What Season ski pass should I buy?, Everything you need to know about the Epic and Ikon pass

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Please be know you’re limits and ability level when skiing or snowboarding. Respect those around you while being aware of your surroundings. Start small and work your way up in learning how to navigate the Mountain. Snowboarding and skiing are both inherently dangerous activities, assume all risk.

Over the past five plus years, the ski industry has seen numerous changes. Lift ticket prices continue to increase with no sign of stopping, gear has become more advanced, and resorts are changing the way they do business, especially in the Season Pass sector. If you have been a dedicated rider, vacationer, weekend warrior, or even just the 1-2 days/year skier or boarder, you’ve probably noticed some changes in how resorts are operating.

Each year, larger ski corporations are either buying up ski resorts or partnering with them in order to include more “iconic” resort destinations on their season pass options. Once off the beaten path, resorts as well as small mom and pop mountains are now drawing more and more crowds to their locations each year. It’s the classic, never ending resort town saga of not wanting to “bite the hand that feeds you” while at the same time, hoping your once “local” resort isn’t going in the direction of being overrun by Corporate yahoos and the occasional self entitled tourist (If you’re reading this hopefully that isn’t you lol).

For someone who has had a season ski pass since junior high, I’ve never seen anything quite like it and it has been fascinating, yet sometimes agonizing to watch the acquisitions unfold. None-the-less it has been nice to venture out to new resorts and places that just five years ago would have cost the average skier an arm and a leg at the ticket window. Now, one can access most resorts all over North America as well as select ones in Europe and Japan with a season pass for around $1000. Not a bad deal, all things considered. I’m talking about the Epic and Ikon season passes that have revolutionized the ski industry and changed the game entirely.

Buying a season pass, especially if your new to it, can be a lot of information at once. In this post I’ll be giving insight on what to know, what to expect, what resorts are on each pass, the positives and negatives with each pass, as well as how to get the most out of your Epic or Ikon season pass:)

Jackson Hole is on the Ikon and Ikon Base Plus

Jackson offers hiking to some awesome terrain off of Headwall and Casper Bowl

Jackson Hole Headwall

What to know when purchasing the Ikon or Epic pass

The Epic pass was started back in 2008 and is sold through Vail Resorts, one of the larger if not the largest ski resort corporations in the world that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. From Epic Burgers to Epic Mix (an app that provides stats such as vertical feet skied) to Epic Mountain Express, Vail Resorts has found a way to have their hands in almost every connecting piece that revolves around providing what VR has coined an “experience of a lifetime” for guests. It’s genius from a business perspective. In what appeared to be a monopoly on the ski industry for quite some time, 3 years ago the Ikon Pass was introduced.

Unlike Vail Resorts, who owns most of the resorts on the Epic Pass, The Ikon pass owned by Alterra Mountain company, offers unlimited riding at a number of their resorts, but has also partnered with a number of resorts not owned by Alterra, with unlimited riding and up to 7 days at select resorts. A move that was pretty new in the season pass world just a few years ago. Although season passes in the past offered limited days at other resorts, it hadn’t been done on such a large scale as when the Ikon was introduced. Vail Resorts has since started to catch on, offering 7 days at resorts such as Telluride in Colorado and 7 Days combined at select resorts in the Canadian Rockies..

Both passes offer a monthly payment plan and passes typically go on sale in the spring for the following winter and the best time to buy is no later then the end of summer, when pass prices typically increase. In an attempt to increase pass sales, resorts will advertise, “to lock in a pass before prices increase”. Both passes offer a protection plan as well as reward discounts on lodging, rentals, and on mountain dining, which I’ll cover in more detail later in this blog.

Copper Mountain has become a local favorite in Colorado and offers unlimited riding on the Ikon Photo: Chip Proulx

Some ski resorts will be connected to a historic town such as Steamboat and Breckenridge

Downtown Breckenridge

What Resorts are on the Ikon and Epic Pass

Each season, more resorts are added to the above passes. Below I have listed out the resorts on each pass, their location, and the type of access you have to each resort.

