The Affordable Colorado Ski Pass That Tends to Fly Under The Radar

It might be an Ikon and Epic world, but that doesn’t mean other multi-pass options don't exist. Enter the Gems Pass, a family-oriented pass product series purveyed by Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA).

Similar to the Mountain Collective Pass or Indy Pass , the Gems Pass offers two days of skiing at each participating ski resort. The sticking point—or selling point—is that many of these ski resorts aren't big names.

While the ever-popular Arapahoe Basin is among the 11 ski resorts included, many of the options are more lowkey, like Monarch Mountain, Granby Ranch, and Echo Mountain. In a state known for its crowded slopes, this could be a pro, not a con, particularly for families teaching their kids to ski.

To purchase the primary Gems Pass adult variant—the $325 Gems Parent Pass—you must first grab a Ski Passport or a Gems Teen Pass for your kiddo. Only one Gems Parent Pass is permitted per household, and quantities are limited.

“[The Gems Parent Pass] is designed to help CSCUSA continue to fulfill its mission: that is, to help get new-to-the-sport and non-core skiers and riders on the slopes—in as large numbers as possible,” notes the Gems Pass FAQ section. “In order to maximize our reach to loyal customers like you , sales of the Gems Parent Pass are limited to one per household.” If both parents in a household are hoping to ski next winter, CSCUSA recommends also grabbing a Gems Discount Card.

The kids and teen options—the Ski Passport and Gems Teen Pass—offer different types of access at a reduced cost. The Ski Passport expands the included resorts to 20 and provides four days at each for kids in grades three to six. It costs $67. The Gems Teen Pass, for kids ages 12 to 17, is priced at $199 and offers two days of skiing at 11 resorts.

Depending on your appetite for Colorado’s larger destinations, a few Epic Pass variants are considerably cheaper than Vail Resorts’ headlining, $1004 pass. The Keystone Plus Pass costs $399 and provides unlimited access to Keystone—excluding peak dates—as well as limited access to Crested Butte and Breckenridge. The Summit Value Pass, at $602, provides unlimited Keystone and Breckenridge skiing (Breckenridge access excludes peak dates).

To use an old cliche—there's more than one way to skin a cat. And options abound for Colorado families looking to squeeze the most out of their ski season without shelling out too much cash.

Related: Winter '24/'25 Ski Mega-Pass Buyer's Guide

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