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Epic Pass vs Ikon Pass 2026: The Ultimate Comparison

The two mega-passes that dominate American skiing. But which one is right for YOU?

This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right choice for the 2025-2026 ski season.

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Quick Comparison

Feature	Epic Pass	Ikon Pass
Base Price	$979	$1,199
Total Resorts	40+	50+
Colorado Resorts	Vail, Breck, Keystone, Beaver Creek	Aspen, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper
Utah	Park City	Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude
Best For	Front Range access, Europe	Variety seekers, independent resorts
Blackout Dates	Some tiers	Base pass has blackouts
Buddy Tickets	Yes	Yes

Epic Pass: The Vail Empire

Key Resorts

Colorado (6 resorts):

Vail (5,317 acres)
Breckenridge (2,908 acres)
Keystone (3,148 acres)
Beaver Creek (1,832 acres)
Crested Butte (1,547 acres)
Telluride (2,000 acres)

Utah:

Park City (7,300 acres - largest in US)

California:

Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood

International:

Whistler Blackcomb (Canada)
Multiple European resorts

Epic Pass Tiers

Tier	Price	Access
Epic Pass	$979	Unlimited, no blackouts
Epic Local	$709	Limited holiday access
Epic Day Pass	Varies	1-7 days, choose your resorts

Best For:

Front Range Colorado skiers (Vail/Breck are closest) Those who want European skiing Park City loyalists Families (Keystone is excellent)

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Ikon Pass: The Indie Collection

Key Resorts

Colorado (6+ resorts):

Aspen Snowmass (5,527 acres combined)
Steamboat (2,965 acres)
Winter Park (3,081 acres)
Copper Mountain (2,490 acres)
Arapahoe Basin (1,428 acres)
Eldora (680 acres)

Utah (5 resorts):

Alta
Snowbird
Brighton
Solitude
Deer Valley

Other Highlights:

Jackson Hole, WY
Big Sky, MT
Mammoth, CA
Stratton, VT

Ikon Pass Tiers

Tier	Price	Access
Ikon Pass	$1,199	Unlimited at most resorts
Ikon Base	$969	Blackout dates apply
Ikon Session	$449	2-4 days

Best For:

Powder hounds (Jackson Hole, Alta) Variety seekers (more independent character) Denver locals (Winter Park train access) Utah multi-resort trips

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Head-to-Head: Key Matchups

Colorado Showdown

Epic Colorado	Ikon Colorado
Vail (biggest)	Aspen (most luxurious)
Breckenridge (closest to Denver)	Winter Park (train from Denver)
Beaver Creek (most upscale)	Steamboat (best powder)
Keystone (best night skiing)	A-Basin (latest closing)

Verdict: Epic for size and convenience. Ikon for character and powder.

Utah Battle

Epic Utah	Ikon Utah
Park City only	Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Deer Valley

Verdict: Ikon dominates Utah with 5 resorts vs Epic's 1.

California Clash

Epic California	Ikon California
Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood	Mammoth, Squaw/Palisades, Big Bear

Verdict: Roughly equal, depends on whether you prefer Tahoe or Mammoth.

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The Numbers That Matter

Total Skiable Acres

Top 5 Epic Resorts:

Park City: 7,300 acres
Vail: 5,317 acres
Whistler: 8,171 acres
Keystone: 3,148 acres
Breckenridge: 2,908 acres

Top 5 Ikon Resorts:

Big Sky: 5,800 acres
Aspen combo: 5,527 acres
Steamboat: 2,965 acres
Jackson Hole: 2,500 acres
Winter Park: 3,081 acres

Average Snowfall (Top Resorts)

Resort	Annual Snowfall
Alta (Ikon)	538"
Steamboat (Ikon)	349"
Jackson Hole (Ikon)	459"
Vail (Epic)	354"
Park City (Epic)	355"

Verdict: Ikon resorts average more snowfall.

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Real Costs Beyond the Pass

Lodging Comparison

Destination	Avg Night
Vail	$450+
Aspen	$500+
Breckenridge	$300+
Steamboat	$250+
Park City	$350+
Winter Park	$200+

Verdict: Ikon resorts are generally more affordable for lodging.

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Decision Framework

Choose Epic If:

You ski mostly Colorado Front Range
Park City is your Utah destination
You want European skiing included
You prefer mega-resort infrastructure
You ski fewer than 15 days (Epic Local saves money)

Choose Ikon If:

You want Utah variety (5 resorts)
You chase powder (Alta, Jackson, Steamboat)
You prefer independent resort vibes
You take the Winter Park Express train
You value Aspen's prestige

The Hybrid Strategy

Many serious skiers buy both passes or supplement with:

Indy Pass ($359) for small independents
Day tickets at non-pass resorts

Math Check: If you ski 15+ days, either pass pays for itself quickly.

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Final Verdict

Epic Pass is better for:

Convenience-focused skiers
Colorado I-70 corridor loyalists
Those who value international options

Ikon Pass is better for:

Adventure-seekers and powder hounds
Utah multi-resort trips
Those who prefer independent resort character

Can't Decide? Look at your top 3 bucket-list resorts. Whichever pass covers more of them is your answer.

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Browse all Epic Pass resorts → | Browse all Ikon Pass resorts →