Jump on next year’s season pass now for best deals

Killington will remain on the Ikon Pass after its sale last fall. (Keith Pearson)

With March temperatures heating up, ski areas are putting out their best deals on season passes for next year.

Options are endless – unlimited or blackout dates, staying local or planning a trip out west or to Europe, and what’s the difference between a buddy pass and skiing with a friend – all while not wanting to pay so much you don’t break even when the season ends. It can feel overwhelming – even for those with a home mountain or know which of the mega passes is right for them.

Here’s a list of some of the options available. Be sure to use the links for the complete details on each pass.

Epic Pass (Attitash, Crotched, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Okemo, Stowe, Wildcat)

Vail Resorts put its Epic Pass on sale on March 4 with the top-of-the-line pass breaking the four-figure mark at $1,051 for adults – a 7 percent bump from last year.

There were no capital improvement plans at its New England properties for next season included in the release.

Epic Pass: Adult (13+) $1,051; Child (5-12) $537 is the creme de la creme for Vail’s products.

Epic Pass Local: Adult (19+) $783; Teen (13-18) $633; Child (5-12) $407. It provides unlimited access to (only New England areas mentioned): Attitash, Crotched, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Okemo, Wildcat. Users gets unlimited access at Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar, Park City and Stowe except for during peak dates (Nov. 28-29, Dec. 26-31, Jan. 17, Feb. 14-15) and 10 days at Beaver Creek, Vail and Whistler/Blackcomb except during blackout periods.

Northeast Value Pass: Adult (18-64) $642; Teen (13-17) & Senior (65-79) $482; College (17-99) $451. It has unlimited access to (only New England areas mentioned): Attitash, Crotched, Mount Sunapee and Wildcat while unlimited access except for peak dates and 10 days at Okemo, Mount Snow and Hunter (NY). It also offers 10 days at Stowe with blackout dates.

The build-your-own, Epic Day Pass, provides anywhere from one to seven days of skiing and riding.

All passes except for Epic Day Pass include 10 Buddy Tickets and 6 Ski With a Friend Tickets if purchased by April 13.

Ikon Pass

Alterra’s Ikon Pass went on sale on March 13 with a $1,329 price tag ($1,229 renewal) for adults (ages 23+), $989 for young adults (13-22), $369 child (5-12) and $149 for 4 and under on its all-inclusive Ikon Pass, a 6.4 percent jump from a year ago. It has 18 resorts with unlimited destinations and up to seven days at 41 spots.

The Ikon Base Pass has blackout dates of Dec. 27-31, Jan. 17-18 and Feb. 14-15. It is going up 4.6 percent from this year’s pass to $909 for adults ($859 renewal), young adults $659, children $299 and 4 and under $99.

It provides unlimited access at 14 resorts and up to five days at 39 places. Blackout dates apply at Stratton and Sugarbush.

The Ikon Session Pass gives between two and four days at any resort in the network.

No new resorts were added stateside, but four bonus mountains – including Cranmore and Jiminy Peak – were added, which give Ikon Pass passholders two days (blackout dates of Dec. 27-31, Jan. 17-18, Feb. 14-15) at each resort. This perk is not included with the Ikon Base Pass.

New pass buyers can put their pass to use right away at places like Stratton and Sugarbush. At places where there is a restriction on the number of days (Killington, Loon, Sugarloaf, Sunday River) used this spring do not count toward the 2025-26 season.

The Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass both come with 12 buddy passes that give 25 percent off the window rate, though booking through the mountain online in advance can often save more than 25 percent.

Loon will still require reservations.

Indy Pass

The first round of the popular anti-corporate Indy Pass already had its first sale, being pulled from the market on March 11. Current passholders and people who were on the wait list had a window from Feb. 24-28 at the lowest rates. The blackout-free Adult Indy+ Pass was $429 for renewals, $479 for waitlist and $499 to the general public when it went on sale March 1. The Base Pass was $309 for adult renewals, $359 for the waitlist and $379 for general public.

Burke Mountain, which is currently an allied resort, and Tenney Mountain were among six to be added to the pass for next season.

Refunds will be offered if there are less than 250 resorts on the pass by Dec. 1 or the buyer’s favorite Indy resort does not renew for the season.

It gives two days at more than a dozen spots in New England and beyond.

New England Pass

Boyne’s four regional properties have all finally been tied together with Pleasant Mountain being included in the top-tier New England Gold Pass, joining Loon, Sugarloaf and Sunday River.

In addition to providing anytime access to each of the four resorts, it provides three days at each of Boyne’s six resorts in the West, 12 buddy pass discounts, resort discounts and 50 percent discounts to Mountain Collective resorts (Sunday River and Sugarloaf are included in the Mountain Collective).

The Gold Pass ($1,389 renewal, $1,449 new) also includes add-on opportunities including an Ikon Base Pass ($299), first tracks at Sugarloaf and Sunday River ($365) and summer activities.

Blackout dates for Silver (valid seven days/week) and Bronze (midweek) passes are Dec. 27-31, Jan. 17-18, Feb. 14-15 and 21. Loon is also blacked out on Dec. 26 and Feb. 16.

The Nitro Pass (ages 19-29) has a new unlimited option ($629) in addition to the pass that has had the blackout dates ($459 renewal, $489 new).

Also new this year is a blackout-free afternoon pass ($599) that starts at noon and can be used at Loon, Sugarloaf and Sunday River.

For those that just want to ski Loon, the LTD Pass gives Sunday through Friday access for $699 renewal/$779 new.

Pleasant Mountain’s Unlimited Pass ($899) has complete access to Pleasant plus three free days at Boyne’s properties out West as well as Loon, Sugarloaf and Sunday River. The best pricing for Pleasant Mountain-specific passes is available through May 7.