Epic Pass (No Blackout Dates)

• Colorado Rockies

  • Unlimited Access at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte

  • 7 days at Telluride, after 7 days you’ll get 50 percent off lift tickets

• Utah

  • Unlimited access at Park City

• Washington

  • Unlimited Access at Stevens Pass

• Tahoe California

  • Unlimited Access at Northstar, Kirkwood, and Heavenly

• East Coast

  • Unlimited Access at Stowe, Mount Snow, and Okemo in Vermont

  • Unlimited Access at Wildcat, Mount Sunapee, Crotched Mountain, and Attitash in New Hampshire

  • Unlimited Access at Liberty Mountain, Roundtop Mountain, Whitetail, Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Seven Springs, Laurel Mountain, and Hidden Valley in Pennsylvania

• Midwest

  • Unlimited access to Boston Mills, Alpine Valley, Brandy Wine, and Mad River Mountain in Ohio

  • Unlimited access at Wilmot in Wisconsin

  • Unlimited access to Afton Alps in Minnesota

  • Unlimited access at Paoli Peaks in Indiana

  • Unlimited access at Mt. Brighton in Michigan

  • Unlimited access at Hidden Valley and Snow Creek in Missouri

• British Columbia

  • Unlimited access at Whistler Blackcomb

• Canadian Rockies

  • Seven days total combined, not for each resort, at Fernie Alpine, Kimberley Alpine, Stoneham, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, and Monte Sainte Anne. After seven days, 50% off lift tickets

• Japan

  • Five days combined at a number of resorts in Hakuba Valley

  • Also Five days total at Rusutsu 

• Europe

  • With the FULL Epic pass you’ll also have access to a number of different resorts in Switzerland, Italy, France, and Austria

  • Lodging eservations must be booked at select properties in order to use your Epic Pass in Switzerland and Austrian resorts. Once booked, the properties will deliver your ski passes.

  • 3 days total combined at Ski Alberg resorts in Austria including St. Anon, one of the largest ski resorts in the world.

  • 5 days total combined at Verbier4vaallées resorts in Switzerland.

  • 7 days total combined at Les 3 Vallées resorts in France and also seven days in Italy at Skirama Dolomiti resorts.

  • Instead of using your epic pass visit the ticket window of the resorts mentioned above in France and Italy to receive day passes. Pass holders receive 50 percent off lift tickets after seven days are used at Skirama Dolomiti resorts.

• Switzerland

  • Unlimited Access to Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis

• Australia

  • Unlimited Access at Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek

Views of Lake Dillon are part of riding at Keystone

Vail is one of the largest resorts on the Epic Pass

There’s a number of Cliff drops in Vail, great to jump off of on deeper powder days

Vail is known for its back bowls

Ikon Pass (No Blackout Dates)

• Colorado Rockies

  • Unlimited Access at Steamboat, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Eldora

  • 7 days at Arapahoe Basin

  • 7 days combined, not with each individual resort, at Buttermilk, Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, and Highlands in Aspen.

• Utah

  • 7 days with each resort at Brighton and Deer Valley(Skiers only)

  • Unlimited access at Solitude

  • 7 days combined not with each individual resort at Alta and Snowbird

  • 7 Days at Snowbasin

• Washington

  • 7 days at Crystal Mountain

  • 7 days at Snoqualmie

• California

• Unlimited access at Palisades Tahoe (formally Squaw Valley), Mammoth Mountain, Bear Mountain, and June Mountain

• Oregon

  • 7 days at Mt. Bachelor

• New Mexico

  • 7 days at Taos resort

• Idaho

  • 7 days at Sun Valley

  • Unlimited at Schweitzer

• Montana

  • 7 Days at Big Sky (No access to the Tram)

