What an epic ski season 2022-2023 has been! It's already time to think about planning for next year. Diehard skiers (like our Frog Family) know it's never too early to start thinking about the upcoming ski season, especially if you want to get the best deals! The 2023-2024 Epic Pass is on sale now! Make sure to purchase yours through Undercover Tourist! Keep in mind that Epic Pass sales are limited, so you'll want to purchase them well before each ski season kicks off. The earlier you purchase, the better the price and benefits you'll get. Let's hop to it and go over all of the cool perks of having an Epic Pass.
Overview of the 2023-2024 Epic Pass
The Epic Pass is a ski pass that can be used to gain entry to multiple Vail Ski resorts across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia and Europe. It is on sale from March until early December or late November. Sales end once the season is underway, so you'll want to plan ahead. We sell a variety of Epic Passes, offering passes for the entire season or for a limited number of days. Some have blackout dates over holidays and others can be used any day of the season.
The best time to buy an Epic Pass is in spring when Epic Passes first become available and are the cheapest in price. In addition to entry, the pass includes extra benefits when purchased in spring, such as the 10 bonus Buddy Tickets you receive (with eligible passes). You'll want to purchase your pass by around mid-April 2023 to take advantage of the entire 2023-2024 season and maximize the pass' benefits. (Last year, the last day to purchase Buddy Passes was April 21, 2022, but it could fall on an earlier date this year, so don't wait.)
Prices start to creep up in late spring. The last chance for a low pass price is likely in early September. The largest price jump hoppens in mid-October and the pass usually sells out by early December. At that point, you will be out of luck until sales reopen for the following season. Whether it's your first pass or a renewal, you'll want to purchase early each year to lock in the best rates for next season!
Reservations and Updates
Vail Ski Resorts will not use a reservation system for the 2023-2024 season, except for Telluride Ski Resort. Reservations for Telluride open in August. Stevens Pass Ski Resort will offer night skiing beginning at 3 p.m. PST for the 2023-2024 season. Both of these resorts are still operating on a cashless system.
Saving on the Current Ski Season
The 2022-2023 ski season has been well, Epic! With record-breaking snowfall, ski resorts have been extending their closing dates for spring 2023. Don't have a 2022-2023 Epic Pass? We can still help you save some green!
For the rest of the current 2022-2023 season, you can still save up to $50 per regular lift ticket for select Vail-owned resorts through Undercover Tourist when you bundle the tickets in your cart with a hotel! When you put tickets and a hotel stay in your cart, you'll $50 discount will automatically be applied to each lift ticket! Don't froget, we still offer discounts on ski hotels. If you need a rental car, put it in your cart with your Epic Pass or hotel purchase to unlock deeper discounts of up to 50 percent off the rental car! (Pssst ... you don't even need to use the rental car for your ski trip. You'll still save if you want to book a rental for a different trip as long as it's bundled with a hotel or ticket purchase. Ribbit!)
There's a lot to hop into with this year's Epic Pass. We'll walk through the benefits, plus all of the details about this year's pass.
Undercover Tourist sells the following 2023-2024 Epic Passes:
- Restricted Epic Pass (1-7 days)
- Unrestricted (1-7 days, Local and Unlimited)
- Limited Epic Pass (1-7 days)
- Limited Restricted (1-7 days)
- Tahoe Local Pass
- Tahoe Value Pass
- Summit Value Pass (Keystone and Breckenridge)
- Keystone Plus Pass
2023-2024 Epic Pass Benefits at a Glance
Here are the benefits that come with your Epic Pass:
- Epic Coverage — more on this below!
- Epic Mountain Rewards — 20 percent off of food, lodging, lessons, rentals, activities, and more (including Epic Mountain Express in Colorado). At select locations, get the Toyota Tune Up (including 50 percent off a tune and one free wax a year). In the summertime, get discounts for golf and bike rentals.
- Coverage for resort closure between Dec. 7, 2023, and April 17, 2024, due to disease, war, terrorism or natural disaster.
- Personal Coverage for job loss (or furlough over six months), mandatory stay-at-home-order, student transfer, visa rejections, pregnancy, injury, sickness, death, jury duty, military transfer and more.
- My Epic app
My Epic App
The all-new My Epic app launches this year. The app allows guests to store mobile passes and lift tickets on their devices using Bluetooth Low Energy technology. My Epic serves as a one-stop app at the 37 Vail-owned and operated ski resorts in North America.
My Epic app offers:
- Lift access with a mobile pass (Frogot your physical Epic Pass card? No problem! It's on the app!)
- Real-time resort updates
- Personalized stats
- Account information
- and More!
