Skiers and snowboarders can now start planning for the 2025-26 season as Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company have released pricing and updates for their Epic Pass and Ikon Pass, respectively.
Epic Pass: Increased Access, Higher Prices
Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass, which provides unlimited access to 42 ski areas, is now available at an introductory price of $1,051 for adults and $537 for children. Meanwhile, the Epic Local Pass, offering unlimited skiing at 29 resorts and limited access to 13 others, is priced at $783 for adults and $407 for children.
For those looking for a more flexible option, Epic Day Passes range from $47 to $100 per day.
While no new resorts have been added to the Epic Pass for next season, a major change is coming for Verbier 4 Vallées in Switzerland. Currently, Epic Pass holders can only access the resort if they book lodging at the resort, but that requirement will be eliminated for 2025-26, expanding access.
On the infrastructure side, the most significant improvement across Vail Resorts’ mountains will be at Park City Mountain in Utah, where a new 10-person Sunrise Gondola is set to open. The gondola, running parallel to the Red Pine Gondola and Orange Bubble Express, will replace the existing two-person Sunrise Lift.
According to Park City Mountain spokesperson Emily McDonald, the Sunrise Gondola will help ease congestion during peak hours and is expected to be less affected by high winds due to its sheltered location.
Prices for next season’s Epic Pass have increased from this year’s introductory rates of $982 (unlimited pass) and $731 (Local Pass).
Ikon Pass: New Resorts, Higher Costs, and the End of Base Plus
Alterra Mountain Company will begin selling Ikon Passes on March 13, with prices set at:
- Ikon Pass (unlimited skiing at 18 resorts, up to 7 days at 41 destinations): $1,329
- Ikon Base Pass (unlimited access at 14 resorts, up to 5 days at 39 destinations): $909
- Ikon 4-Day Pass: $459
A major change for next season is the elimination of the Ikon Base Plus Pass, which previously offered a middle-tier price and access option between the full Ikon Pass and the Base Pass. Skiers who want access to premium resorts that were included in Base Plus but not Base will now have to purchase the full Ikon Pass.
On the expansion front, the full Ikon Pass will now offer unlimited skiing at Arapahoe Basin (Colorado), which was previously only available with limited days. Both passes will also gain access to Ischgl, a resort spanning the Austria-Switzerland border.
Additionally, four new mountains have been added to the full pass, each offering two free ski days:
- Jiminy Peak (Massachusetts)
- Cranmore (New Hampshire)
- Buck Hill (Minnesota)
- Wild Mountain (Minnesota)
However, New York’s Windham Mountain Club has been removed from the pass lineup.
Prices for the Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass are increasing from this season’s rates of $1,249 and $869, respectively.
With rising prices but expanded access at key resorts, skiers will have to weigh their options carefully for the 2025-26 season.
