A pass decision, with the fine print still visible
Epic vs. Ikon: price the access you will actually use
2026-27 official adult snapshots · Source-check dates shown beside each product
Start with the mountains and dates you will ski. Epic Pass: Price needs an official recheck; Epic Local: Price needs an official recheck; Ikon Pass: Price needs an official recheck; Ikon Base: Price needs an official recheck. Current dated snapshots are shown only within each product's review window. An expired quote needs an official recheck before a price comparison is useful. Confirm access groups and partner-day limits, then compare tickets, one pass, or two passes for your own plan.
Source snapshots are planning evidence, not a checkout guarantee. Every tier below links to its official product page for a final recheck.
Already own a pass? Compare the additional cost of a second one ↓
Four dated product records
See the price, then keep the access caveat beside it.
These are adult price snapshots from the official product pages, not a promise of eligibility, availability, taxes, financing, reservations, parking, operations, or checkout price. The adult age band is operator-defined and shown in each source stamp.
Full Epic tier
Epic Pass
Price needs an official recheck
Official Epic Pass public product selector, checked October 20, 2026 (2026-27 advertised USD adult ages 31+; checkout taxes, fees, refund selection, fulfillment, final availability and personal eligibility unverified). Price review window ends 2026-10-22 UTC; the previous amount is withheld.
Published access summary: Unlimited access at Vail Resorts core mountains with no peak-date exclusions. Partner-resort terms can differ; check the official access list before travel.
Use this only after your planned mountains fit the full Epic access list.
Lower Epic tier
Epic Local
Price needs an official recheck
Official Epic Pass public product selector, checked October 20, 2026 (2026-27 advertised USD adult ages 31+; checkout taxes, fees, refund selection, fulfillment, final availability and personal eligibility unverified). Price review window ends 2026-10-22 UTC; the previous amount is withheld.
Published access summary: 10 total days, excluding Peak Dates, at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb; unlimited excluding Peak Dates at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stowe; unrestricted at the remaining listed core resorts. Partner terms can differ.
This tier has named peak-date and shared-day limits at selected mountains.
Full Ikon tier
Ikon Pass
Price needs an official recheck
Official 2026-27 Ikon new adult (23+) non-refundable USD advertised starting price and operator New price table, checked October 20, 2026; checkout taxes, fees and personal eligibility unverified; optional refundable selection costs extra. Price review window ends 2026-10-22 UTC; the previous amount is withheld.
Published access summary: Unlimited at listed core destinations; 7 days at participating partners. The Bonus Mountain program has separate 2-day access and destination-specific restrictions; confirm reservations and the exact destination.
Start with the exact destination access group; many marquee partners use a published day cap.
Lower Ikon tier
Ikon Base
Price needs an official recheck
Official 2026-27 Ikon new adult (23+) non-refundable USD advertised starting price and operator New price table, checked October 20, 2026; checkout taxes, fees and personal eligibility unverified; optional refundable selection costs extra. Price review window ends 2026-10-22 UTC; the previous amount is withheld.
Published access summary: Unlimited at listed core destinations and 5 days at participating partners; published blackout dates vary by destination. Aspen access is Snowmass-only. Does not include Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, Alta, Snowbasin or Sun Valley. Confirm current access and reservations.
This tier has destination-specific exclusions, day caps, and a mix of blackout-free and restricted groups.
Already bought Epic or Ikon?
Would buying the other pass save money on the trips you will actually take?
Compare the additional spending from today. If the first pass is paid for and has no recoverable refund, its price is common to both choices. Compare the second pass with the eligible tickets or day product you would buy for the uncovered part of the same itinerary.
In this hypothetical example, the first pass already cost $1,000 and has no recoverable refund. It stays on both sides of the comparison.
Invented USD example for one skier; these are not Epic or Ikon offers| Same three uncovered destination days | New spending | Cost including the first pass |
|---|
| Keep the first pass; buy three $180 tickets | $540 | $1540 |
|---|
| Keep the first pass; buy a $700 second pass | $700 | $1700 |
|---|
The second pass costs $160 more for those three days. Assume both alternatives independently cover the exact dates and terrain, all required lift-product charges are included, and travel is identical. A friend discount, day product or ticket bundle could change the alternative ticket basket; use the cheapest eligible option you would genuinely choose.
“I only need one more day to make it worthwhile” needs another check
Four comparable $180 tickets would total $720, so the invented $700 pass would be $20 less for an already-planned fourth date. But if that date exists only because you bought the pass, it does not avoid a ticket you otherwise would have purchased. If that extra outing adds $160 in transport or lodging, the original three-day plan plus the second pass and extra outing costs $320 more than the original three-day ticket plan. You gain another ski day; you do not save that amount.
- Split the list into committed trips and extra trips you would take only with the second pass.
- Confirm the second pass's exact mountain and date access. Count only the gaps it actually removes; tickets still needed belong on both baskets.
- Ask about recoverable refunds or credits separately. A restricted future credit is not automatically cash available for this purchase.
Compare complete ticket, one-pass and two-pass plans → · Check what can actually be recovered from an existing purchase →
1. Start with mountains and day countsA pass needs to cover the plan, not just look good on a comparison card
Add your home mountain and destination days to the cost calculator. It assigns each day once, honors documented caps and shared pools, and can compare tickets, one pass, or a two-pass plan.
Price my mountain plan before buying →
2. Test holiday access before choosing a lower tierA calendar row is useful only when it matches your destination
Epic Local has named peak-date restrictions. Ikon Base has both restricted and blackout-free destination groups, plus separate exclusions. Check the published product calendars for the mountain and dates in your plan instead of assuming an ordinary week.
Compare Epic Local and Ikon Base blackout dates →
Published 2026-27 access calendars
The lower tiers do not use one shared holiday rule.
Epic Local's published calendar names peak-date windows and affected mountains. Ikon Base's published record separates restricted and blackout-free access groups. A date outside these records is still not a coverage, reservation, or operating guarantee.
Staying inside one pass family? Compare Epic Pass and Epic Local → or compare Ikon Pass and Ikon Base before you price the lower tier →
Already have current quotes? Compare your pass quote with daily tickets or a ticket bundle. The quote tool checks cost only; confirm the same usable ski days and access with the operator first.
Epic vs. Ikon: straight answers
- Is Epic or Ikon cheaper for 2026-27?
- Epic Pass: Price needs an official recheck; Epic Local: Price needs an official recheck; Ikon Pass: Price needs an official recheck; Ikon Base: Price needs an official recheck. Each product has its own source-review date and price cutoff below. Expired or unavailable offers are withheld, so this is not a complete price ranking. Match the mountains, dates, partner caps, reservations and eligibility first; recheck the official seller before buying.
- What is the difference between Epic and Epic Local?
- A current Epic tier price difference needs an official recheck. Its published access record has peak-date restrictions at named mountains and a shared 10-day allocation at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb. The full Epic Pass has a different core access record. Check the official access list for every destination you expect to use.
- What is the difference between Ikon and Ikon Base?
- A current Ikon tier price difference needs an official recheck. It has product-specific exclusions, destination-group access rules, and some five-day limits. Its published access details include both blackout-free and blackout-restricted groups, so a single holiday label is not enough to decide coverage.
- Do Epic Local and Ikon Base have the same blackout dates?
- No. Epic Local’s published calendar applies at named peak-date mountains, while Ikon Base publishes both blackout-restricted and blackout-free destination groups. Compare the two calendars for the exact mountain and dates before booking or buying; an unlisted date is not a universal access guarantee.