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The Ikon Pass is a ski membership that provides access to a collection of ski resorts around the world. With lift ticket prices rising, and window rates at some resorts at $300 or more per day, just one multiday ski vacation can justify the cost of an Ikon Pass.
As Ikon’s most expensive tier, the Ikon Pass includes unlimited access to more than a dozen resorts and up to seven days per year of access to other top skiing destinations — plus other perks, like buddy passes, and discounts on food, drinks and retail purchases.
Here’s what to know about the Ikon Pass, how it compares to other options and ways to maximize it.
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What’s the Ikon Pass?
If you’re an avid rider, paying for per-day slope entry might easily price you out of the sport. The Ikon Pass offers an alternative. It’s a multi-resort ski and snowboard pass that gives you all-season access to 77 mountains and resorts across 13 countries and five continents. There are no blackout dates.
An Ikon Pass is ideal for winter sports enthusiasts who plan multiple skiing trips each year or want to cross off legendary destinations from their bucket list. It might also be a good strategy to offset some of the vacation cost for families with multiple members getting on the lift.
How the Ikon Pass works
After purchasing an Ikon Pass, you’ll receive an email confirmation and will need to create an online account. You also must complete a liability release form and upload a photo for each skier and snowboarder in your Ikon Pass family.
Accessing the mountain
During checkout, you can choose to receive your pass in the mail, or you can pick it up in person at most Ikon Pass destinations. Head to the lift, and an attendant will check or scan your Ikon Pass. Some Ikon Pass destinations use RFID technology, which gives you hands-free access to the lift.
You’ll get access and no blackout dates for 70-plus destinations. At select premier destinations — like Big Sky Resort in Montana and Cypress Mountain in British Columbia — your pass gives you up to seven days of lift access per destination. You’re not required to use these days consecutively. It’s important to note that some destinations require an advanced reservation.
The Ikon Pass also provides access to nine bonus mountains, including Ski Butternut, Wild Mountain and Devil’s Head Resort. As a passholder, you can ski for up to two days per destination, but there are blackout dates for the 2026-27 season:
- Dec. 26-30, 2026
- Jan. 16-17, 2027
- Feb. 13-14, 2027
For all destinations with limited access, unused day allowances aren’t transferable to another location. If you don’t visit Camelback Resort during the entire season, for example, you can’t reallocate those days to another destination, like Mt. Buller. Unused days also don’t roll over into the next season at Northern Hemisphere destinations, if you choose to renew your pass.
Extra perks
The pass also includes some useful perks that help lower other trip expenses:
- Lift, food and retail discounts. Get 25% off lift tickets at most Ikon Pass destinations for up to 15 friends and family members. Additionally, you’ll get 15% off on food and retail purchases at select destinations.
- Unlimited Ikon Child Pass discounts. With the purchase of one adult Ikon Pass, you can save up to $100 on each Child Pass in your family account.
- Exclusive access. Your pass unlocks Ikon Pass First Tracks, a benefit that grants you limited early-morning access to pristine powder and freshly laid corduroy runs at certain destinations.
Other benefits include select brand and helicopter skiing discounts and complimentary bike park access.
Ikon Pass resorts: Where you can ski
The Ikon Pass includes access to 77 global winter sport destinations across the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. Here’s a snapshot of some top destinations.
Best Ikon destinations in the U.S.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
A lift ticket at Aspen can run close to $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.
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 and the legendary Corbet's Couloir, this is a destination resort that the pass makes genuinely accessible.
Jackson Hole is accessible through the Ikon Pass only.
Mammoth Mountain, California
At 11,053 feet, Mammoth is the highest ski resort in California and one of the snowiest in the country, averaging 350 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 passholders can extend their ski season well beyond most other resorts.
Top Ikon Pass international destinations
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.
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.
Revelstoke is remote (a roughly 2.5-hour drive from Kelowna). But for the right skier, it's among the most compelling reasons to hold an Ikon Pass.
Ikon passes: Comparison and pricing
There are three pass tiers you can choose from: the Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Session Pass.
Ikon Pass
The Ikon Pass offers the most benefits and ski lift access without blackout dates of any pass. It includes unlimited access to 18 destinations, plus 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 & 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, up to a $100 credit and premium membership at Backcountry.com, 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 five-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 five premium resorts unavailable on the Base Pass are Deer Valley Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snowbasin, Sun Valley and Alta Ski Area.
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 48 resorts, with blackout dates at select destinations.
| Ikon Pass | Ikon Base Pass | Ikon Session Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Destination skiers and maximum flexibility. | Frequent skiers on a budget. | Occasional skiers and short trips. |
| Cost | From $1,449 (adults). | From $1,019 (adults). | From $319 (adults 2-day). |
| Unlimited | 18 resorts. | 15 resorts (fewer premium). | None. |
| Limited | Up to 7 days each at select resorts. | 5 days at select resorts. | 2, 3 or 4 days at 48 resorts. |
| Blackout dates | None. | Yes. | Yes. |
| Dining and retail discounts | 15%. | 10%. | None. |
| Friends & Family discounts | 15 passes (25% off). | 10 passes (25% off). | None. |
Is the Ikon Pass worth it?
Whether the Ikon Pass is worth its four-figure price depends on your preferred ski experience and your plans for the upcoming season. Currently, a nonrefundable Ikon Pass is $1,449 for adults age 23 or older.
Lift tickets are dynamically priced and vary between destinations. Let’s say you’re planning a seven-day stay at a resort and plan on snowboarding six days. If the resort charges $250 per day, you’ll have made up the cost of the Ikon Pass in just one trip.
If you purchase a refundable 2026-27 Ikon Pass at $1,738.80, you can easily make up the higher cost if you extend your trip or head to another Ikon Pass destination.
You can also access discounted passes if you’re a registered nurse or enrolled college student. U.S. active-duty and retired military personnel also can get discounted passes, including discounts for adult dependents.
» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now
When to buy the Ikon Pass
Spring is the best time to purchase the Ikon Pass. Ikon passes typically release in March for the upcoming season, and pricing increases over time. Early birds typically get extra perks, including spring mountain access and renewal perks.
How to get the most from your Ikon Pass
- Focus on expensive resorts. Targeting the destinations with the highest ticket prices will help you recoup the cost of your Ikon Pass faster.
- Plan multi-resort trips. The more mountains you ride, the more your pass vs. per-day lift ticket math will make sense.
- Book reservations early. Popular destinations get busy; for those that require reservations, secure your spot early to avoid missing out on your preferred dates.
- Use your pass perks. Discounts add up so if you’re traveling with friends or family, use your 25% lift ticket discount to help them get access for less and the 15% food and beverage discounts to keep you and your party fueled.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days make the Ikon Pass worth it?
Depending on your destination, five to six days on the mountain can make the Ikon Pass worth it.
Does Costco sell the Ikon Pass?
Costco has sold the Ikon Pass and limited-duration deals in past seasons. However, Ikon Pass availability at Costco isn’t guaranteed each year.
Do you need resort reservations?
Some destinations require advanced lift reservations. For example, Ikon Pass holders are required to have a reservation when skiing Deer Valley Resort and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
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:
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