Mobile Pass is not available at Whistler Blackcomb during the 2023-2024 season. Guests who are new to, or switching, Epic Pass products still receive a physical pass in the mail and can choose to use either the media card or mobile pass for lift access. Click here to learn more!
Epic Coverage for Certain Personal Events and Resort Closures
You do not have to pay extra for pass insurance. Epic Coverage is included for free for all pass holders. Epic Coverage covers you for qualifying personal events and qualifying resort closures. Click here for the complete Epic Coverage terms and conditions.
The Epic Pass is non-refundable, but Epic Coverage provides refunds for certain personal events, including:
- Job loss and job furloughs over six months
- Mandatory stay-at-home order from county, state or country
- Injury, sickness or death
- Student transfer
- Pregnancy
- Visa rejections
- Jury duty
- Military transfer
- And more
Guests who submit a Personal Refund Request will no longer be able to use their Pass to access any resorts or receive any other ancillary Epic Pass benefits.
Best of all, you don't need to sign up for these extra perks. They are included for free when you purchase your pass.
Unrestricted Epic Pass 2023-2024
The Unrestricted Epic Pass is the ultimate ski pass — granting access to the most resorts, with the fewest restrictions (but also the highest price). This unlimited pass is perfect for ski-loving and snowboarding families who want to pack in as much powder time as they possibly can! It includes additional days at international destinations as well.
For a limited time, this pass includes:
- 6 discounted Ski-With-A-Friend tickets
- 10 free Buddy Pass tickets — when you purchase the Epic Pass by mid-April 2023 (hop down below where we discuss how to get these)
- Half-price pass holder tickets at partner resorts once all days are used (excluding Hakuba Valley, Rusutsu in Japan and European Partner Resorts)
The Unrestricted Epic Pass offers entry and unrestricted, unlimited skiing for the entire 2023-2024 season at 67 resorts:
Rockies
- Vail, CO
- Keystone, CO
- Beaver Creek, CO
- Breckenridge, CO
- Crested Butte, CO
- Park City, UT
- Telluride, CO (7 total days, must reserve, plus 50 percent off lift tickets once 7 days are used)
- Resorts of the Canadian Rockies — Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Mont Saint Anne, Nakiska, and Stoneham (7 days total)
West
- Heavenly, CA, NV
- Kirkwood, CA
- Northstar, CA
- Stevens Pass, WA (also offers night skiing beginning at 3 p.m.)
Midwest
- Wilmot, WI
- Afton Alps, MN
- Mt. Brighton, MI
- Alpine Valley, OH
- Boston Mills, OH
- Brandywine, OH
- Mad River Mountain, OH
- Hidden Valley, MO
- Snow Creek, MO
- Paoli Peaks, IN
East
- Stowe, VT
- Okemo, VT
- Mount Sunapee, NH
- Mount Snow, VT
- Attitash Mountain Resort, NH
- Wildcat Mountain, NH
- Crotched Mountain, NH
- Hunter Mountain, NY
- Liberty Mountain Resort, PA
- Roundtop Mountain Resort, PA
- Whitetail Resort, PA
- Jack Frost, PA
- Big Boulder, PA
- Seven Springs, PA
- Hidden Valley, PA
- Laurel Mountain, PA
International
- Whistler Blackcomb, BC
- Perisher, Australia (2024)
- Falls Creek, Australia (2024)
- Hotham, Australia (2024)
- Andermatt-Sedrun, Switzerland (*see below)
With additional access (with limited dates and 7 total days) at:
- Telluride, CO (7 total days, reservations required, plus you can purchase 50 percent off lift tickets once all 7 days are used)
- Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Mont Saint Anne, Nakiska, and Stoneham) — Epic Pass holders can purchase 50 percent off lift tickets once all 7 days are used
- 26 European Partner Resorts across France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria
- *Passes with access to Andermatt-Sedrun will also include access to Disentis, a neighboring partner resort for the 2023-2024 season. Eligible Pass holders who use all of their included days can purchase single-day lift tickets at Andermatt, Sedrun and Disentis for 50 percent off the window rate.
5 total days in Japan:
- Hakuba Valley (10 resorts, and Rusutsu, Japan resorts)
Half-price pass holder tickets at partner resorts once all days are used excluding Hakuba Valley, Rusutsu in Japan, and European Partner Resorts.
Once you order through Undercover Tourist, you'll receive a confirmation email and number (it may take several days to receive this). Log in to the Epic Pass site (link provided in the confirmation email) to complete your profile, upload a photo and verify your mailing address. Passes are expected to begin shipping in the fall.
