Still need a lift? Navigating the 2023-24 season pass landscape with Indy, Epic, Ikon, and more

There's still time to purchase a season pass before prices go up. (Max Grudzinski/Okemo Mountain Resort )

This was a bad year to wait on purchasing your Indy Pass. 

Following what founder Doug Fish said was a remarkable year of sales growth for the multi-mountain ski pass, restrictions were put in place last March on the number of passes sold for the 2023-24 season in order to “preserve the Indy experience.” In other words, Indy Pass doesn’t want to become the overcrowding headache it was trying to aid in the first place. 

“Our passholders choose Indy Pass because it offers access to a fantastic lineup of independent resorts with less crowded slopes and laid-back vibes,” Fish said in a statement. “As we grow, the last thing we want to do is overwhelm our resorts and ruin the experience for their guests; as such, we will be restricting sales of all adult products.”

The initial availability of the Indy Pass, good at independent ski areas in New England and across the globe, was restricted to only current and former passholders before going on sale to the general public. As of this writing, the 2023-24 Indy Pass is no longer on sale while its personnel evaluate capacity for the season. There is a waitlist to join in order to find out if and when they will go back on sale.

That’s not exactly the same path other season passes might take (last December, Vail Resorts announced that it had sold 2.1 million pre-purchased passes for the 2022-23 season), and they could sell more before this winter. Which means that you still have time to purchase an all-encompassing, season pass before the lifts start running later this fall. 

It is, indeed, the golden age of the multi-mountain, mega-pass, and it can be a confusing landscape to navigate if you’re uncertain which one might be right for you and your family. If you’re still in need of a pass for this upcoming season, here’s a rundown of how some of the region’s most popular ones stack up. 

Epic Pass — Vail Resorts’ powerhouse pass offers access to an extensive network of resorts, not only in New England but around the world. Epic Pass opens the door to iconic, local destinations like Stowe, Mount Sunapee, and Okemo, and also grants access to renowned western resorts like Vail, Breckenridge, and Park City, expanding the possibilities for adventure seekers. 

The Epic Pass ($929 adults, $473 children ages 5-12, through Sept. 4) provides unlimited, unrestricted access to all Vail-owned North American resorts. In New England, that includes Stowe, Attitash, Wildcat, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Mount Snow, and Crotched. It also includes seven days at Telluride, as well as consecutive days at a number of resorts in the Canadian Rockies and Japan. The Epic Local Pass ($689, $359) provides unlimited access to most resorts, but also comes with holiday-restricted access to resorts like Stowe. It also includes 10 days total to use at Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb.

Now in its fourth year, the Northeast Value Pass ($567 adults, $425 teens ages 13-17, $397 college) comes with holiday blackouts at Hunter Mountain, Okemo, and Mount Snow. It only includes 10 days total at Stowe, excluding holiday periods. The Northeast Midweek Pass ($425 adults, $322 ages 65-plus) comes with five days at Stowe.  www.epicpass.com 

Ikon Pass — The Ikon Pass is another versatile option that offers access to a collection of diverse resorts, including several New England gems. This season, passholders can explore slopes at destinations like Stratton, Sugarbush, and Loon. The Ikon Pass provides a sense of exploration, allowing skiers and riders to experience a variety of terrains and atmospheres.

The pass doesn’t stop at New England; it provides entry to well-regarded resorts across North America and even features international destinations. Additionally, Ikon Passholders can take advantage of its “Friends and Family” benefits, which offer discounts on lift tickets for companions.

The Ikon Pass ($1,259 adults, $939 young adults ages 13-22, $419 children ages 5-12) offers unlimited access at 14 destinations across North America. In New England, that only includes Sugarbush and Stratton. But it also includes up to seven days at other New England locations including Killington-Pico, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon. Elsewhere, Ikon offers the same seven days at destinations like Taos, Sun Valley, Alta, Deer Valley, and Zermatt, Switzerland. Unlimited access is also available at the likes of Steamboat, Copper, Tremblant, Winter Park, and Big Bear. 

The Ikon Base Pass ($929, $669, and $349) has blackout dates, including at Stratton and Sugarbush, and only provides five extra days –instead of seven — at each of the pass’ other, participating locations. — www.ikonpass.com

Indy Pass — There is currently a wait list for 2023-24 Indy Passes in order to “preserve the independent and uncrowded skiing experience we all know and love.”  However, Indy Pass notes that a limited number of passes may be released in the fall. Sign up for the waitlist at www.indypass.com

Entering its fifth season, the popular pass has turned into a major player on both the New England and national ski scenes. This year’s local participants include Jay Peak, Cannon Mountain, Saddleback, Bolton Valley, Waterville Valley, Berkshire East, Black Mountain (N.H.), Magic Mountain, Big Rock Mountain (Maine), Mohawk Mountain, Black Mountain of Maine, Pats Peak, and Saskadena Six. 

The pass ($319 adults; $189 children ages 12 and under) provides access to more than 120 resorts and ski areas, allowing users two days at each destination. The Indy+ pass is $419 and $229 with zero blackouts. 

Indy AddOn passes ($239 adults, $139 children for the base pass, $339, $189 for Indy-Plus with no blackouts) are also available at lower rates to unrestricted season passholders at Indy partner resorts. — www.indyskipass.com 

Mountain Collective — The good news: Mountain Collective users receive two days each at 24 different locations for only $630 ($500 teens, $200 children 12 and under). The bad news: Sugarloaf is the only resort where the pass can be used in New England. However, the Mountain Collective can also be utilized at such premier destinations as Chamonix, Aspen Snowmass, Grand Targhee, Jackson Hole, Snowbird, and Valle Nevado, which makes it a traveler’s dream. There are no blackout dates. While supplies last.— mountaincollective.com

Unlimited Summit Pass — The Unlimited Summit Pass ($639 adults, $519 kids ages 7-17 through Aug 31) is a combo season pass good at a trio of Western Mass. ski areas — Berkshire East, Catamount Mountain Resort, and Bousquet Mountain. No blackouts. There is also the option of an Indy Pass add-on. A locals pass, good Sunday through Friday is also available for $479. A nighttime season pass, good for use only at Berkshire East and Catamount, is $189. berkshireeast.com/winter/season-passes

New England Pass — Boyne’s New England Pass offers a variety of skiing and riding at Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Loon at different price points. 

The Platinum New England Pass is $1,799 for adults, $1,229 kids ages 6-18 through Sept. 6. There are no blackout dates on the pass, which also includes an Ikon Base Pass, three free days at Pleasant Mountain in Maine, three free days at western Boyne resorts (including Big Sky, Mont.), and 50 percent off Mountain Collective resorts.

There are also no blackout dates on the Gold Pass ($1,419 adults, $895 kids ages 6-18), which includes 50 percent off tickets at Mountain Collective resorts and three days out west. The Silver Pass ($929 adults) has 12 blackout dates. The Nitro Pass presents a cost-effective option for youths. The pass is $475 for kids and young adults, ages 6-29, includes six friend tickets at 25 percent off, and 50 percent off tickets at Pleasant Mountain. 

The College Gold ($439) pass comes with no blackouts; the College Silver ($329) has 12. Both are only available to full-time students. — www.newenglandpass.com