Are the Epic and Ikon Passes Worth It?

If you’re a skier, you’ve probably dreamed about buying an Epic or Ikon pass. The idea is alluring: “If I buy this pass, I’ll ski so much this winter, and it’ll be worth every penny.” You picture yourself skiing multiple times, hitting all the big mountains, the views, the powder, the dream. But before you pull the trigger, let’s break down the reality behind these passes and whether they’re really worth it for most skiers.

What Makes the Epic and Ikon Passes Worth It?

Let’s start by explaining a few common misconceptions about whether the pass is worth it. First, your pass is not worth it simply because "lift tickets at the window are through the roof." There are better ways to combat high window ticket prices.

The additional perks aren't worth much. Lodging discounts from Ikon and Epic often don’t offer significant savings compared to off-resort options or major sale events like Cyber Monday. For food, packing snacks and eating off-resort is a more affordable choice than resort dining. Discounted lift tickets for friends may seem like a deal, but they don't offset the high cost of the pass, with rates like $187 per day for a buddy ticket at Breckenridge still being very expensive.

So what makes a full season pass worth it? The true value of any pass comes down to price per day on the slopes. It’s not just about beating window rates or "breaking even" for a few days of skiing. — but did you average about 100$ a day for lift tickets?

3 Reasons Why 100$ a day is a good goal:

1.Our website shares “Hidden Gem Resorts” That offer affordable lift tickets all year around. These resorts are all found in the Rocky or Cascade Mountains and have verticals ranging from 1800 to 2800 feet. The average price of a lift ticket at Hidden Gem Resorts is 86$ a day. Therefore, even without advanced planning, you can find a way to ski at great resorts for affordable prices.

2.Epic Day Passes for Major Resorts cost $90-$119 depending on how many days you buy. For many skiers, purchasing an “Epic Day Pass” will give you access to the slopes at a reasonable rate per day. You can buy 1-7 days of skiing at this rate. The full-access Epic Day Pass gives you access to some of the best resorts, such as Vail.

1. Epic Day Pass (1 Day) = 119$ Per Day

2. Epic Day Pass (2 Days) = 115$ Per Day

3. Epic Day Pass (3 Days) = 112$ Per Day

It continues to go down in price until you reach 99$ for a 7-day pass.

Epic’s 32-resort access also provides an awesome deal. Resorts like Stevens Pass, Washington and Keystone, Colorado are included. This pass lets you ski for as low as $76 per day if you buy the full 7 days.

3. If you’re eyeing resorts on the Ikon Pass, they also offer day passes. The Ikon Session Pass is less flexible but still offers a better value than window tickets. They offer 2-4 day passes, with prices starting at $129 per day for 2-3 days and dropping to $115 per day for the 4-day pass. The best Ikon Session Pass deal is offered at Arapahoe Basin. The prices for multiday passes here are as follows:

• 3 days: $83 per day

• 4 days: $75 per day

• 5 days: $67.80 per day

Let’s Do the Math: Comparing Passes

To help visualize this, let’s take a look at the math. If you’re buying a season pass, here’s what you’re looking at for your total costs and cost per day based on different skiing days.