Summer is fading fast, and if your family has a ski trip on the calendar this winter, now is the time to think about how you’re paying for lift access. I can tell you the single biggest ski budget mistake most families make is waiting until they’re standing at the ticket window to figure out lift tickets. By then, you’re paying full price, and full price at a resort like Beaver Creek in Colorado runs around $300 or more for a single adult day ticket on a regular day, and as high as $356 on a peak holiday date this season.
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An Epic Pass changes that math completely, and this year there is a genuinely useful update for families raising teens and young adults: a new discount tier that puts older kids in a much more affordable price bracket, right alongside their younger siblings.
See current Epic Pass prices before the next increase
Why This Matters More for Families With Teens
If you have skied with young kids, you know the pattern. Kid lift tickets are cheap, adult tickets are painful, and the moment your child turns 13, they usually get bumped into the adult price category. That jump has always been one of the more frustrating parts of family ski budgeting.
This season, Vail Resorts introduced teen and young adult pricing that softens that jump. Teens ages 13 to 17 and young adults ages 18 to 30 now qualify for a discounted rate that is 20 percent below the standard adult price on Epic Pass products. For a family with a house full of teenagers or college aged kids still coming home for winter break, that is real savings stacked across every member of the trip.
What an Epic Pass Actually Costs Right Now
Here is the current pricing breakdown for the two most popular pass options.
Epic Local Pass
- Adult: $849
- Teen (ages 13 to 17) and young adult (ages 18 to 30): $675
- Child (ages 5 to 12): $445
- Unlimited, unrestricted access to 29 resorts including Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte in Colorado
- Unlimited access on nonpeak dates to Park City in Utah, Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood in California, and Stowe in Vermont
- 10 combined days at Vail, Beaver Creek, and Whistler Blackcomb
Epic Pass (full access)
- Adult: $1,145
- Teen (ages 13 to 17) and young adult (ages 18 to 30): $909
- Child (ages 5 to 12): $585
- Unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Stowe, Keystone, Park City, and dozens of other partner resorts across North America, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan
- Seven days included at Telluride and select resorts in the Canadian Rockies
Kids younger than 4 ski free when skiing with an adult Epic Pass holder, which is worth remembering if you have a wide age range in your crew.
Compare pass options and lock in current pricing here
Only Skiing a Day or Two? There Is a Pass For That
Not every family gets a full season on the mountain, and that is exactly what the Epic Day Pass is built for. You choose the number of days you plan to ski, up front, and pick from three resort tiers depending on where you’re headed.
- A limited resort tier (mostly in the Midwest, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania) starts at $70 per adult day and $35 per child day
- A midtier option covering most resorts runs about $106 per adult day and $55 per child day
- Full access to all of Vail’s owned and partner resorts runs $144 per adult day and $76 per child day
Buying more days lowers your per day cost, and a seven day pass at the smaller resort tier on nonpeak dates can work out to roughly $50 per day, compared with paying close to $300 or more for a single walk up ticket at a resort like Vail or Beaver Creek. For a family trip built around three or four ski days, the Epic Day Pass is often the better fit than a full season pass.
One thing worth knowing before you buy: Epic Day Pass pricing moves with demand, similar to airfare, so the exact per day cost you see at checkout may be a bit higher or lower than the figures above depending on when you buy and which dates you select. The savings compared with a walk up window ticket hold up either way.
The Perks Beyond the Lift Ticket
Every Epic Pass product also unlocks the Epic Mountain Rewards program, which is easy to overlook but adds up fast on a family trip:
- 20% off food and nonalcoholic beverages, up to $150 per day
- 20% off group lessons, a great option if a teen wants to work on technique without you footing a private lesson bill
- 20% off Vail owned lodging
- 20% off gear rentals
- 20% off select on mountain activities
- One free equipment wax and 50 percent off one tune per season
Every 2026 to 2027 Epic Pass also comes with Epic Coverage built in automatically, which provides refunds for things like injury, illness, job loss, or certain resort closures. That is a meaningful safety net if you’re booking a family trip months ahead of time and life happens to get in the way.
Why Buying Now Beats Waiting
Epic Pass pricing typically increases at least once more before sales close in November, and once the season starts, there is no going back to season pass pricing. Locking in your family’s passes now, while teen and young adult pricing is available, is the difference between a manageable ski budget and an expensive one.
If skiing is part of your family’s winter tradition, or you’re trying to start one with teens who are finally old enough to keep up with you on the mountain, this is the year to do the math early and gift experiences this year.
Get your family’s Epic Pass here
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to buy an Epic Pass? Prices typically rise at least once more before sales close in November, and passes are not available at season pass pricing once the winter season begins. Buying earlier in the fall generally means a lower price.
For more on skiing with your family, read:
- Learning to Live the Dream – Nordic skiing for Beginners
- What to Wear on a Ski Trip – Ultimate Ski Packing List
- Uncover the Perfect Family Ski Destinations & Experience Fun in the Sun This Year
- Experience France’s Best Ski Spots Like Never Before On & Off the Slopes
- 10 Ski Essentials Your Kids Need To Keep Handy Before Hitting the Slopes
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