Epic offers unlimited access to all mountains owned by Vail Resorts, with a grand total of 39 (36 in North America), 33 of which are on the Local Pass. Both full passes offer at least 7 days of access with no holiday restrictions at each North American resort.Ī major Epic advantage is unlimited access to a significantly higher number of resorts. The Ikon Base and Ikon Base Plus passes offer at least 5 days of non-holiday access at each North American resort, while the base-tier Epic Local Pass includes 10 total days between Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler, and unlimited access-with a few holiday blackouts-at every other Vail-owned mountain. That being said, both base products still include top-tier resorts, such as Whistler, Vail, and Beaver Creek on the Epic side, as well as Snowbird and Banff Sunshine on the Ikon side. Alta is the 2nd best overall mountain we’ve reviewed, while Jackson Hole is 5th, Snowmass is 6th, Snowbasin is 8th, and Telluride is 11th. However, many of the resorts excluded from the base passes offer some of the best overall experiences in North America. Those hoping to visit Telluride and the six RCR mountains will have to splurge for the full Epic Pass, while those looking to visit the premium Ikon resorts can still save a bit of money from the full Ikon Pass and purchase an $200 Ikon Base Pass Plus add-on.Ī large percentage of purchasers will likely be satisfied by the base offerings on both passes. resort missing from the Epic Local Pass, but the six Canadian mountains owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (including Kicking Horse and Fernie) are also absent from Epic’s lower-tier product. For those based in the United States, the Ikon exclusions are likely to impact significantly more passholders, with Jackson Hole, Aspen/Snowmass, Alta, Deer Valley, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, and Taos all absent from the Base Pass. Those looking to visit only local mountains next season may benefit from looking at Vail’s cheaper regional pass options before committing to a true Epic product (more details on these passes can be found here ).įor the 2023-24 season, several resorts are not included on the cheapest Epic and Ikon pass products. However, those looking for unlimited access resorts in many major metropolitan areas-especially in the Midwest-will find Epic a better choice. Ikon either offers five or seven days of access (depending on the type of pass) at Windham, Boyne Mountain, and Highlands at Harbor Springs, as well as unlimited access to Snowshoe those in the NYC, DC, and Northern Michigan areas may find these options valuable. Unlike Ikon, the Epic Pass covers several local, regional mountains in addition to destination resorts. None of these regions are included on Epic. Rockies, and Maine, as well as one each in Oregon and New Mexico. However, Ikon also offers access to several resorts in southern California, the Northern U.S. The Ikon Pass includes access to resorts in every region detailed above, including multiple offerings in Colorado, Utah, Vermont, Washington state, and the Canadian Rockies. Epic also includes access to several resorts in more local regions such as Vermont, New Hampshire, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest. Those who opt for a full Epic Pass will get access to several resorts in the Canadian Rockies and East Coast. The pass also offers access to one resort each in Utah, Washington state, and the Canadian Pacific Northwest. The overwhelming majority of destination resorts on the Epic Pass are in Colorado and Tahoe, with the pass offering multiple options across both regions. But in recent years, Ikon has evolved to cover a considerable depth of destination regions, while Epic has become more of a specialty pass for certain regions. Resort Offerings Multi-Day Access: Epic and Ikonīoth Ikon and Epic offer a substantial portfolio of resorts. We’ll also dive into how they compare to the cheaper and lesser-known Mountain Collective and Indy Pass products. In this piece, we’ll aim to shed light on the differences between the Epic and Ikon pass suites. You may also be wondering whether any alternatives to these two big-name but costly products exist. With these deadlines fast approaching, you may be debating whether to pick up one of these passes for next season. Current Epic Pass prices will likely remain for the next few months, but those who want 10 discounted buddy tickets will need to purchase a pass by April 16, 2023. The lowest rates for the popular Ikon Pass suite won’t be around for long, with prices set to rise on April 21, 2023. The current ski season may not be fully over (especially in Utah and California), but now is the best time to commit to a multi-resort pass for the 2023-24 season.
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