“So…what ski pass did you get this year?”
Every fall, when our new seasonal shop staff starts to roll in, perhaps our favorite icebreaker is, “what ski pass are you on?”. As skiers, we’re always looking for the best bang for our buck, right? Which has the most ski areas, the fewest blackout dates, where our friends are skiing, and what makes the most sense for our families? In our ski pass comparison for the 2025/2026 season, we break down what changes each ski pass got for this season, who they’re best for, and our favorite resort from each.
Ikon Pass Simplifies Pass Offerings
The Ikon Pass is switching things up a little this year. The full Ikon Pass ($1,429 as of August) offers the most access and zero (!) black out dates. A big change for the 25/26 season is no more Base Plus. The only options are the Ikon Base Pass or the full — no more Base Plus. This year, the Ikon Base Pass gives you unlimited access to 14 resorts (some with blackout dates), and five days at up to 40 other resorts. The Base Pass will run you $1,009 as of early August.
The major change on Ikon this year caused some hubbub around the shop: full access to Arapahoe Basin. Formerly just a partner, A-Basin was purchased by Alterra last season. We expected some changes to access, but full access on Ikon puts A-Basin in uncharted territory. The previously left the Vail conglomerate because skier traffic got too heavy. Will that happen on Ikon? Only time will tell. But, unlimited A-Basin access is saved just for full Ikon Pass owners. The Base just gets five days.
Ikon’s also been accumulating a strong contigency of international partner destinations. This year, they add Le Massif de Charlevoix in Quebec and Ischgl, Austria.
Who’s it for?
With unlimited access to Winter Park, Copper Mountain, and Eldora, and several local Colorado hills with partial access, the Ikon makes for a great Colorado pass for the folks skiing out of the Front Range or I-70. A wide variety of additional locations makes finding ski vacation destinations covered under your pass easy.
A Powder7 Favorite Hill: Steamboat
We Powder7 folk love Steamboat. Whether it’s in the summer for riding bikes or winter for some of the best snow in the state, we wind up wiggling our way up to the resort every year. Steamboat is pretty special as far as Colorado mega-resorts go. Relatively far off the well-traveled and convienent I-70 hits, Steamboat offers quieter crowds and lift lines, untouched powder, and a unique vibe. The town embraces it’s cattle ranching and cowboy heritage. Texas Week is a huge hit as the town and resort embrace one of their more popular tourist home bases. Winter Wondergrass is an annual bluegrass fest that is a must for fans of the genre. Oh, and the skiing? Lacing powder turns through the aspen trees will change how you think about sliding on snow.
Mountain Collective Keeps on Keepin’ On
Started by the Aspen Skiing Company back in 2012, the Mountain Collective compiles some of the highest-quality terrain and mountains into one pass. The Mountain Collective offers two days at each partner resort, similar to the Indy Pass. With destinations like Aspen Snowmass, Sugarbush, Snowbird and Alta, Jackson Hole, Arapahoe Basin, and Taos, you get a lot of the hits off of the Ikon Pass without the Ikon Pass price. If you plan on skiing more than two days, you can snag 50% off on additional days.
After a big drop of five new resorts last season, the Mountain Collective just adds one new resort this year: Whiteface. The New York addition adds yet another mountain in the Northeast for our East Coast crushers. You can now link up a Ski the East ski trip with days at Whiteface, Sunday River, and Sugarloaf. If you can cross the border, check out Mt. Bromont.
With the Alterra purchase of Arapahoe Basin, they’ve dropped off the Mountain Collective this year. This makes this less of a Colorado destination pass (Aspen Snowmass being the only partners in the state), but Western skiers can still rejoice with destinations like Jackson Hole, Taos, Grand Targhee, Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin,
Who’s it for?
With no blackout dates and a reasonable number of days at each resort, if you like to spend your ski season traveling to a variety of resorts rather than focusing on one resort every trip, this is an excellent choice. These destinations are a little more mainstream than those on the Indy Pass (more on that below), so if you like resorts with more terrain options, we’d lean toward Mountain Collective.
