Multi-Mountain Passes Flourish Across The West in 2024-2025
The first brush of snow has dappled the peaks of the West and, now that the ski and snowboard season is officially in sight, it's time to check in on what multi-mountain passes have to offer for 2024-2025.
Appealing to restless skiers and riders, the 198-mountain, two-days-at-each Indy Pass has added to its West alpine roster, now at 43. Colorado's Powderhorn joins four other off-brands in the state while, elsewhere, Alaska's Mt. Eyak and B.C.'s Mt. Washington Alpine become new Indy resorts.
Challenge-seeking skiers and 'boarders in the West adhere to the heavyweight Ikon Pass that offers unlimited to 11 resorts owned by parent Alterra Mountain Corp., home base with five partner days, and short-term session options at serious skier mountains. Sierra-at-Tahoe is the sole new member of Ikon's 32-resort West portfolio.
Perfect for the sun-lovin' travelin' man, Southwest-centric Power Pass extends its midweek privileges to all nine U.S. mountains in five states this season. New Mexico's Sandia Peak begins its first full Power Pass season, and Sundance, Monarch and Loveland continue as three-day partners.
A pair of other travelin' passes -- Powder Alliance and Freedom Pass-- follow the same model: Show a season pass from any member-resort and get three days at all the others.
Both offer the same membership as last year. Powder Alliance has 19 resorts in the West, with emphasis on the Northwest and California. Conversely, Freedom Pass' 20 U.S. members cluster in East and Midwest, but eight so spread across the West from Alaska's Eaglecrest to New Mexico's Red River. Noteworthy is that the three-day pass includes Rhode Island's Yawgoo Valley, the state's only ski and snowboard mountain.
The nation's latest multi-mountain entry, Cali Pass is perfect for California roadies. The pass focuses on a string of four resorts on the western flank of California's Sierra Mountains. From China Peak and Dodge Ridge up north to Mountain High and Bear Valley in the south, the Cali Pass provides unlimited skiing and riding all season. Plus, it's good for three days at all Powder Alliance resorts.
Finally, one of the oldest multi-resort pass keeps chuggin' along. First issued in 2012, the Mountain Collective redeems for two days free with half-off all others at 12 in the West -- including heavyweights Aspen Snowmass, Alta and Snowbird, Jackson, Sun Valley and Taos. It's ideal for a Canadian road trip, too, with six stops in Alberta and British Columbia.
And, the mothership Epic Pass remains with unlimited access to 42 mountains in the U.S., plus an additional 40 partner-mountains. Six sit in the Rockies, including the Summit/Vail cluster in Colorado, three in the Lake Tahoe region, and Stevens Pass in Washington. The Epic Pass has more options than others: Local, Value, Plus, and per-day offerings.
