Epic vs Ikon 2026-27: which pass is better for Colorado skiers?
Short answer: buy the pass that's unlimited at the mountains you'll actually ski. Epic ($1,169, or Epic Local $869) is Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte. Ikon ($1,529, or Ikon Base $1,099) is A-Basin, Copper, Eldora, Steamboat and Winter Park, plus Aspen Snowmass days. [Epic] [Ikon]
Adult prices checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:45am MT on epicpass.com and ikonpass.com.
Epic vs Ikon at a glance
| Epic | Ikon | |
|---|---|---|
| Full pass, adult | $1,169 (31+) | $1,529 (23+) |
| Cheaper tier, adult | Epic Local $869 (31+) | Ikon Base $1,099 (23+) |
| Younger skiers | Epic Pass $929 ages 13-30, $599 ages 5-12. Epic Local $689 ages 13-30, $455 ages 5-12 | See ikonpass.com (priced by age) |
| Colorado unlimited | Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte | A-Basin, Copper, Eldora, Steamboat, Winter Park |
| Colorado limited | Telluride: 7 total days | Aspen Snowmass: 7 days combined |
| Blackouts (full pass) | None: unlimited every day incl. peak dates | None |
| Blackouts (cheaper tier) | Epic Local: Vail and Beaver Creek not on peak dates (Nov 27-28, Dec 26-31, Jan 16, Feb 13-14) | Ikon Base: Dec 26-30, Jan 16-17, Feb 13-14 |
| Friend discounts | 5 Epic Friend Tickets (passes bought after May 25): 50% off ages 13+, 25% off kids | 15 tickets (Base: 10): 50% off if bought by Nov 3, then 25% |
| If plans change | Epic Coverage included free | Refundable passes: refund by Jan 15, 2027 (100% if unused) |
| Next deadline | Not announced on epicpass.com | Nov 3 (F&F 50% off); sales end TBA |
Checked Oct 22, 2026, 10:45am MT. Sources: [Epic Pass] [Epic Local] [Ikon Pass] [Ikon Base] [Ikon FAQ]
Colorado coverage, resort by resort
| Resort | Epic | Epic Local | Ikon | Ikon Base |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VailOpening: Nov 13 | Unlimited | 10 days total with Beaver Creek + Whistler; no peak dates | - | - |
| Beaver CreekOpening: Nov 25 | Unlimited | Shares those 10 days; no peak dates | - | - |
| BreckenridgeOpening: Nov 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited incl. peak dates | - | - |
| KeystoneOpening: ASAP, no date yet | Unlimited | Unlimited incl. peak dates | - | - |
| Crested ButteOpening: Nov 25 | Unlimited | Unlimited incl. peak dates | - | - |
| TellurideOpening: not confirmed by the resort | 7 total days (physical card) | - | - | - |
| Arapahoe BasinOpening: ASAP, no date yet | - | - | Unlimited | Unlimited, blackouts apply |
| Copper MountainOpening: Nov 6 | - | - | Unlimited | Unlimited, blackouts apply |
| EldoraOpening: Nov 13 (tentative) | - | - | Unlimited | Unlimited, blackouts apply |
| Winter ParkOpening: ASAP, no date yet | - | - | Unlimited | Unlimited, blackouts apply |
| SteamboatOpening: Nov 21 | - | - | Unlimited | Up to 5 days, blackouts apply |
| Aspen SnowmassOpening: Nov 26 | - | - | 7 days combined (Aspen Snowmass) | Snowmass only, up to 5 days |
Neither pass covers Loveland, Wolf Creek, Monarch or the other Colorado independents. Sources: [Epic Pass] [Epic Local] [Ikon Pass] [Ikon Base] [Ikon FAQ]
Which pass for which skier
- You ski Breckenridge or Keystone most weekends: Epic Local ($869). It's unlimited there, peak dates included.
- You want Vail or Beaver Creek over the holidays: the full Epic Pass ($1,169). Epic Local limits those two to 10 days and skips peak dates.
- Your home hill is A-Basin, Copper, Eldora or Winter Park: Ikon Base ($1,099), as long as you can live with the blackout dates. If you can't, the full Ikon Pass has none.
- You want Steamboat or Aspen trips: the full Ikon Pass ($1,529): unlimited Steamboat and 7 days at Aspen Snowmass. Ikon Base caps Steamboat at 5 days and Aspen at Snowmass only.
- You're 30 or younger: check Epic's 13-30 pricing ($929 Epic, $689 Epic Local) against Ikon's age-based prices on ikonpass.com before deciding.
- You ski with friends who don't have a pass: Ikon gives more discounted tickets (15 on the full pass, 50% off until Nov 3); Epic gives 5 at 50% off for ages 13+.
- You ride mostly at Loveland, Monarch or Wolf Creek: neither. Look at those resorts' own passes on our Colorado page.
Both passes go well beyond Colorado. Check the destinations you'd travel to on epicpass.com and ikonpass.com.
Epic and Ikon deadlines
- Epic: Epic hasn't announced its next price increase or its last day to buy on epicpass.com yet. We'll email the day it does. [epicpass.com] Epic price tracker
- Ikon Friends & Family 50% off: ends Nov 3, 2026. [Ikon FAQ]
- Ikon upgrade deadline: Dec 10, 2026. [Ikon FAQ]
- Ikon last day to buy: not announced. Last season: Dec 11, 2025. [Alterra] Ikon deadline tracker
- Ikon refund deadline (refundable passes): Jan 15, 2027. [Ikon FAQ]
Epic Local ($869) vs Ikon Base ($1,099)
The two cheaper passes are where most Colorado skiers end up, and they're built differently. Epic Local ($869) is unlimited at Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte, including peak dates. Vail and Beaver Creek share 10 total days (with Whistler Blackcomb), and those days can't be used Nov 27-28, Dec 26-31, Jan 16 or Feb 13-14. No Telluride. [Epic Local]
Ikon Base ($1,099) is unlimited at A-Basin, Copper, Eldora and Winter Park, with up to 5 days at Steamboat and at Snowmass. It's blacked out everywhere Dec 26-30, Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14. [Ikon Base]
So: Epic Local keeps your I-70 home hills (Breck, Keystone) open over the holidays but rations Vail. Ikon Base costs more, covers a different set of I-70 hills, and goes dark on holiday weeks.
FAQ
Is Epic or Ikon better for Colorado?
How much is the Epic Pass vs the Ikon Pass for 2026-27?
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Related: Epic Pass price increase 2026 · Ikon Pass deadline 2026 · Colorado opening dates 2026-27 · Keystone · A-Basin · Breckenridge · Copper · every ski deadline