Epic Ski Pass Sale Helps By-Pass Daily Ski Lift Limits

Epic Ski Pass sales, which give holders the edge on lift tickets and lines throughout the Vail Resorts collection, are preparing to sunset just as the snow is falling, and ski resorts are opening. Those planning to ski or ride this season have less than two weeks to lock in the Vail Resorts Epic Pass or Epic Day Pass for upcoming trips. Epic Ski Passes – including the Epic Day Pass (1-7 days) that provides up to 65% savings compared to lift ticket prices – go off sale at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. 

Vail Resorts will limit lift tickets every day, across each of its North American resorts, throughout the 2022/23 winter season to prioritize the on-mountain experience for its Pass Holders. Some resorts already have sold out dates where lift tickets are no longer available to purchase online or at ticket windows. Passes, including Epic Day Passes, will not be restricted beyond any holiday dates associated with the purchased pass type. Last season, Vail Resorts limited lift tickets across three popular holiday periods.

Epic Ski Pass in Time for Ski Season Kick-off

Fourteen of the company’s resorts have already opened for the season with the right combination of snow, cold temperatures, snowmaking, and hard work by the company’s passionate team members.  

Six resorts opened earlier than originally scheduled, including Beaver Creek just this morning with 200 acres of terrain, as well as Breckenridge, Heavenly, Park City (which had its earliest opening since 1996), Northstar and Kirkwood (both celebrating their 50th anniversaries this year – and Kirkwood opening 20 days early). Keystone kicked off the season for Vail Resorts on Oct. 28, and Vail celebrated the start of its 60th season on Veteran’s Day – a fitting tribute to the resort’s legacy and connection to the 10th Mountain Division. Also open: Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo and Hunter in the Northeast, Afton Alps in the Midwest, and the company’s newest resort, and first in Europe, Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland. More resorts are scheduled to open this week, including Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada. 

Significant investments in the on-mountain experience debut this season, and those incliude new lifts across a dozen resorts. Nine new high-speed chairlifts, a new high-speed gondola and eight new fixed-grip chairlifts will help guests move up and around the mountain more easily. Skiers and riders can also look forward to an upgraded restaurant in Keystone –Tóst,– as well as new Ice Bars and Snow Bungalows at Vail. 

Epic Ski Pass Options 

All 2022/23 pass products, including regional passes and day passes, are available now on the Epic Pass website. Some of the most popular passes include:   

Epic Day Pass, starting at $51 for an Epic 1-Day Pass, allows skiers and riders to build their own pass, choosing from one to seven days, resort access, and holidays or not. With an Epic Day Pass, you can lock in your access, and decide later when and where to go – without concern of a day selling out. Epic Day Passes offer savings up to 65% compared to lift ticket prices. Epic Day Pass Holders with All Resorts Access will be able to use any of their days at Andermatt-Sedrun.

The Epic Pass, $949, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to 41 resorts, from local ski areas to bucket list destinations – including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, Andermatt-Sedrun, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Stevens Pass, Steven Springs and more. With additional partner resorts like Telluride, Verbier 4 Vallees, Les 3 Vallees, Ski Arlberg, and Skirama Dolomiti, the Epic Pass unlocks access to more than 80 resorts.

Epic Local, $735, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to 29 resorts – including Breckenridge and Keystone, as well as holiday-restricted access to resorts like Park City, Heavenly and Stowe, plus 10 days total at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb, and five days at Andermatt-Sedrun at no extra cost.

Value And Passes

Northeast Value Pass, $557, provides access to 21 resorts across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, including Stowe, Hunter, Mount Snow, Okemo and Wildcat, as well as the newest additions to the Vail Resorts network, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain in Pennsylvania.

Tahoe Local, $605, provides access to resorts in Lake Tahoe and Colorado – including Northstar, Heavenly, Vail and others.

Epic Military Pass, $190, for Active and Retired Military and their dependents, provides unlimited, unrestricted access to all of Vail Resorts’ owned and operated mountains – including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb and Andermatt-Sedrun. Veterans and their dependents can purchase an Epic Military Pass for $520.

All passes are non-refundable except through Epic Coverage, which provides refunds for certain resort closures and personal events such as job loss, injury or illness. Epic Coverage is provided at no additional cost and Pass Holders. Lift tickets are fully refundable but do not provide the value or multi-resort access of passes. 

“If you know you’ll ski and ride this season, even just a few days, don’t wait to buy lift tickets,” said Ryan Bennett, Chief Marketing Officer of Vail Resorts. “Whether you’ll hit the slopes one day or every day, by purchasing now you’ll avoid paying for full priced lift tickets later.”