Epic vs Ikon: The Best Ski Season Pass (One Has More Resorts & Is Still Cheaper)

by Travis McCullough | Updated: February 6th, 2023 |  Skiing Articles

Alterra Mountain Company and Vail Resorts, two of the largest ski resort holding companies, have bought up enough mountains across the world to make the biggest and best super passes in history.  Passes with this much freedom can almost feel daunting when trying to choose the better option, so which one should you choose?

The pass you purchase should reflect the mountains in your local area or that you plan to ski at most.  The Epic Pass includes more mountains for a lower price than the Ikon, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it includes your favorite or nearest resorts.

Epic Ski Resorts

The Epic Pass

Vail Resorts is the largest international conglomerate of ski resorts in the world, so it goes without saying that they are able to offer a behemoth of a super pass, known as the Epic Pass.  It offers skiing in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and even Japan.  

Tiers & Pricing

Vail offers the Epic Day Pass (1-7 days), the Epic Local Pass, and the mother of all passes, the Epic Pass.  The Epic Day Pass can be purchased for up to 7 days of skiing and comes in a 22-mountain option, 32-mountain option, or one where all of the resorts within Vail Resorts’ purview are included.

Epic Day Pass

This is the least expensive version of the Epic Pass and its price ranges anywhere from $50 for the 1-day 22-mountain option, all the way up to $591 for the 7-day 38-mountain option.  This is the ultimate pass as far as flexibility goes, making it a great option for beginners who aren’t sure if they are in love with skiing (yet) as well as lifelong powderhounds.

Just like the Ikon Pass, the distribution of resorts across the globe is far-reaching, with the majority of resorts lying within the continental United States and partner resorts across a handful of other countries.  The Epic Day Pass is essentially a beefed-up version of a 4-pack that you can use at a huge selection of different resorts across the globe.

Epic Local Pass

Next on Vail Resorts’ list of passes is the Epic Local Pass at $669 dollars, which allows you to ski an unlimited number of days at 29 of the resorts offered, with holiday blackout days, of course.  This is only $70 more than the Epic 7-Day pass, making it an infinitely better deal.

The main thing you will want to consider is where you will be doing most of your skiing because the majority of the resorts with unlimited skiing are either in the midwest or the eastern United States, not out west. 

Key Takeaway: Stevens Pass, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, and Keystone are the only four western resorts that you can ski to your heart's content (with no blackout dates).

Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood, and Park City are available for unlimited skiing with holiday blackout dates, and Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb are available for 10 days of skiing, excluding holidays.  This adds up to plenty of potential ski days in western North America for most skiers, but if you live and breathe to ski you will probably just want to spring for the Epic Pass…

Epic Pass

The holy grail of Vail Resorts’ season passes is the almighty Epic Pass.  This monster of a pass offers unlimited days at over 40 resorts across the world, and at the moment it only costs $899.  If your life revolves around skiing, or you want it to, then this is definitely the pass for you.

On top of the unlimited access to 41 resorts, they’ve included 7 days at Telluride, CO, 6 more resorts in the Canadian Rockies, 5 total days at 10 Japanese resorts, and limited days at 26 more partner resorts in Europe.  This pass is by far the best bang for your buck, coming in at almost $400 dollars cheaper than the Ikon Pass.

Extra Perks

When you purchase an Epic pass, you are enrolled in the Epic Mountain Rewards Program which offers a bunch of cool perks at various resorts that are on the pass including:

• 20% off food and beverage, lodging, group lessons, equipment rentals, transportation, and guided cat skiing at Keystone, CO
• Same as above plus heli-skiing at Whistler Blackcomb, BC
• 1 free wax and basic tune per season at certain US resorts
• And much more!

20% might not seem like much money but if you are skiing with an entire family over the course of an entire season, then these savings could easily top $1000!

Ikon Ski Resorts

The Ikon Pass

Alterra Mountain Company’s answer to the Epic Pass is the Ikon Pass, another gargantuan super pass that offers skiing at resorts across the globe.  These world-class skiing destinations include the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and South America.

Tiers & Pricing

Alterra is offering 4 different versions of the Ikon Pass, the Ikon Session, Ikon Base Pass, Ikon Base Plus, and the full Ikon Pass.  The Ikon Session pass is comparable to the Epic Day Pass, except it only offers up to 4 days at select resorts, whereas the Epic Day Pass offers up to 7.  The Ikon base is comparable to the Epic Local Pass, and the Ikon Pass is the answer to the Epic Pass.

