiers on a budget, the Ikon Base Pass adds blackout dates and restricts access to some premium destinations in exchange for a lower price.
New for 26/27: Arapahoe Basin now offers unlimited access on the Ikon Base Pass, and Snowmass offers 5-day access with select blackout dates
Blackout dates for the Northern Hemisphere include Dec. 26–30, 2026, the weekend of Jan. 16–17, 2027, and the weekend of Feb. 13–14, 2027.
The six premium resorts unavailable on the Base Pass are Alta Ski Area, Aspen Mountain/Highlands/Buttermilk, Deer Valley Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snowbasin and Sun Valley.
Ikon Session Pass
Travelers who aren't ready to commit to a full season can purchase an Ikon Session Pass to save money over single-day lift tickets. Session passes can be purchased for two, three or four days of skiing at 43 resorts, with blackout dates at select destinations.
For a limited time, skiers can get $50 off an Ikon Session Pass using the code USAGOLD at checkout.
Which Ikon Pass resorts are most worth it?
Not all Ikon Pass resorts are created equal. A few destinations stand out as offering outsized value — either because single-day lift tickets are eye-wateringly expensive, the terrain is world-class or both. Here are the resorts that do the most to justify the cost of the pass.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado: A lift ticket at Aspen can easily run $300+ per day, making it one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country. The Ikon Pass gives you up to seven days across all four Aspen Snowmass mountains — Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass — making it one of the single best values on the pass. Note that Aspen is only available on the full Ikon Pass, not the Base Pass, so if Aspen is on your bucket list, that alone may justify the upgrade.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming: Jackson Hole regularly ranks among the best ski resorts in North America for expert terrain, and single-day tickets frequently exceed $250. With 4,139 feet of vertical drop — the most of any U.S. resort — and the legendary Corbet's Couloir, this is a destination resort that pass access makes genuinely accessible. Like Aspen, it's Ikon Pass only, not Base Pass.
Palisades Tahoe, California: The largest ski resort in California with over 6,000 acres across two interconnected mountains, Palisades Tahoe hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics and is widely considered the best ski resort in California.
It's one of 18 resorts offering unlimited access on the Ikon Pass with no blackout dates, and it's one of the few California resorts where you can find genuinely challenging expert terrain, particularly off the KT-22 chairlift. For West Coast skiers, Palisades alone can make the pass worth buying.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah: Deer Valley is one of only a handful of ski-only resorts in the U.S. (snowboarders aren't permitted), and it's consistently ranked among the top resorts in North America for grooming, service and snow quality. After a massive expansion for the 2026 Winter Olympics which brought Deer Valley's skiable terrain to over 5,700 acres, it's now one of the largest resorts in the country. Day tickets regularly exceed $250.
Mammoth Mountain, California: At 11,053 feet, Mammoth is the highest ski resort in California and one of the snowiest in the country, averaging over 400 inches of snow annually. It's one of 18 resorts with unlimited Ikon Pass access, and because it sits in the Eastern Sierra, it often stays open into June or even July — meaning pass holders can extend their ski season well beyond most other resorts.
Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia: For serious skiers, Revelstoke is a bucket-list destination. It has the greatest vertical drop of any ski resort in North America at 5,620 feet, and its combination of in-bounds terrain and legendary cat and heli-skiing access nearby makes it a magnet for experts. It's more remote than most resorts on this list (a roughly two-hour drive from Kelowna). But for the right skier, it's among the most compelling reasons to hold an Ikon Pass.
Niseko United, Japan: Niseko has become one of the most sought-after ski destinations in the world, drawing powder-chasers from across the globe for its legendary champagne powder and consistent snowfall (the resort averages around 50 feet of snow per season).
If you're considering a ski trip to Japan, having Ikon Pass access makes the trip significantly more cost-effective.
Key considerations before buying an Ikon pass
Before buying your pass, consider which Ikon Pass mountains you want to visit, when you want to travel and how many days you'll ski. You may be able to save money by purchasing a lower-level pass — but given the elimination of the Base Plus Pass this season, the math now pushes more skiers toward either the Base Pass or the full Ikon Pass.
For added peace of mind, new for 26/27 is a risk-free refundable purchase option: pass holders who haven't scanned their pass by January 15, 2027, can get 100% cash back, while those with a single scan are eligible for 50% back.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
