Which 2023-24 season ski pass is right for you?

The time is now to lock in your season pass for the 2023-24 season. (Waterville Valley Resort)

It might seem early, but it is indeed time to start thinking about purchasing a season pass for next season, at least before prices jump, incrementally, over the coming weeks and months. In fact, one of skiing’s most popular multi-mountain passes has proven such a hot commodity this spring that a recess of sales has been implemented for the time being.

The Indy Pass announced this week that, due to overwhelming demand, pass sales for the 2023-24 season would end on April 10. A limited number of passes may be released this fall after evaluating capacity with resort partners for the upcoming season.

In prior years, Indy Passes have sold through mid-winter. However, record pass sales and renewals for this upcoming season have made the cutoff necessary, especially to honor the soul of the product.

“To preserve the independent and uncrowded skiing experience we all know and love, we are pumping the brakes on pass sales,” Indy Pass founder Doug Fish said. “During the offseason, we will work with our partner resorts to assess their peak-day capacity while we strive to expand our overall capacity by signing new resorts.”

The Indy Pass, which provides two lift tickets to 82 independent ski areas across North America, was available for $279 adults, $149 children ages 12 and under.

Elsewhere, Vail has announced a slight increase across the board for its popular multi-mountain passes in advance of the 2023-24 season. The unlimited Epic Pass jumped from a cost of $841 last season to $909 next season, while the Epic Local and Northeast Value passes increased from $626 to $676 and $514 to $555, respectively.

The slight price increase might turn off a handful of prospective buyers, but Vail’s Epic remains one of the least expensive multi-passes on the market. For $909, Epic Pass users will have unlimited access to 40 resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Wildcat, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte, Park City, Whistler Blackcomb, Attitash, Heavenly, Northstar, Okemo, Kirkwood, Stowe, Stevens Pass and more. With additional partner resorts like Telluride, the Epic Pass unlocks access to more than 80 resorts. For $676, the Epic Local provides unlimited access to 40 resorts with holiday restrictions at some resorts, including Stowe.

This year’s Northeast Value Pass ($555 adults, $416 teens and seniors, $389 college) includes access to Okemo, Mount Snow, Mount Sunapee, Attitash, Wildcat and Crotched. Northeast Value Pass holders also get 10 days at Stowe. There are holiday restrictions at Okemo, Mount Snow, Stowe and Hunter Mountain in New York.

Alterra Mountain Company also raised the price on its Ikon Passes — $1,159, $859 ages 13-22. The Ikon Pass delivers unlimited skiing at 14 destinations — Stratton and Sugarbush in New England — with no blackout dates. In addition, pass holders receive up to seven days at other locations, including Killington, Pico, Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Loon. The base pass ($829, $779) gives 14 unlimited skiing destinations and up to five days at 33 other locations (with blackouts). The passes, which went on sale March 16, can be used immediately at Stratton and Sugarbush if purchased this spring.

Mountain Collective users receive two days each at 24 different locations. Sugarloaf is the only resort where the pass can be used in New England. However, the Mountain Collective can also be used 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 blackouts.

Boyne Resorts’ platinum version ($1,759) of the New England Pass, good at Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Loon, also includes an Ikon Base Pass, three free days at Pleasant Mountain (formerly Shawnee Peak), as well as Western Boyne resorts including Big Sky, and 50 percent off Mountain Collective resorts. The Gold Pass ($1,359) also includes 50 percent off tickets at Mountain Collective resorts and three days at other Boyne properties. The Silver Pass ($899) has 12 blackout dates. There are no blackouts on either the platinum or silver passes. Gold and platinum pass holders also get 50 percent off at Pleasant after their three days.

Maine’s other Boyne property, Pleasant Mountain, meanwhile, will have its own season pass ($799 adults) with a similar perk. Unlimited passes come with three days each at Loon, Sugarloaf and Sunday River, as well as 50 percent off lift tickets when those days are exhausted. Pleasant’s Sunday-Friday pass is a new addition for next season, running $479.

Next season will be the first for Jay Peak under new ownership, which means some changes to its passes ($759 adults, $439 juniors through May 1), which will now include access to all PGRI sister resorts, including Ragged Mountain in New Hampshire. Other resorts on the pass include Wisp Resort, Wintergreen Resort, Powderhorn Mountain Resort, and Mt. Washington Alpine Resort (in British Columbia, Canada). The White Mountain Superpass ($1,209) offers unlimited skiing and riding at Cranmore, Bretton Woods, Cannon Mountain, and Waterville Valley.  It is only available through May 31.

Other independent resorts that have put season passes on sale include Bretton Woods ($995 adults), which also is offering a “No Regrets” pass. Skiers and riders ages 5-29 can purchase the pass ($199-$465 dependent on age) for next season. No blackouts. King Pine’s “Anytime Adventure Pass” ($579 adults, $379 juniors) provides access to King Pine’s Alpine and Nordic trails, as well as the ice-skating rink, any day of the week, all season long.

Pats Peak offers its unlimited adult season pass for $539 if purchased before April 16. Gunstock’s adult passes will run $589 through April 30. The unlimited pass at Berkshire East ($549, $429 ages 7-17) is a combo season pass to Berkshire East, Catamount Mountain Resort and Bousquet Mountain. Magic Mountain has unlimited adult passes for non-Vermont residents available for $699. Adult season passes run $799 at Saddleback if paid in full; $829 with a payment plan ( $199 down, pay the remaining balance in three installments).