Epic Local Pass
While the name is somewhat confusing, the Epic Local Pass is not limited to locals. Rather, it's geared more toward anyone who wants a more affordable option than the Epic Pass. The Local Pass provides some unlimited access to many Vail resorts (with limited access and restrictions for a few resorts).
With the Epic Local Pass, you'll get unlimited — no blackouts, no restrictions — access to the following resorts:
Rockies
- Breckenridge
- Keystone
- Crested Butte
- Unlimited April skiing for the 2023-2024 season at Vail and Beaver Creek if purchased before May 30, 2023.
West
- Stevens Pass
Midwest
- Wilmot
- Afton Alps
- Mt. Brighton
- Alpine Valley
- Boston Mills
- Brandywine
- Mad River Mountain
- Snow Creek
- Paoli Peaks
- Hidden Valley, MO
East
- Okemo
- Mount Sunapee
- Mount Snow
- Attitash Mountain Resort
- Wildcat Mountain
- Crotched Mountain
- Hunter Mountain
- Liberty Mountain Resort
- Roundtop Mountain Resort
- Whitetail Resort
- Jack Frost
- Big Boulder
- Seven Springs
- Hidden Valley, PA
- Laurel Mountain
On top of that, you will also get access to the following resorts with holiday blackouts:
- Park City
- Heavenly
- Northstar
- Kirkwood
- Stowe
You will also receive the following amount of days:
- Ten (10) Days combined with peak restrictions at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler (holiday blackouts apply).
- Five (5) consecutive days of skiing and snowboarding at Hakuba Valley's 10 ski resorts and Rusutsu, Japan for the 2023-2024 winter season (no restrictions).
- Five (5) days of unrestricted access to Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis (Switzerland).
Other Epic Local Pass benefits include:
- 10 Buddy Tickets at a discounted flat rate.
- ix (6) "Ski with a Friend" discounted tickets.
- Half-price pass holder tickets during peak restricted dates at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Stowe on restricted dates.
- Advanced lift ticket rate available during restricted dates at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb and beyond 10 days.
- Pass holders can purchase additional days at Advanced Lift Ticket Rate at the ticket window once all days are used.
- Pass holders are eligible to purchase single-day lift tickets for 50% off at Andermatt-Sedrun once available days have been used.
Blackouts:
- November 24-25, 2023
- December 26-31, 2023
- January 13, 2024
- February 17-18, 2024
Keep reading to learn about more restrictive Local Passes.
Tahoe Local Pass
While the name is somewhat confusing, the Tahoe Local Pass is not limited to locals or Tahoe resorts. Rather, it's geared more toward anyone who wants a more affordable option than the Epic Pass. The Local Pass provides limited access to many popular Vail Ski Resorts (with a few restrictions). For this ski season, this pass does not include the following holiday dates:
- Nov. 24-25, 2023
- Dec. 26-31, 2023
- Jan. 13, 2024
- Feb. 17-18, 2024
The Tahoe Local Pass provides access to the following resorts with holiday restrictions:
- Heavenly
- Northstar
- Kirkwood
Plus, it includes 5 total days with holiday restrictions at:
- Park City
- Vail
- Beaver Creek
- Keystone
- Breckenridge
- Crested Butte
The Tahoe Local Pass offers the following discounts:
- 10 discounted Buddy Tickets at a flat rate (when purchased in spring)
- 6 discounted Ski-With-A-Friend tickets
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Breckenridge, Park City and Keystone (also at Crested Butte, Stowe, Mount Sunapee, Okemo and Stevens Pass beyond 5 days)
- Advanced lift ticket rate available during blackout dates and beyond 5 days at Vail and Beaver Creek.
- Advanced lift ticket rate available at Whistler Blackcomb.
Tahoe Value Pass
The Tahoe Value Pass provides access to the following Resorts with holiday restrictions:
- Heavenly 7 days a week
- Northstar 6 days a week (Saturdays are restricted)
- Kirkwood 6 days a week (Saturdays are restricted)
Holiday Blackout Dates (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood):
- November 24-25, 2023
- December 26-31, 2023
- January 13, 2024
- February 17-18, 2024
- Saturdays at Northstar and Kirkwood
Other Tahoe Value Pass benefits include:
- 10 Buddy Tickets at a discounted flat rate (when purchased in spring)
- Six (6) discounted "Ski with a Friend" discounted tickets.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Breckenridge, Park City, Keystone, Crested Butte, Stowe, Mount Sunapee, Okemo and Stevens Pass.
- Advanced lift ticket rates available at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb.
Keystone Plus Pass
With the Keystone Plus Pass you'll get access to the following Resorts:
- Access to Keystone with peak restrictions.
