Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information.
Although winter is almost over, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your ski plans for next year — that is, if you want to get the best price possible. We’ve already seen details for the Epic Pass, but if you’ve been holding out to see what the Ikon Pass has in store, those details are out and available.
Like we’ve seen in the past, the Ikon Pass is continuing to offer many pass types, ensuring there’s an option that works best for your ski habits. And for those who purchase now, you can even ski for the rest of this winter season — for free — at participating resorts. Purchasing early also makes it easier to book the best slope-side hotels on points.
So, let’s look into the pass and see what changes you can expect for next winter.
Ikon Pass basics
The Ikon Pass network is now made up of more than 50 ski resorts around the globe. Some of them provide unlimited skiing, while others have a capped number of days based on the exact type of Ikon Pass you purchase.
Eligible resorts can vary by pass level. These resorts include both bigger and smaller names, such as Aspen Snowmass, Steamboat, Copper Mountain, Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, Tremblant, Taos, Big Sky, Sugarloaf and Stratton in the U.S., Canada and beyond.
You can find the full list of Ikon resorts here.
There is a less expensive Ikon Base Pass with some restrictions; a mid-tier Ikon Base Plus Pass with the same restrictions but more mountain access; the full Ikon Pass; and a two-, three- or four-day “session” pass.
Related: How your kids can ski for free this winter season
2024-2025 Ikon Pass prices
For the 2024-2025 ski season, the initial Ikon Base Pass prices are:
- Adults: $869
- Skiers ages 13 to 22: $629
- College students/nurses/members of the military: $619
- Kids ages 5 to 12: $299
- Kids ages 4 and younger: $99 (though many mountains offer free skiing to 4-year-olds)
You can also save an additional $100 on each child pass (maximum of two passes) by purchasing an Adult Ikon Base Pass or Ikon Base Plus Pass. For those renewing their pass, there’s a $50 savings off the current price.
The Base Pass has a few peak blackout dates, unlimited skiing at 14 destinations and up to five days at 36 additional mountains.
You can add five-day access to Aspen Snowmass, Deer Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, Alta, Sun Valley, Snowbasin and Taos for an additional $250 with the Ikon Base Plus Pass for adults. (Blackout dates include Dec. 26-31, 2024; Jan. 18-19, 2025; and Feb. 15-16, 2025. Southern Hemisphere blackout dates include July 6-21, 2024, and July 5-20, 2025.)
For the 2024-2025 ski season, the full Ikon Pass prices are:
- Adults: $1,249
- Skiers ages 13 to 22: $929
- College students/nurses/members of the military: $899
- Kids ages 5 to 12: $369
- Kids ages 4 and younger: $149 (though many mountains offer free skiing to 4-year-olds)
Similar to the Ikon Base Pass, children can save an additional $100 by purchasing an adult pass (up to two children passes per adult), and there’s a $100 savings for those renewing their season pass.
This pass has no blackout dates and offers unlimited skiing at 17 destinations and up to seven days at 40 additional mountains.
Related: The right — and wrong — age for kids to start skiing
For the 2024-2025 ski season, the Ikon Session Pass pricing is:
- Adults: $449 for four days, $379 for three days and $259 for two days
- Skiers ages 13 to 22: $379 for four days, $319 for three days and $229 for two days
- College students/nurses/members of the military: $379 for four days, $319 for three days and $229 for two days
- Kids ages 0 to 12: $279 for four days, $229 for three days and $169 for two days (though many mountains offer free skiing for kids up to 4 or 5 years old)
This pass gives you up to four days of skiing at 42 destinations, although blackout dates apply at all resorts. For an adult, this means $112 to $130 per day, which may or may not be a good deal, depending on where you’re looking to ski.
For example, at Steamboat last season, a one-day walk-up lift ticket could cost as much as $275, and a four-day consecutive ticket could cost close to $1,100. This makes the pass well worth it. If you are an East Coast skier, you might not find it’s as good of a deal.
Keep in mind that this is the early bird pricing. While we don’t know how long the current pricing will last, there will probably be a few more price increases until passes go off sale, typically around November. In the past, we’ve never seen pricing go less than when passes were initially released. So, if you want to ski for less, lock in your pass soon before the next round of increased pricing.
