Editor’s note: This post was updated on 9/3/21.
Which ski pass to buy, you ask? It might be easier to explain quantum mechanics.
As Alterra Mountain Company (Ikon Pass) and Vail Resorts (Epic Pass) duke it out for interstellar domination of the skier-verse, we skiers are left with tough—albeit exciting—choices. Do I want more Colorado or more Utah? In Japan, will I hit Hokkaido or the Japanese Alps? And what about skiing in Canada, eh? When it comes to which ski pass to buy in 2021, the real coup de grâce is that your choices aren’t even limited to just Ikon or Epic! There’s the Mountain Collective. The Powder Alliance. Then the old Plain Jane season pass to your favorite singular mountain to complicate things even more.
So what’s the verdict? We asked a handful of Powder7 staffers how they’re attacking the winter ahead.
Powder7’s Top Picks: Which Ski Pass to Buy for 2021-2022
Terol
Pass(es): Ikon…and maybe Loveland.
Reasoning: “Everyone’s getting Ikon! Gotta ski with friends. And a Loveland midweek pass works well with my schedule, so I might do that too.”
Morgan
Pass(es): Loveland (Powder Alliance)
Reasoning: “Loveland is close, it’s super fun, and I’d prefer to support the smaller ski hills rather than the big guys.”
Cody
Pass(es): Ikon
Reasoning: “I was going to switch over to Epic this year because I wanted some new Colorado terrain. But my friends are going Ikon. As much as I like skiing alone, I don’t like skiing alone the whole season.”
Alex M
Pass(es): Epic
Reasoning: “Well, it’s super convenient. My husband’s family lives close to a couple epic resorts, and a lot of our friends are up there. The mountains and terrain are sweet, the towns are cool, and you can usually find good snow.”
Matt
Pass(es): Ikon, Loveland, Silverton
Reasoning: “As much as I’d love to not buy an Ikon, you can’t resist the ski-cation opportunities. Between Taos, Alta, Aspen, Jackson, and Banff, there are some epic trips to be had. Loveland and Silverton have my heart—Loveland for the vibes and spicy margaritas, Silverton for the big-mountain madness.”
Chris
Pass(es): “Ikon, duh!”
Reasoning: “Why not? A-Basin’s on there now! Eldora is great for our kids, and we don’t have to battle I-70 traffic. You get there in an hour…always.”
Mia
Pass(es): Ikon, Loveland (Powder Alliance)
Reasoning: “Skiing is all about going with your friends. A bunch of people I know have Ikons, and there’s arguably nowhere better than Loveland for friendsdays.”
Blake
Pass(es): Epic
Reasoning: “The epic stashes at Breckenridge and the fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies at Beaver Creek.”
Sam W
Pass(es): Arapahoe Basin, Silverton
Reasoning: “The challenging terrain, local vibes, and that mouth-watering mid-mountain barbeque. And Silverton doubles-down on the challenging terrain!”
How to Choose a Ski Pass? Size Up the Options.
First, keep in mind: Both the Ikon and the Epic are offered in a variety of versions. Not every partner resort will be accessible equally on each pass. Check their websites for more details (and fine print).
Ikon Pass
West:
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, June Mountain, Mammoth, Big Bear, Snow Summit
Pacific Northwest:
Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie, Alpental, Mt. Bachelor, Schweitzer
Rockies:
Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, Arapahoe Basin, Eldora, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Taos, Deer Valley, Solitude, Brighton, Alta, Snowbird
Midwest:
Boyne Highlands, Boyne Mountain
East:
Stratton, Killington, Pico, Sugarbush, Snowshoe, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Loon, Windham,
Canada:
SkiBig3, Revelstoke, CMH, Cypress, Red Mountain, Tremblant, Blue Mountain
Overseas:
Valle Nevado, Thredbo, Mt. Buller, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt. Hutt, Niseko United, Zermatt Matterhorn, Kitzbuhel, Dolomiti Superski
Epic Pass
West:
Northstar, Heavenly, Kirkwood
Pacific Northwest:
Stevens Pass
Rockies:
Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Park City, Crested Butte, Keystone, Telluride, Sun Valley, Snowbasin
Midwest:
Mt Brighton, Wilmot, Afton Alps, Brandywine, Hidden Valley, Paoli Peaks, Alpine Valley, Snow Creek, Mad River Mountain, Boston Mills
East:
Mt Sunapee, Okemo, Stowe, Mount Snow, Attitash, Crotched Mountain, Roundtop Mountain, Big Boulder, Jack Frost, Whitetail, Liberty Mountain, Wildcat Mountain, Hunter Mountain
Canada:
Fernie, Kimberley, Stoneham, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, Mont-Sainte Anne, Whistler Blackcomb
Overseas:
Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba47, Hakuba Iwatake, Jiigatake, Tsugaike Kogen, Rusutsu, Hakuba Cortina, Hakuba Happo-One, Hakuba Norikura, Kashimayari, Hakuba Sanosaka, Perisher, Falls Creek, Mount Hotham, Ski Arlberg, Skirama Dolomiti, Les 3 Vallees, Verbier 4 Vallees.
Mountain Collective
Two days each at 23 different resorts. Get the lowdown here.
West:
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Mammoth
Pacific Northwest:
None.
Rockies:
Alta, Arapahoe Basin, Aspen Snowmass, Big Sky, Jackson Hole, Taos, Snowbird, Grand Targhee.
Midwest:
None.
East:
Sugarbush, Sugarloaf
Canada:
Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, Sun Peaks Resort, Panorama
Overseas:
Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Mt Buller, Thredbo, Valle Nevado, Niseko United, Mt Buller, Chamonix Mont Blanc
Powder Alliance
If you buy a season pass to one Powder Alliance resort, you get up to three visits at the 18 others. Check the fine print and details.
West:
Sierra-at-Tahoe, Sugar Bowl, Mountain High, China Peak, Dodge Ridge
Pacific Northwest:
Mt Hood Skibowl, White Pass, Timberline, Mission Ridge, Eaglecrest
Rockies:
Angel Fire, Loveland, Bogus Basin, Schweitzer, Bridger Bowl, Monarch Mountain, Silver Mountain
Midwest:
None.
East:
None.
Canada:
Whitewater, Castle Mountain Resort, Ski Marmot Basin
Overseas:
Kiroro, La Parva
Did you make your decision? Great. Now choose an alpine touring setup for your non-resort days.