• Wyoming

  • 7 days at Jackson Hole Resort

• East Coast

  • Unlimited access at Stratton and Sugarbush resorts in Vermont

  • 7 days combined at Killington/Pico resorts in Vermont

  • Unlimited Access at Snowshoe in West Virginia

  • 7 days at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire

  • 7 days at Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Maine

  • 7 Days at Windham in New York

  • 7 days each at Blue Mountain and Camelback in Pennsylvania

• Midwest

  • 7 days at Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigan

• Alaska

  • 7 days at Alyeska Resort

• Canada

  • 7 days each at Revelstoke, Red Mountain, Sun Peaks, Panorama, and Cypress Mountain in British Columbia

  • 7 days combined not with each individual resort, at Banff, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay

  • Unlimited access at Tremblant in Quebec

  • Unlimited access at Blue Mountain in Ontario

• Europe

  • 7 days combined at Dolomiti Superski resorts in Italy

  • 7 days combined at Zermatt Matterhorn resorts in Switzerland (Excluding Cervinia-Valtournenche in Italy)

  • 7 Days combined at Chamonix Mont-Blanc Valley in France

  • 7 days combined at Kitzbühel and Mittersil in Austria

  • 7 Days combined at Ordino Arcalís, Pal Arinsal, and Grandvalira in Andorra

• Japan

  • 7 days each at Niseko United and Arai Snow

• South America

  • 7 days at Valle Nevado in Chile

• Australia

  • 7 days at Thredbo Resort

• New Zealand

  • 7 days combined not with each resort, at Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mt Hutt

Schweizer is a hidden gem in Idaho on the Ikon

Bluebird days at Steamboat

The east side of Copper has some awesome terrain

The positive and negatives of each season pass

Not gonna lie, both passes have amazing resorts for skiing and snowboarding, making it a tough decision. However, depending on where you live and what you’re looking for, will decide what pass will be purchased. Below I’ll cover the pros and cons of each pass.

The Jackson Hole Tram can shuttle 100 people up the mountain at once

Jackson Hole can average over 400 inches of snow/year

Ikon Pass

Pros

• Lot’s of unlimited riding options if you live in California, Colorado, and Vermont.

• Resorts have more of a mom and pop feel and less of a corporate like vibe. More of a homey/community like feel with less of a tourism like vibe.

• Renewal Discounts

• Monthly payment plan offered

• Pass insurance offered in case of emergencies and illnesses

• 15% off food, beverage, and retail

• 25% off lift tickets for friends and family

• Discounts with North Face and SMITH

• Discounts on Heli Trips

• Lodging discounts

• First Tracks- Once per month (Jan-March) at certain resorts, get first tracks before the mountain is open to the public.

• Discounted summer activities

• Protect our Winters membership

• Elect to Defer option- If your pass isn’t used after you buy it for any reason you can defer the pass to the following winter season. Must select this before Dec 9

• Discount pricing for Nurses, College students, and Military

Cons

• Not as many unlimited resort options

• More expensive than EPIC

• Not as many midwest resort options

• Ikon Military passes are more expensive then Epic military passes

Up to 7 days at Snowbird in Utah on the Ikon

The Imperial Chair is the highest chair in North America standing at 12,840 feet

Breckenridge has some of the best above tree line terrain

Epic Pass

Pros

• More unlimited riding options in the Midwest, Colorado, and the East Coast. The epic pass works great if you live in the midwest because it allows you to ride your local hill, but also take trips out west and around the world. Check out reasons to ski or snowboard in the Midwest.

• Epic Coverage offered in case of job loss, illness, injury, or resort closures. May be covered for a pro-rated amount or full refund

• 20% off food, lodging, rentals, epic mountain express, Lessons, Golf at select courses, Keystone cat skiing, and Whistler heli-skiing

• Discounts on waxing and tuning at select locations

• Monthly payment plan offered

• Ski with a friend Lift Tickets. Discount varies based on resort and time of year

• Epic Mix app which provides Mobile pass interactive trail maps, resort info, and statistics from your day of riding such as vertical feet skied.

• Discounts for Military, College Students, and people with disabilities

Cons

• Most infrastructure at resorts have a similar feel and vibe. More cookie cutter approach with Epic burgers, Epic mix photos, etc.