- Late-season skiing at Breckenridge after April 1, 2024.
- Five (5) days at Crested Butte with peak restrictions.
Other Keystone Plus Pass benefits include:
- 10 Buddy Tickets at a discounted flat rate.
- Six (6) discounted "Ski with a Friend" tickets.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Keystone.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available at Breckenridge, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar,
Kirkwood, Stowe, Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Stevens Pass. - Advanced lift ticket rates available at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb.
Value Pass (Keystone & Breckenridge)
With the Summit Value Pass you'll get access to the following resorts (and discounts for select resorts):
- Unlimited access to Keystone.
- Access to Breckenridge (holiday blackouts apply).
Other Summit Value Pass benefits include:
- 10 Buddy Tickets at a discounted flat rate.
- Six (6) "Ski with a Friend" discounted tickets.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available during blackout dates at Breckenridge.
- Half-price pass-holder tickets available at Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Crested Butte, Okemo, Mount Sunapee and Stevens Pass.
- Advanced lift ticket rates available at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb.
Epic Day Passes: Restricted, Unrestricted and Limited
For the 2023-2024 season, we offer the Epic Day Passes for one to seven days of skiing. There are four categories: restricted, unrestricted, limited restricted and limited unrestrictive. Does it sound too complicated? Don't worry — we are here to help. The restricted passes have holiday blackout dates and the limited passes have fewer participating resorts but no blackout dates. Limited restricted tickets have both. This allows you to find the pass that works for you depending on your ski habits (and possibly save money).
If you know where you want to ski and when you want to ski, you can narrow down your choices significantly. If you are not sure when and where you want to ski, the Unrestricted Epic Day Pass will give you the most flexibility. But if you know you only want to ski at, say, Lake Tahoe, during a non-holiday period, you can save the most money with a Limited Restricted Epic Day Pass.
For any of the below passes, you purchase the number of dates you want to ski or ride — from one to seven days. The days do not need to be consecutive. Keep in mind that we provide the final price including taxes and fees so you have no surprises in your cart. Prices will go up, so buy early. Here's a quick look at the Epic Day Passes (prices reflect the 2023-2024 season):
- Restricted Epic Day Pass — Select holiday blackout periods. Ski at 30 Vail resorts. Less expensive than Unrestricted. Its cost ranges from a starting final price of $119 to $710 for adults ($61 to $362 for kids).
- Unrestricted Epic Day Pass — No holiday blackout periods. Ski at 37 Vail resorts. Flexible days up to 50 percent off. Its cost ranges from $110 to $657 for adults ($56 to $335 for kids).
- Limited Restricted Epic Day Pass — This pass has the same benefits as the Restricted Epic Day Pass with holiday blackout periods but has some resort restrictions (and therefore a cheaper price). Access to 32 resorts. Its cost ranges from $78 to $459 for adults ($39 to $235 for kids).
- Limited Epic Day Pass — This pass has no blackouts and the same benefits as the Unrestricted Epic Day Pass but has some resort restrictions (and therefore a cheaper price). It has access to 32 resorts. Its cost ranges from $91 to $544 for adults ($47 to $277 for kids).
The resorts accessible for each pass may vary slightly, so be sure to check your ticket before you purchase.
The Restricted Epic Day Pass and Limited Restricted Epic Day Pass blackout dates are:
- Nov. 24-25, 2023
- Dec. 26-31, 2023
- Jan. 13, 2024
- Feb. 17-18, 2024
For the majority of you skiers and riders who plan to only take a couple of ski vacations, the Epic Day pass is the most practical and economical choice. It allows you to lock in the best rates of the season without committing to a full Epic Pass. Plus you do not have to select your dates, and they do not have to be consecutive. You can buy the pass that suits your personal ski plans.
All Epic Day Pass holders can take advantage of Epic Mountain Rewards with 20 percent off food, lodging, rentals and more. This pass does not include Buddy Passes or Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets though.
The Epic Day Pass offers skiing or riding at the following resorts (those with an "L" are on the Limited Pass list):
Rockies
West
- Heavenly, CA, NV - L
- Kirkwood, CA - L
- Northstar, CA - L
- Stevens Pass, WA - L (offers night skiing beginning at 3 p.m.)