Ski spring 2024 with the Ikon Pass
Those new to the Ikon Pass who purchase next year’s pass can even ski this spring on next year’s pass. Those who purchase a 2024-2025 Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Plus Pass and Ikon Base Pass (except when noted below) can ski at the following resorts:
Immediate access at purchase:
- Big Bear Mountain Resort (Bear Mountain and Snow Summit)
- Blue Mountain in Canada
- Crystal (Ikon Pass only)
- Schweitzer (Ikon Pass only)
- Snowshoe
- Snow Valley
- Solitude
- Stratton
- Sugarbush
Access on April 1:
- June Mountain
- Mammoth Mountain
- Palisades Tahoe
- Winter Park
Access on April 8:
- Deer Valley (Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Plus only)
- Steamboat
- Tremblant
New for the 2024-2025 season
Although there aren’t any jaw-dropping changes from Ikon, there are a few things to note.
For starters, when purchasing a 2024-2025 Ikon Pass, you’ll receive two additional Friends & Family discounts for a total of 12 for next winter’s season. These discounts provide a maximum of 25% off the single-day lift ticket price posted for the day the discount is used at an eligible Ikon Pass destination.
Those purchasing an Ikon Pass, Ikon Base Plus Pass or Ikon Base Pass will also be able to utilize benefits over the summer months; these passes will now come with one free bike park lift ticket at select destinations. For those who enjoy spending their summer in the mountains, this is a great way to receive more perks from your pass.
There are also many money-saving discounts from Ikon Pass partners, such as Under Canvas, Camp Woodward, Blenders Eyewear & Products, Ship Skis, Db Bags, F45 and The North Face. Additionally, there are also discounts on heli-skiing and heli-hiking trips.
There have been a few — although not many — access changes as well. Crystal Mountain will now have unlimited access with Ikon Pass, which is great for those who live in or around Washington. Additionally, if Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) is sold to Alterra Mountain (the parent company of the Ikon Pass), that could potentially change access. There’s no known information as of now, though.
Additionally, reservations will still be required at select resorts for the 2024-2025 season.
Related: The best ski resorts in the US for your next trip to the slopes
Assurance plan
Making an expensive purchase and not knowing what the next season will bring can be a scary thought.
Fortunately, Ikon still offers its “Confidence to Buy” plan for the 2024-2025 season. This is the same plan introduced in the past few years and is automatically included in the price of your lift ticket. This allows any passholder to receive a credit for the price paid to apply to the following year’s (in this case, the 2025-2026) ski season for any reason, no questions asked.
You’ll have until Dec. 12, 2024, to select this option, which should be more than enough time to figure out what the ski season will look like. Note: If you already purchased your pass this spring and used it during the spring ski season, you won’t be able to qualify for the credit.
Use a payment plan
Ski passes are a big investment. Fortunately, there’s a payment plan option for the Ikon Pass if you want to lock in the current price and spread out payments.
You’ll put $0 down and then have the option to split the payment over three, six or 12 months — just pay attention to the annual percentage rate. During checkout, you can see your options and the cost depending on the plan selected.
If you’re paying it off in one chunk, these are the best credit cards to use for ski pass purchases. Ski tickets don’t always code under one particular bonus category, so a card that awards bonus points on everyday purchases can be your best bet.
Points-friendly properties at Ikon Pass resorts
While you’re mapping out your 2024-2025 ski passes and resorts, you might as well factor in hotels.
Marriott properties seem to align most frequently with the Ikon Pass, and Hyatt properties often align well with Epic Pass. There are exceptions, though.
A few points-friendly properties to consider if you pick up the Ikon Pass include:
- The St. Regis Deer Valley (Marriott Bonvoy)
- Viewline Resort Snowmass, Autograph Collection (Marriott Bonvoy)
- The St. Regis Aspen Resort (Marriott Bonvoy)
- W Aspen (Marriott Bonvoy)
- Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas (Marriott Bonvoy)
- The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth (Marriott Bonvoy)
- Le Westin Tremblant in Canada (Marriott Bonvoy)
- SpringHill Suites Jackson Hole (Marriott Bonvoy)
- The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection (Marriott Bonvoy)
- Bluegreen Vacations South Mountain, Ascend Resort Collection (Choice Privileges)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lincoln East — White Mountains (IHG One Rewards)
- Killington Mountain Lodge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (Hilton Honors)
- Hilton Niseko Village (Hilton Honors)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fraser — Winter Park Area (IHG One Rewards)
Related: 15 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book on points
Bottom line
If you’re looking to hit the slopes this winter, this is a great time to purchase the pass at the least expensive price you’ll see all year. You can also take advantage of some spring skiing for free. With daily pricing at the mountain costing an arm and a leg these days, an Ikon Pass can bring your cost down immensely.