• Mountain safety- You’ve probably noticed these yellow jackets on the mountain. Although they appear to be keeping everyone safe, not all are friendly. Instead of giving out warnings they can be irrational at times and take away peoples passes.

  Having more Ski Patrol on the mountain would be a better idea as they have more experience with navigating the mountain. Typically Ski Patrol are good skiers who have better judgement on whose in control and who is reckless.

• Lift Lines at resorts such as Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail can get pretty long especially during holidays and weekends.

Highlands Bowl in Aspen offers some of the best ridable terrain in the state

Are there other season pass options that are less Expensive?

Yep, don’t plan on riding a lot or perhaps looking for a more affordable season pass, both Ikon and Epic have other season pass options. Under Ikon, there is the Base, Base plus, and a 4 day lift ticket pass.

Epic has a lot of different pass options including an Epic Local, Summit Value, Tahoe Local, Keystone Plus, and a 1 through 7 day lift ticket pass.

Powder days in Steamboat are unlike many resorts

What to expect and how to get the most out of your Season Pass

Now that you’ve considered what pass you’ll buy for the upcoming season, a few things to be aware of when you’re riding different resorts are sometimes there will be lift lines, crowded slopes, bad snow, closed lifts, and traffic to the resort. Like anything in life, things don’t always go as planned. The best way to have a great day on the mountain is to be prepared and plan ahead. Weekends and Holidays can get pretty crowded so leave really early to beat the traffic. Weekdays will always be the best time to ride the resort. Also, depending on what pass you purchase, make sure to check Black Out dates around holidays, before traveling all the way to a resort. Check weather and road conditions ahead of time.

Make sure to have to the proper equipment. This includes the correct outerwear, layers, goggles, and board/skis for the day. Also make sure to get your board tuned periodically and check your equipment before heading to the mountain. I worked at a snowboard shop for years and I can’t tell you how many times people would come in with loose screws on their bindings as well as old or broken parts on their boots/bindings.

Planning ahead and having the proper equipment will allow you to get the most out of your season pass and have not only great days on the mountain, but an amazing season overall. Lastly, don’t forget to put your season pass to use. Take a weekend road trip, wake up early, book a flight, and try to get to the mountain as much as possible!

Views at Brighton in Utah

Powder days off of Milly Bowl at Brighton

Aspen Colorado, A guide to Maroon Bells and Hiking Crater Lake

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Looking for easy trail navigation? Check out Alltrails; an app with trail reviews, navigation, and trail stats. Predownload trails in case of no service.

Considered to be the most photographed mountains in all of North America, Maroon Bells located just outside of downtown Aspen is a great way to spend a day trip or weekend in Colorado, especially in the fall! It’s a bit of a process to get there because it’s such a sought out destination. However, once you get there, it’s definitely worth it.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to Maroon Bells, parking, what to expect, trail details, and best times to visit. Alright lets do thisssss.

The Maroon Peaks straight ahead are both above 14,000 Feet

How to get to the Maroon Bells and what to know about parking

Parking

Located off of Maroon Creek Road (6 miles from Aspen), to access the Bells you either have to make a parking reservation or a shuttle reservation during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months.

Parking reservations are required from Mid May to the end of October while shuttle reservations are required from early June through late October. The parking is tricky, and to alleviate some of the hassle with specific time windows, Aspen offers a 24 hour reservation option and two day option as well. As long as the road is open it will always cost $10 to park. Maroon Creek Road will close in November when the snow starts to fall. After November 1, no parking reservations are required, however you are still required to pay the $10 fee!

Once the road closes for winter you can access the Bells by snowmobile, cross country skis, and snow shoes. The road will be about 7 miles from T-Lazy-7 ranch.

If you decide to take a shuttle you’ll park at Aspen Highlands. It’s $5/hour or $40/day for parking. Weekends and peak times such as fall, you’ll want to plan ahead and arrive to Aspen Highlands early to get a parking spot. Once you park you’ll check in at Guest Services above the parking area, where the buses are stationed. Aspen suggests that you arrive 45 min before your reservation time to check-in and get your shuttle ticket. The shuttle ride is about 20 minutes to Maroon Bells. Make sure to not miss the last shuttle on the way back!

