Multi-Resort Season Pass programs are on sale now with the largest being Alterra’s Ikon Pass and Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass. The Mountain Collective Pass also is available for purchase but the least expensive of them all – Indy Pass – will not go on sale until September 1 and the organizers are offering discounts and rebates due to the abbreviated season this winter caused by the Corona Virus.
Major multi-resort pass programs are especially appealing, and beneficial, for those who either live near a cluster of featured resorts or have the resources to travel to many of them and plan to ski or snowboard often. Figuring out which pass is the “right” pass can be tricky considering value and logistics. Plan on spending some time wading through somewhat complicated web sites. Ikon, Epic and Mountain Collective all have locations in and outside the U.S. Some resorts are on more than one pass.
The unlimited Ikon and Epic Passes are similarly priced and provide payment plans. Both offer an array of options that target different groups, such as the military and college students, and customer needs. The Mountain Collective offers a more limited number of destinations and pass uses but also is more affordable.
Alterra’s Unlimited Ikon Pass features 41 destinations. An “adult” pass costs $999 for new purchases and $899 for renewals. There is a “child discount” with the purchase of an adult pass. You can reserve an unlimited Ikon Pass for $199 down payment. Other options that have black out dates include the Base Pass and the Session Pass limited to four days.
The unlimited Epic Pass is similar to Ikon but with a different lineup of locations most of which are owned by Vail Resorts, a publicly-traded company. It costs $979 for adults ages 13 and up. The teen version (ages 13 – 18) costs $589 and the child version (ages 5 – 12) costs $379. Epic also offers a Local Pass that includes black out dates and a Day Pass rate of $109. Passes also include Epic Rewards for discounts on non-pass items such as food. Epic also features an installment payment plan with a lower down payment than Ikon.
The Mountain Collective has streamlined its program by offer two days of skiing or snowboarding at each of its 22 resorts. It’s a simple approach that has value if you are able to travel to the different locations. The adult pass costs $469. A pass for children 12 and under is $99. There does not appear to be an installment plan on their web site for this product.
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