Ikon Session Pass

The Ikon Session Pass is the least expensive of the three passes that Ikon offers, ranging from $309-$519 depending on if you want the 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day version of the pass.  With this pass, you can reserve up to 4 days of skiing at any of the 39 available destinations.

Unfortunately, blackout dates do apply to this pass so don’t plan to do any holiday skiing if you choose to go this route.  The mountains that are offered on this pass span from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and even Chile making it a great choice for someone who only skis a few days per season but wants the freedom to ski wherever they want.

This pass is more like a 4-pack, so you don’t get unlimited days at any resort by purchasing it.  You can only ski for 2, 3, or 4 days at one of the resorts that are partnered with Ikon.  This option isn’t for those who plan on chasing storms around the world, but rather for those who are just beginning their foray into the sport of skiing.

Ikon Base Pass

The Ikon Base Pass is the next step up from the Session Pass, coming in at $919 this version of the Ikon Pass offers more days at each mountain as well as unlimited days at 13 resorts.  There are still holiday blackout dates at some of the mountains on this pass but these don’t apply to 13 mountains that offer unlimited skiing.

With the Ikon Base Pass you can select up to 5 days at any of the 34 destinations offered, this includes all 5 days at one mountain or single days at multiple resorts. 

Tip: You should consider buying this pass if you plan on doing a considerable amount of skiing and still want the option to explore new resorts across the globe.

While $919 may sound like a hefty investment, this only equates to 9 days of skiing at around $100 per day.  It should be noted that this price point is for adults 23 years of age and older, skiers from 13-22 will only have to pay $709, making this a very good consideration for a season pass.

Ikon Base Plus Pass

The Base Plus Pass is essentially the same as the Base Pass except 6 more mountains is included, some of which offer unlimited days.  With this pass, you can ski up to 5 days at Aspen Snowmass and Alta Ski Area, and you get unlimited days at Jackson Hole, Sun Valley, Deer Valley Resort, and Snowbasin.

This pass has the same blackout dates as the cheaper versions but getting access to 6 other legendary resorts for an extra $200 makes it well worth it.  The 6 extra mountains on this pass are all located in the western United States, so you should consider the Base Plus Pass if this is where you plan on doing most of your skiing.

Ikon Pass

The Ikon Pass is the top-tier version of Alterra's pass that offers the most days and freedom for your ski season.  For $1,229 you have the opportunity to ski at 53 different mountains scattered across the globe, this includes up to 7 days at 39 resorts and unlimited skiing at the other 14.

This is a lot of money to drop all at once on a season pass, but considering what is offered, it is more than worth it.  All avid skiers should consider purchasing this pass, especially if you plan to ski for at least 12 days this season.

Extra Perks

Key Takeaway: Ikon offers Pass Protection just in case any unforeseen circumstances arise that will keep you off the mountain for the 22/23 ski season. 

This means a full refund if you decide to forfeit your pass before the season starts, and a prorated refund if you do so during the season.

The cost of pass protection is 7% of the total price of your Ikon pass, which is minuscule considering the price of the pass itself.  If you jump for the full Ikon Pass, this is only an extra $86 dollars on top of the $1,229 cost of the pass.

Important: Ikon also offers Injury Insurance for those skiers who like to push their abilities to the limits, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg either. 

The plan only costs $64 dollars for the entire 22/23 ski season and pays up to $25,000 in medical bills with no deductible, this is a steal no matter what type of health insurance you currently have.

Pros & Cons Of Each Pass

Here is a breakdown of exactly what you get with your hard-earned cash when you purchase the top-tier version of each company’s pass.  The Epic Pass is certainly the best way to stretch your dollar, but this isn’t to say that all of the mountains on the Ikon Pass are any less worth it.

Which Pass Is Best For You?

Are you looking to gain access to the mountains for the least amount of money possible?  Look no further than Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass.  Does Alterra Mountain Company own all of your favorite resorts?  Then spend the extra money on an Ikon Pass.

Important: Yes, the Epic Pass offers more mountains but the pass you choose should reflect the mountains you want to ski the most. 

Just because the Epic Pass offers 20 more mountains to ski, doesn’t necessarily mean you will ever take advantage of them, though it is nice to have the freedom to do so.

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