If you end up driving, the parking lot is at the end of Maroon Creek Road. They will have a separate lot for overnight parking. For more information visit the USDA Forest Service website. Parking reservations fill up quickly, so I would plan weeks in advance if you are deciding to go that route. For Fall foliage make your parking reservation in May, the day of the reservation window opening for September and October.

To make a shuttle or parking reservation visit the Aspen Chamber of Commerce website.

Directions

Please Note, Independence Pass Closes during the winter months usually around the beginning of November

As mentioned above, Maroon Bells and the Crater Lake trail are located off of Maroon Creek Road, past Aspen Highlands Ski Resort. There are two ways to access Aspen during the Spring, Summer and Fall months and that is on I-70 and Independence Pass. Independence Pass is the most scenic route going over the Continental Divide and is 32 miles long between Leadville and Aspen. Below I’ve listed distances and average times from Major areas in Colorado to Aspen Highlands via I-70. For flying, there will be an airport near Buttermilk ski resort, not far from downtown Aspen.

Denver- 198 miles/3.5 hours

Boulder- 204 miles/4 hours

Evergreen- 181 miles/3 hours twenty minutes

Summit County- 132 miles/2.5 hours

Vail- 102 miles/2 hours

History of the Maroon Bells

Created millions of years ago from the Tectonic Plate movement the Maroon Bells and Crater Lake are part of the White River National Forest and also the Elk Mountain Range. The name is derived by the shape of the rock formations and the color (maroon) when the light hits the peaks at the right time.

In the late 1800’s there was a Silver Boom in Colorado and interesting enough Silver is what founded the town of Aspen. However, the town didn’t bring world wide publication until the 1950’s when Aspen became a resort town. As tourism picked up so did trips to the Maroon Bells.

In 1964 the Wilderness Act protected areas like the Bells and Crater Lake.

The two peaks that make up the Maroon Bells are the Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak.

What makes Maroon Bells so special

The rock that makes up most of the Maroon Bells is a red shale and lighter siltstone called, the Maroon Formation. The maroon color that you see is derived from very small iron particles that have been oxidized (rusted). The formation of these peaks was caused from sea bed deposits over 290 million years ago that were compressed and then elevated with the rest of the Rocky Mountains. These rock formations in the Aspen area are over 3 miles thick. Due to the fact that this kind of rock is brittle and soft, it can break easily, so be careful if you decide to hike in the Aspen Area, especially fourteeners!

Best time to Visit Maroon Bells and Crater Lake

Spring through late October are the best times to visit. Crater Lake is usually dried out by October, as was the case when we went. Honestly, it was still a beautiful hike and the area surrounding Crater Lake is amazing for photography. The best time to hike Crater lake would be in the summer and Fall (June-October). Fall in Aspen is an amazing time to visit because of the fall foliage and leaves changing. This time of year will bring a lot of crowds, so book ahead if you plan on visiting in the Fall!

Late Fall and Late Spring (May and October) are better times to visit if you want to avoid larger crowds. The other cool part about late spring is there is still snow on the peaks and late fall is when Colorado starts to get snow dustings. I think it adds a different/unique perspective to the peaks.

As mentioned above you can still access Maroon Bells during the winter, however one thing to keep in mind is Avalanche Danger when traveling on Maroon Creek Road with snow.

If you are looking to shoot photos of the peaks, the best time to do that is early in the morning, right before the sun gets too harsh. Google Maroon Bells and a lot of beautiful photos of the peaks will pop up.

Is Maroon Bells Dog Friendly

Dogs are allowed they just have to be on a leash at all times due to surrounding wildlife that can show up in the area!

Does it cost anything to Visit Maroon Bells

As mentioned above parking will cost $10 on Maroon Creek road and also $5/hour at Aspen Highlands ($40 for the day)

Biking on Maroon Creek Road is free.

The Shuttle is $16 for adults and $10 for seniors over 65 and kids under 12.

