Which Ski Pass Should You Buy for 2026-27?
The best ski pass depends on how many days you ski and where you want to go. If you want unlimited access to marquee resorts like Vail or Breckenridge, the Epic Pass ($1,089 adult) is the pick. If you’d rather ski a mix of destination resorts like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, and Palisades Tahoe, the Ikon Pass ($1,349 adult) is built for you. If you ski only a handful of days a year, the Mountain Collective ($669) or Indy Pass (from $369) will save you the most money.
Here’s the fastest way to decide: count your ski days, list the resorts you actually want to visit, then match those to the pass below. This guide breaks down 2026-27 pricing, resort access, blackout dates, and hidden perks so you can buy with confidence.
Ski Pass Comparison at a Glance (2026-27)
| Pass | Starting Adult Price | Resorts | Access Model | Blackout Dates | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Pass | $1,089 | 90+ worldwide | Unlimited at 42 owned resorts | None on full pass | Frequent skiers who love Vail-owned mountains |
| Ikon Pass | $1,349 | 76 global destinations | Unlimited at select resorts, 5-7 days at others | None on full pass | Destination travelers chasing variety |
| Mountain Collective | $669 | 27 resorts | 2 days at each resort | None | Occasional skiers who want premium mountains |
| Indy Pass | $369 | 300+ resorts | 2 days at each resort | Base pass has blackouts | Budget skiers and independent-resort lovers |
Prices reflect early-season launch pricing and typically rise as the season approaches. Buy early for the lowest rate.
Epic Pass 2026-27: Best for Vail-owned resorts
The Epic Pass, run by Vail Resorts, is the megapass for skiers who want unlimited, unrestricted access to some of the most famous mountains in North America, including Vail, Breckenridge, Park City, and Whistler Blackcomb.
Epic Pass pricing 2026-27
- Full Epic Pass: $1,089 adult (ages 31+), $869 teen and young adult (ages 13-30), $555 child (ages 5-12)
- Epic Local Pass: $809 adult, $649 teen and young adult, $425 child
- Epic Day Pass: Available in one- to seven-day increments with two age brackets
The big story for 2026-27 is a new 20% discount for skiers ages 13-30, dropping the full Epic Pass to $869 and the Epic Local to $649 for that age group. Vail is openly courting Gen Z, and the discount stacks with other offers—a young adult who bought a lift ticket last season can get an Epic Pass for as low as $694.
What you get with the Epic Pass
The full Epic Pass unlocks unlimited access to 42 Vail-owned ski areas plus varying access to nearly 50 partner resorts across North America, Europe, and Australia. There are no blackout dates on the full pass. Perks include 10 Epic Friend Tickets (50% off window prices for companions), 20% off on-mountain dining, and the optional My Epic Gear rental delivery program.
The lower-cost Epic Local Pass covers 50+ ski areas with unlimited access at 29 of them, but includes blackout dates at peak resorts and limits you to 10 combined days at Vail and Beaver Creek.
Best for: Skiers who plan to ski 8+ days and gravitate toward Vail-owned resorts.
Ikon Pass 2026-27: Best for destination variety
The Ikon Pass, from Alterra Mountain Company, is the go-to for skiers who want to travel and sample a rotating lineup of iconic mountains, like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Palisades Tahoe, Big Sky, and Deer Valley.
Ikon Pass pricing 2026-27
- Full Ikon Pass: starting at $1,349 adult
- Ikon Base Pass: starting at ~$1,019 adult (blackout dates apply)
- Ikon Session Pass: four days at most participating resorts, from ~$299
New this year is a Squad Pack: buy five passes together and riders ages 23-28 lock in an Ikon Base Pass for a significant per-pass discount.
What you get with the Ikon Pass
The full Ikon Pass gets you unlimited access to 15+ destinations and 5-7 days each at 30+ more, spanning over 70 destinations worldwide, including international stops in Switzerland, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The full pass has no blackout dates; the Base Pass includes select blackouts and excludes marquee resorts like Aspen, Jackson Hole, Deer Valley, Alta, and Snowbird.
For 2026-27, Ikon added a risk-free refund policy: pass holders who haven’t scanned their pass by January 15, 2027 are eligible for a full refund. Note that select destinations, including Deer Valley, Big Sky, and Jackson Hole, require free reservations.
Mountain Collective 2026-27: Best for occasional premium skiing
The Mountain Collective is a lighter-weight pass for skiers who want a taste of premium mountains without committing to a full megapass.
Mountain Collective pricing 2026-27
- Adult pass: starting at $669
What you get with the Mountain Collective
The pass includes two days at each of 27 resorts, with a limited-time bonus third day at your favorite resort, plus 50% off additional days, all with no blackout dates. The lineup overlaps heavily with the Ikon Pass and includes Jackson Hole, Aspen Snowmass, Sun Valley, and Mt. Buller in Australia.