A Powder7 Favorite Hill: Alta / Snowbird
While the Alta and Snowbird heads probably don’t want the resorts bumped up together, it’s impossible to talk about one without the other. Nestled in the steeps of Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta and Snowbird live right next door to each other. They offer some of the most spectacular snow, along with technical, steep terrain that can’t be replicated. It’s not often a ski resort has one chute lined up one right after another.
Updates for the Epic Mountain Pass
Usually the biggest rival with the Ikon Pass, the Epic Pass provides exclusive access to the Vail Resorts. In the last few years, Epic expanded across the country, with new additions in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and East. This makes Epic a great all-around option for lots of local skiing for skiers everywhere. The Epic Local Pass (similar to the Ikon Base, with more limited access compared to the full Epic) provides really extensive access for a pretty great price — $799 right now.
There are several regional Epic Passes as well that offer better access to the resorts in those regions, along with some access through big hits like Tahoe and the Rockies. You can see the full range here. A big bad Epic Pass will run you $1,075 for unlimited access at their core lineup, with seven days at resorts like Telluride and Kicking Horse.
Who’s it for?
Colorado skiers who ride or die by Vail, Breck, and Keystone, or anyone who spends vacations in the Colorado/Utah area. Not to mention, the full Epic Pass is home to probably the largest spread of international destinations in Europe and Canada, so if that’s on your list this year, this could be a good option.
A Powder7 Favorite Hill: Crested Butte
Crested Butte holds a special place in many of our hearts. It’s a dream ski trip for us here in the Front Range — just far enough it feels like you’re going on an adventure, an unmatched ski town vibe, and world-class terrain. We’ve had many a wonderful ski trip to Crested Butte. For expert skiers, there are endless lines among the different steep bowls to explore. There’s also plenty of intermediate terrain to play on, and actually might have one of the more diverse terrain profiles among these iconic mountains. Read our full Crested Butte trip report if that piques your interest.
The Indy Pass keeps crushing
The Indy Pass entered the scene back in 2019 and provides a unique offering for riders everywhere with over 100 partner resorts. Passholders get two days at each resort, with additional discounts for extra tickets and at other partnered areas, like cross-country skiing facilities. The focus of the Indy Pass is on independent resorts (hence the name), but also smaller resorts that prioritize small ski area vibes. 10,000 feet of vertical drop isn’t usually on the menu at these partners, but no lift lines, easy access, and community vibes are.
The Indy Pass continues to bump up their roster. New for 25/26, Indy adds Burke Mountain in Vermont; Tenny Mountain in New Hampshire; Corralco in Chile; Rauriser-Hochalmbahnen in Austria; Pila, Italy; and Mt. Washington XC in British Columbia.
If taking a trip to Colorado has always been on your list, but you’re not interested in big resort vibes, the Colorado offerings are pretty impressive. Powderhorn, Sunlight, Powder7 favorite Loveland, and Granby Ranch are all on the list and offer a wide variety of terrain for different skill levels.
The only bad news? The Indy Pass crushes so much, it’s already sold out for the season. You can join their waitlist to be alerted if any other passes go up for sale in the fall. The limited passes allow Indy to retain the vibe of the independent resorts they partner with.
Who’s it for?
Perhaps the best compilation and representation in the Midwest of all the ski passes. It’s great for folks based in the East and Midwest, but provides plenty of options for destination skiing out West. The Indy Pass is ideal for folks who aren’t hitting the 50+ ski day threshold and are stoked on traveling away from the beaten path. Indy is probably the best option for families who find the big resort scene expensive and overkill for a casual family ski vacation.
A Powder7 Favorite Hill: Sunlight Mountain Resort
Just down the road from Aspen Snowmass, Sunlight is a Roaring Fork Valley locals favorite. Avoid the crowds (and ritzy vibe) of Aspen, with a lot of the same incredible terrain. The Indy Pass added Sunlight last February, which combined with Bluebird would make for a great hit of Colorado ski areas.
