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

Ski resort mega-passes are officially part of the skiing experience—and they’re probably not going anywhere.

Hate em' or love em', they provide previously unseen, colossal access to tens, if not hundreds of ski resorts. These days, they shouldn't be ignored if you're a skier. From the humble Indy Pass to the increasingly large Epic Pass, these are the main mega passes to consider for North American skiers.

Prices are subject to change.

POWDER's Ski Mega-Pass Buyer's Guide

Ikon Pass

Total resorts: 50-plus

Notable resorts: Palisades Tahoe, California; Mammoth Mountain, California; Sugarbush Resort, Vermont; Alta Ski Area, Utah

Price range: $969 to $1,359

Debuting in 2018, the Ikon Pass emerged as a significant competitor to Vail Resorts' all-consuming Epic Pass. Offered by a resort conglomerate called the Alterra Mountain Company, the Ikon Pass provides nearly unrivaled bang for your buck. Its most expensive variant provides unlimited access to 17 resorts and up to seven days at 41 resorts. The cheaper Ikon Base Pass and Ikon Base Pass Plus cover a similar number of resorts but have blackout dates.

Bottom line: The Ikon Pass is a safe bet if you're looking for one of skiing's largest mega pass offerings. We suggest you pick one up if it covers your local resort and then use it during a ski vacation or two. Several international destinations, like Kitzbühel, Austria, are included, simplifying prospective trips.

Epic Pass

Total resorts: 70-plus

Notable resorts: Vail, Colorado; Stowe, Vermont; Stevens Pass, Washington; Kirkwood, California; Whistler Blackcomb, BC

Price range: $746 to $1004 (there are cheaper, region-specific Epic offerings)

The Epic Pass is the other contender to think about for skiers seeking sheer volume and access. It surpasses the Ikon Pass in the number of resorts with unlimited access, alongside offering limited days at numerous domestic and international ski areas. While there are two primary Epic Pass variants, the Epic Pass and the Epic Local Pass, several region-specific pass types cater to differing types of skiers. For instance, the Northeast Value Pass, which only costs $613, covers 21 resorts throughout New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and New York.

Bottom line: Don't sleep on the regional Epic Passes. While dropping $1004 on the full Epic Pass is already a comparatively good deal, some of Epic's regional variants are wickedly cheap for the access they provide if you'd like to go on a road trip rather than fly.

Mountain Collective

Total resorts: 25

Notable resorts: Valle Nevado, Chile; Alta Ski Area, Utah; Revelstoke Mountain Resort, British Columbia

Price range: $629

The Mountain Collective Pass is for vacation skiers. It offers two days of skiing—additional days are 50% off lift tickets—at 25 destinations, most of which are in the U.S. This setup is ideal for the skier who doesn't have a local hill but wants to plan a few trips throughout the season.

Bottom line: Are you a skier who recently moved somewhere without mountains nearby? Consider grabbing the Mountain Collective Pass and picking a few places to visit over the winter. It'll pay for itself if you hit a few resorts.

Indy Pass

Total resorts: 200+

Notable resorts: Trollhaugen, Wisconsin; Mission Ridge, Washington; Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Montana; Jay Peak, Vermont; Saddleback Mountain, Maine

Price range: Not currently on sale

The Indy Pass functions much like the Mountain Collective Pass. Both offer two days of skiing at numerous resorts. There's a catch, though. The Indy Pass is billed as an alternative mega pass, meaning it doesn't focus on the popular destinations we all know. Instead, it only includes independent, lesser-trafficked resorts, which, depending on the skier, could be a serious selling point. Unfortunately, all Indy Pass variants are sold out. You can join the waitlist if it goes back on sale by clicking this link.

Bottom line: The Indy Pass is perfect for skiers who aim to make a handful of trips during the ski season and prefer sticking to less-crowded, mom and pop style ski areas.

Power Pass

Total resorts: 12

Notable resorts: La Parva Ski Resort, Chile; Valle Nevado, Chile; Brian Head Resort, Utah

Price range: $399 to $949

The Power Pass is Mountain Capital Partners' (MCP) answer to the flexibility provided by the Ikon and Epic Passes. The majority of its 12 resorts are in the American Southwest, including Spider Mountain Bike Park. The Power Pass' purview increased significantly this year when MCP announced that it had become a majority stakeholder in La Parva, adding a second resort to its Chilean holdings. Prior to the purchase, MCP already owned Valle Nevado, so nabbing a 2024-2025 Power Pass will net you seven interconnected days at La Parva and Valle Nevado during the 2024 Southern Hemisphere ski season.

Bottom line: Southwest skiers, this one's for you. Those who live in Arizona or New Mexico—and dream of making a trip to Chile—can't go wrong with the Power Pass.

Should I Buy a Mega Pass?

These days, ski area pricing—particularly at destination resorts—is constructed in such a way that, unless you're only planning on skiing once or twice during the season, it'd be silly not to consider the various mega passes on offer. Yes, in many cases, local hills aren't covered by a mega pass, but if your nearest ski area does participate in some kind of mega pass program, you need to look into it. Day tickets at most major resorts have become exceptionally expensive. The best way to sidestep that—and possibly line up a future ski trip—is to survey which mega pass makes the most sense.

Which Mega Pass Should I Choose?

It depends on what you're hoping to get out of this upcoming season. For example, if you're a weekend warrior that racks up, say, 25 days a year at a resort that's an hour or two drive away, look into whichever mega pass provides unlimited access to your local haunt. More of a vacation skier with specific destinations in mind? Find a few resorts you want to visit, choose a corresponding mega pass, and start planning.

What If I Ski a Lot but Only at One Resort?

This question is a bit stickier and underlines one of the oddities of mega pass programs. Mega passes obviously shine when used at multiple resorts. However, plenty of skiers only ski one resort during any given season and couldn't be bothered to book a flight and a hotel when the powder at home's plenty good. At some point, the number of resorts included on a mega pass becomes meaningless unless you're Peter Landsman. Most of us aren't going to ski ten different areas during the ski season, let alone 50.

That's where the mega pass variants also make sense. The Power Pass Core costs $399 and provides access to three New Mexico ski areas: Sandia Peak, Sipapu, and Pajarito, plus limited days at a few more destinations. Epic's numerous regional passes are far cheaper than the complete bundle, and could prompt some previously unplanned trips should they include a resort you want to check out.

Related: What it's Really Like to Ski Mt. Hood in July

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