Epic Pass Review: Why I Buy It Every Ski Season
How the Epic Pass changes what I spend on skiing, where I can ski, and why I keep buying one each season.
Words by Michele Underwood | Photos by Michele and courtesy of Vail Resorts.
This is my second season on the Epic Pass, and if you’re an avid skier, I don’t know why you wouldn’t get it.
The Epic Pass is how I can afford to ski at bigger, destination-style resorts without paying full-window ticket prices every time. One pass gives you access to a long list of Vail-owned resorts and partners across the U.S., Canada, and beyond. For me, it means I can plan trips, sneak in weekend laps, and not overthink lift tickets every time I want to ski.
What Is the Epic Pass?
The Epic Pass is a multi-resort ski and snowboard pass that gives you access to dozens of mountains under the Vail Resorts umbrella, as well as partner resorts. Instead of buying single-day lift tickets, you pay once upfront for a season (or choose one of their more limited Epic variants) and then ski or ride throughout the winter.
Checking a digital Epic Pass in the app before loading the lift—no digging for a plastic pass in a pocket.
There are a few primary flavors:
Epic Pass – Full access to most Epic resorts with no blackout dates, plus partner days.
Epic Local Pass (this is the one I have) – Cheaper, with some blackout dates and limited access to a few of the bigger, marquee mountains.
Epic Day 7-Day Pass – A set of seven days to use at Epic resorts this season, with the option to include peak dates. Good if you know you’ll ski for about a week.
Epic Day Pass – A flexible day-based option where you choose how many days you want and whether you want holiday access; usually cheaper than buying single-day lift tickets at the window.
The overall idea: if you ski or ride more than a handful of days a season at Epic resorts, the pass can pay for itself quickly.
Other Epic Pass Benefits I Get
Lift access is the main reason I buy the Epic Pass, but it also comes with additional benefits. Epic Mountain Rewards includes 20% off things like food, lodging, group lessons, rentals, and some transportation at participating resorts.
Eligible passes also include summer benefits, including scenic lift and gondola access at participating Vail-owned resorts. Those extras aren't why I buy the pass, but they're worth knowing about when you're deciding whether you'll get enough value from it.
What My Epic Pass Season Would’ve Cost Without a Pass
My core Epic Pass mountains for winter 2026: Park City in Utah, plus Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, and partner resort Telluride in Colorado.
To put real numbers to it, here’s what my first season with the pass would have looked like if I’d bought day tickets instead of an Epic Pass.
Epic Pass Trips & Estimated Window Ticket Prices
Heavenly (CA/NV) – 4 days
Estimated lift ticket cost: $255/day × 4 = $1,020Northstar (CA) – 1 day
Estimated lift ticket cost: $172/day = $172Park City (UT) – 4 days
Estimated lift ticket cost: $225/day × 4 = $900Breckenridge (CO) – 6 days
Estimated lift ticket cost: $225/day × 6 = $1,350Beaver Creek (CO) – 1 day
Estimated lift ticket cost: $295/day = $295Vail (CO) – 3 days
Estimated lift ticket cost: $329/day × 3 = $987Wilmot (WI) – 2 local days
Estimated lift ticket cost: $80/day × 2 = $160
Total days on my Epic Pass: 21
Estimated lift ticket cost without a pass:$4,884
What I paid for my Epic Local Pass: $934.95
Estimated savings:$3,949.05
Sign reading “The Legendary Back Bowls – Elev. 11,250” at Vail, framed against a wide snowy bowl, scattered evergreens, and distant mountains under a blue sky.
If you’re curious what I’m skiing in this winter—from skis to layers—you can see my current ski gear kit.
If you want a better view of some of my past Epic Pass days, visit these articles: Park City, Beaver Creek, and Vail.
If you want a better view of some of my past Epic Pass days, visit these articles: Park City, Beaver Creek, and Vail. For trip recaps and POV laps, check out my YouTube channel @overlandgirl.
Happy skiing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Epic Pass worth it? For me, yes. In one season, I skied 21 days at Epic resorts. I estimated those lift tickets would have cost me $4,884 individually compared with the $934.95 I paid for my pass. How much you save will depend on where and how often you ski.
How many days do you need to ski for the Epic Pass to be worth it? It depends on where you ski, but at many major resorts, a few days can cover the cost compared to buying lift tickets at the window.
Can you use the Epic Pass at multiple resorts? Yes. Depending on the pass you choose, you'll have access to Vail Resorts-owned mountains and partner resorts across North America and beyond.
Why do I keep buying the Epic Pass? I like the flexibility. It makes it easier to plan ski trips, try new mountains, and spend more time skiing without thinking about the cost of every lift ticket.
Michele Underwood writes Overland Girl, where she shares the gear she uses on real trips—from the Northwoods of Wisconsin to desert rides in the West. She values quality and craftsmanship and believes in buying less, but buying better. The gear she recommends is gear she uses herself.Some links on Overland Girl may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, Michele may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.