Best for: Skiers who take one or two destination trips a year and want access to top-tier mountains without unlimited-pass pricing.
Indy Pass 2026-27: Best for budget and independent resorts
The Indy Pass is the affordable, anti-corporate alternative built around independent ski areas and it offers access to more resorts than Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective combined.
Indy Pass pricing 2026-27
- Indy Base Pass: from $369 (blackout dates apply)
- Indy+ Pass: $399 renewal / $419 new (no blackout dates)
- Add-on passes: discounted for those with an unlimited season pass at a partner resort
What you get with the Indy Pass
The Indy Pass includes two days at each of 300+ partner resorts across North America, Europe, and beyond. The no-blackout Indy+ Pass is now the flagship product and actually dropped in price for 2026-27. The pass offers unique access to smaller and international ski areas, including the only pass access to south-central Chile, Turkey, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Spain among the four major products.
Note: Indy limits sales and releases passes in waves, and they’ve sold out before the general public window in past seasons. Buy early.
Best for: Budget-conscious skiers, road-trippers, and anyone who loves supporting independent mountains.
Ski Pass Comparison Questions
Ask yourself three questions:
- How many days will you ski? Under 6 days: Mountain Collective or Indy. 8+ days: Epic or Ikon.
- Where do you want to ski? Loyal to Vail-owned mountains? Epic. Want destination variety? Ikon. Independent resorts? Indy.
- How old are you? If you’re 13-30, the Epic Pass’s 20% Gen Z discount changes the math dramatically.
A season pass typically pays for itself in just 4-6 days on the mountain, since single-day lift tickets at major resorts now routinely top $300. Even occasional skiers usually come out ahead with a multi-resort pass.
The Cost of Getting Your Gear There
Here’s what most ski pass comparison guides leave out: the pass is only part of your ski trip budget. Once you’ve committed to a destination pass like Ikon or Epic, you still have to get your skis or snowboard to the mountain and airlines make that expensive and stressful.
Checked ski bags routinely cost $35-$75 each way in oversized baggage fees, and that’s before you factor in the risk of damaged or delayed gear and the hassle of hauling it through the airport, onto shuttles, and into your rental car.
Shipping your gear with ShipSkis is often cheaper than airline baggage fees and infinitely less stressful. You get:
- Door-to-door convenience with gear picked up from your home or office and delivered to your accommodations
- An on-time delivery guarantee with real-time tracking
- No oversized baggage fees and no lugging equipment through the airport
- A lighter trip that can even save you on rental car costs
Ship your gear with ShipSkis and start your adventure the moment you leave your door.
Ski Pass Comparison Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest ski pass for 2026-27?
The Indy Pass is the cheapest major multi-resort pass, starting at $369 for the Base Pass. It includes two days at each of 300+ resorts, though the Base Pass has blackout dates. The no-blackout Indy+ Pass is $399.
What’s the difference between the Epic Pass and the Ikon Pass?
The Epic Pass gives unlimited access to 42 Vail-owned resorts (like Vail, Breckenridge, and Park City) for $1,089. The Ikon Pass gives unlimited or multi-day access to 70+ destination resorts (like Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, and Palisades Tahoe) for $1,349. Epic is best for loyalty to specific mountains; Ikon is best for variety.
Do ski passes have blackout dates?
The full Epic Pass and full Ikon Pass have no blackout dates. The Epic Local Pass, Ikon Base Pass, and Indy Base Pass all include select blackout dates, usually around peak holiday periods. The Mountain Collective and Indy+ Pass have no blackouts.
When is the best time to buy a ski pass?
Buy as early as possible, typically in spring for the following winter. All four passes are cheapest at launch and rise in price as the season approaches. The Indy Pass in particular has sold out before reaching the general public.
How many days do I need to ski for a season pass to be worth it?
A multi-resort season pass usually pays for itself in about 4-6 days, since single-day lift tickets at major resorts frequently exceed $300. If you ski even a week per season, a pass almost always beats buying day tickets.
Is it cheaper to ship my skis or fly with them?
Shipping with a service like ShipSkis is often comparable to or cheaper than airline oversized baggage fees, which can run $35-$75 each way. Shipping also removes the hassle of hauling gear through airports and the risk of lost or damaged equipment.
Which ski pass is best for a family?
Families often do best with the Epic or Ikon Pass thanks to steep child-pass discounts. Ikon offers up to $100 off a child pass when purchased with an adult pass, and Epic child passes start at $555 (with the Gen Z discount applying to teens 13+).
Ready to hit the slopes? Whichever pass you choose, let ShipSkis handle your gear so you can travel light and ski more. Get an instant quote at shipskis.com.