Midwest
- Afton Alps, MN - L
- Mt. Brighton, MI - L
- Wilmot, WI - L
- Alpine Valley, OH- L
- Boston Mills, OH- L
- Brandywine, OH- L
- Mad River Mountain, OH- L
- Hidden Valley, MO- L
- Snow Creek, MO- L
- Paoli Peaks, IN- L
East
- Mount Sunapee, NH- L
- Okemo, VT- L
- Mount Snow, VT- L
- Stowe, VT- L
- Attitash Mountain Resort, NH - L
- Wildcat Mountain, NH - L
- Crotched Mountain, NH - L
- Hunter Mountain, NY - L
- Liberty Mountain Resort, PA - L
- Whitetail Resort, PA - L
- Jack Frost, PA - L
- Big Boulder, PA - L
- Roundtop Mountain Resort, PA- L
- Seven Springs, PA - L
- Laurel Mountain, PA - L
- Hidden Valley, PA - L
Canada
- Whistler Blackcomb, BC
Pass holders can purchase additional days at Vail Resorts-owned resorts at Advanced Lift Ticket Rate at the ticket window once all days are used.
Epic Pass Comparison (with a final price including taxes and fees as of April 2022. Hop back for 2023-2024 prices soon)
| Which Epic Pass | Cost | How Many Resorts? | Restrictions? | Additional Tickets/Benefits? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic Pass | $909 | 67* | No | 6 Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets; 10 Buddy Tickets** |
| Epic Local Pass | $676 | 30+ Resorts | Holidays | 6 Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets; 10 Buddy Tickets** |
| Epic Day Pass Unrestricted (1-7 Days) | $443 for 4 days | Up to 37 | No | No |
| Epic Day Pass Restricted (4-7 Days) | $375 for 4 days | Up to 37 | Holidays | No |
**Benefits are subject to change and must purchase by spring (the cut-off date last year was April 21, 2022) to receive Buddy Passes
All Epic Pass tickets include Epic Mountain Rewards.
What Is the Difference Between Epic Buddy Tickets and Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets?
Epic Buddy Tickets and Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets both provide frogtastic discounts for friends and family (you can see pricing and more at the link provided.) However, the two types of tickets have key differences!
- Epic Buddy Tickets are the most discounted tickets, which stay the same price all season long (up to 48 percent off but the percentage of savings varies by resort). They are only available at Vail Ski Resorts (not partner resorts). You must purchase the Epic Pass by a certain date in spring to get these. Epic Day passes do not include Buddy Tickets. We do not yet know the cut-off date in 2023, but you had to purchase by April 21, 2022, last year.
- Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets are single-day lift tickets that are discounted from the window price (by 19 to 28 percent), but these prices fluctuate throughout the season. Passes purchased before or after spring 2023 are eligible for these.
Both Epic Buddy and Ski-With-A-Friend tickets must be purchased online by the pass holder and also picked up by the pass holder (with pass) and friend at the ski resort. Here's how to do it online:
- Pass holders sign in to their My Epic account.
- Click on the "Passes" tab and navigate to the "Benefits Tickets" section.
- Select the resort and days you want to ski or ride after you click on “Buy For A Buddy” or “Buy For A Friend”
- Your friend will receive an email with a link to purchase the discounted ticket online.
- The Pass Holder will receive an email when a ticket associated with their account has been redeemed. You will also see the available tickets in your account change once a purchase is made. In the event the Pass Holder does not have an email on file, an email will be sent to the head of household for the account.
- The pass holder must be at the window on reservation day with a Pass to pick up the ticket.
Not all Epic Pass options come with Buddy Pass and Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets. We know you will probably have a ton of additional questions about this, so look for ticket pricing, savings, and answers to your questions about Buddy Tickets and Ski With a Friend Tickets here.
What to Know When Purchasing Your Epic Pass Through Undercover Tourist
Whew! Who's ready for an epic season? If you're purchasing your Epic Pass through Undercover Tourist, you can find more details about each type of pass on its respective ticket page, each of which is linked above. No reservations are needed except at Telluride. You can use your pass at any point during the 2023-2024 season, which typically runs from mid-to-late November through mid-April depending on resort and snow conditions.
It may take a few days to receive your confirmation number after purchase, and passes are expected to ship in the fall (although now you can also use a digital pass through the app). Once you receive your confirmation number, log in to the Epic Pass site (link provided in the confirmation email) to complete your profile, upload a photo and verify your mailing address.
All Epic Pass products are non-refundable and non-transferable. If at any time you have questions or concerns about the status of your purchase, please feel free to give us a call at 1 (800) 846-1302.
Have a question about any of the Epic passes? Drop us a line in the comments below! Need help deciding which ski resort is right for you and your family? We've got a handy overview of the top U.S. ski resorts.
Related: Frog Family's Insider Guide to Heavenly Ski Resort
Related: Frog Family's Insider Guide to Skiing Breckenridge Colorado
Keep hopping!
Comments