If one of the Boyne properties is your home mountain, best to do your research to get the most bang for your buck. The best pricing ends March 26.

Unlimited Summit Pass

The Schaefer family owns Berkshire East and Catamount and its Unlimited Summit Pass gives unrestricted access to three spots in Western Massachusetts (also Bousquet in Pittsfield) for one price (adults 18-59, $579; juniors 7-17 & seniors 60-79, $449 – prices good through the end of March). This is the only version of a Berkshire East/Catamount pass that includes Bousquet.

Unlimited Summit Pass passholders will also receive two free friends and family lift tickets that are good during the season except for blackout dates (Dec. 26-Jan. 1, Jan. 17-19, Feb. 14-22).

Berkshire East and Catamount also have the Locals Summit Pass that runs Sunday-Friday and also has holiday periods blacked out with adults at $479 through the end of the month. It also comes with two lift tickets for friends and family.

BigRock Mountain

Black (NH)

Black Mountain of Maine – Best prices through April 15. Alpine season pass includes Uphill and Nordic access. Nordic season pass is available for free.

Bolton Valley – Best prices through April 16.

Bousquet – Introducing an unrestricted pass for young adults (18-29) next season for $229.

Bretton Woods – Receive a complimentary two-night stay at the Omni Mount Washington Resort & Spa (restrictions apply – Valid for adult, young adult, military and senior purchases only and pass holder must be at least 21 years of age) with purchase of a Winter Mountain Pass by May 31. Receive a bonus one-night stay for each friend that becomes a new Winter Mountain or Midweek pass holder by May 31.

Bromley – Best prices through May 15.

Burke – Best prices through June 27. Receive three complementary buddy passes through June 27.

Cannon – Prices through April 30 are frozen at this season’s rates. Discounts available for veterans and current members of the military. New purchases can use next year’s pass to start the year.

Cranmore – Best prices through March 31. Cranmore is now a “bonus mountain” for the Ikon Pass, so Happy Trails Pass pass holders can purchase an Ikon Session Pass 3-Day for $199 (regularly $389) to access Ikon-affiliated resorts during the 2025-26 season (except blackout dates of Dec. 27-31, Jan. 17-18 and Feb. 14-15).

Granite Gorge – Save 10 percent by buying before the end of March.

Gunstock – Best prices through April 30.

Jay Peak – Best prices through April 27.

Jiminy Peak – Best prices through April 15. Jiminy Peak is now a “bonus mountain” for the Ikon Pass, so Jiminy Peak Anytime Pass pass holders can purchase an Ikon Session Pass 3-Day for $199 (regularly $389) to access Ikon-affiliated resorts during the 2025-26 season (except blackout dates of Dec. 27-31, Jan. 17-18 and Feb. 14-15).

Killington – The year-round Beast Pass already included an Ikon Base Pass, new for 2025-26 will be the option to upgrade to a full Ikon Pass ($599). Best prices through June 19.

King Pine – Best prices through May 31.

Lost Valley – Save $200 by buying before the end of March. Season pass holders receive Freedom Pass which allows for three free days (no blackout dates) of skiing at partner ski areas (in New England: McIntyre, Mount Southington, Ski Butternut and Yawgoo Valley). Receive three days (minus blackout dates) at Plattekill in New York.

Mad River Glen – Passes only available in early window between April 1-14. They will go back on sale at a more expensive price on Sept. 2.

Magic – Passes go on sale at their lowest price on April 1 and include two free tickets for a friend.

McIntyre – Buy two junior season passes and get up to two adult season passes at $199 each ($389 at super early bird pricing). Season pass holders receive Freedom Pass which allows for three free days (no blackout dates) of skiing at partner ski areas (in New England: Los Valley, Mount Southington, Ski Butternut and Yawgoo Valley). Receive three days (minus blackout dates) at Plattekill in New York. Discounts during the summer to Highland Mountain Bike Park.

Mount Abram – Best prices through the end of March.

Otis Ridge – Early season pricing in effect. In addition to receiving 50 percent off all Ski Butternut tickets, pass holders will now be able to ski for free on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Pats Peak – Best pricing through April 15.

Pico

Powder Ridge – New perk: 10 percent discount off of the adventure pass and wakeboard pass at Brownstone Park in Portland, Conn.

Ragged Mountain – Best prices through April 7.

Saddleback – Purchase a full season pass before April 22 and receive unlimited mountain bike access and scenic chairlift rides this summer. Residents of Franklin County (Maine) receive 15 percent off a full season pass. New pass purchases include skiing through the end of ’24-25.

Ski Butternut – All season passes for next year will include night skiing at Otis Ridge. Best price through the end of August. Butternut Unlimited season pass holders receive Freedom Pass which allows for three free days (no blackout dates) of skiing at partner ski areas (in New England: Lost Valley, McIntyre, Mount Southington and Yawgoo Valley). Receive three days (minus blackout dates) at Plattekill in New York.

Ski Sundown – Best price now through Oct. 31.

Tenney Mountain – Best prices available through May 15. Tenney will be joining Indy Pass for the 2025-26 season.

Waterville Valley – The blackout-free Adult Plus Pass (ages 18-64) includes a free pass for a junior (ages 6-12) for $1,176. Save 10 percent on listed pass prices on renewals. Best price valid through April 30.

Yawgoo Valley – Best prices through April 30. Get three free days (no blackout dates) at each Freedom Pass (included with season pass) partner resorts (in New England: Lost Valley, McIntyre, Mount Southington and Ski Butternut). Receive three days (minus blackout dates) at Plattekill in New York.