What to Expect and Trail Details

Shuttle busses run every 15 minutes with the last one picking up people at 5pm to head back to Aspen Highlands, make sure not to miss the last bus! Otherwise it’s a nine mile walk back with almost no cell service.

There are couple of trails for day hikes at Maroon Bells with the first one being Maroon Bells Scenic Loop and the next one being Crater Lake. Although Crater Lake was listed as a moderate hike on All Trails, I would rate it as a more challenging hike because of how rocky it was and technical in areas. There was also snow and ice when we hiked it which made the hike even more challenging.

Maroon Bells Scenic Loop

This is a pretty easy scenic trail that goes around Maroon Lake. At times, you will be walking through Aspen trees. Great for families with younger kids or people looking for an easier trek.

• Distance- 1.9 Mile Loop

• Elevation Gain- 160 ft

• Difficulty- easy

Crater Lake

This hike was more challenging then expected. Pretty Rocky and steep at times. You walk through a wooded area at first with mountain views to the left of Pyramid Peak. Towards the top on the right you will see the Sievers Mountain range. As you get towards the top you’ll have breathtaking 365 degree views of the Maroon Bells and the Elk Mountain Range. Awesome hike and I highly recommend using hiking footwear and hiking poles. I saw a number of people with improper footwear and clothing. With improper footwear on a trail like this, you might risk an injury.

• Distance- 3.8 Miles out and back

• Elevation Gain- 688 Feet

• Difficulty- Moderate to difficult

Where is there a good place to stay in Aspen

Snowmass- In the fall, rates here will be cheaper then in downtown Aspen. There’s also other surrounding trails in the Snowmass area if you plan on staying for longer then 1 night. One of my favorite trails was right by the hotel I was staying in called Spiral Point, a must hike for sunset! I booked a room at Stonebridge Inn as they had parking on site, a restaurant, pool/hot tub area, and fitness center. It was about a 20 Minute drive to the Maroon Bells as well as downtown Aspen.

Downtown Aspen

I get it if you want to be in downtown Aspen because it is a cool spot to grab some food, walk around, shop, and enjoy the fall colors around town. The St Moritz Lodge will be on the more inexpensive end for overnight stays with Limelight, The Little Nell, and Hotel Jerome being on the more luxurious side for lodging. There are also a number of awesome options on VRBO.

Is there Camping nearby the Maroon Bells and Crater Lake

Yep, there are campgrounds located near the Bells that will be along Maroon Creek Road. These are popular campgrounds that need to be booked months in advance! The three campgrounds are Silver Bell, Silver Bar, and Silver Queen. Parking at the Bells is included with a campsite reservation, grab your parking pass or print out the camp reservation when driving to the Maroon Bells. Head over to recreation.gov to make a campsite reservation.

Where is a good place to grab something to eat in Aspen

Most restaurants in Aspen will be on the more expensive side. Probably one of the best restaurants in Aspen is the White House Tavern. Located in an old historic building on the corner of Hopkins and Monarch; the ambience, music, simple menu, and amazing food make this a great spot to grab something to eat after a day of hiking.

What to pack

Hiking boots- If you plan on hiking up to Crater Lake, these are a must have. Make sure your hiking boots or footwear have good traction and support.

Hiking Shorts and/or Pants-Not needed, but it’s nice to have some lightweight and breathable clothing when hiking around Maroon Bells or up to Crater Lake.

Rain Jacket- Burton makes a number of awesome jackets, that will keep you dry in case weather rolls through

Lightweight Puffy- Especially if you go in the fall like I did, a down jacket will keep you warm when the temps are low

Water Bottle- Stay Hydrated while hiking!

Maroon Bells Quick tips

• Book reservations when the booking window opens, months in advance for Peak times, especially fall

• Pack the proper hiking footwear and outdoor clothing

• Sunrise-early morning is the best time for Photography

• Leave no trace

• For shuttles, never miss the last bus back

Looking to visit Aspen in the winter for skiing or snowboarding? Check out Aspen Highlands and what you need to know when Hiking Highlands Bowl. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!