Hitting the slopes
Winter is coming – and that means skiing. Colorado is home to many top-tier ski resorts and trails. For those who plan to hit the slopes more than a few times this season, it may be worth investing in a ski pass. Here are some of the options:
Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack – FREE for K-5th grade
Elementary school-aged kids can get four free days of skiing or snowboarding at EACH of these five ski areas: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte. https://www.epicpass.com/info/Epic-SchoolKids/Colorado
Colorado Ski Country USA Ski Passport Grades 3rd-6th – $67
Students in third through sixth grade can purchase this pass good for four days at each of 20 ski areas (for a total of up to 80 days of skiing or snowboarding). https://www.coloradoski.com/passes-and-deals/ski-passport/
Ikon Base Pass – $969 (adult) / $699 (young adult) / $359 (child)
Ikon Pass – $1,359 (adult) / $1,019 (young adult) / $429 (child)
The Ikon Base Pass has unlimited access to Winter Park, Copper Mountain and Eldora, with blackout dates. The Ikon Pass includes Steamboat Ski Resort and does not have blackout dates. https://www.ikonpass.com/
Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass – $1,024/$762
The Epic Pass offers unlimited access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte with no blackout dates. The less expensive Epic Local Pass offers unlimited access at Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte, plus 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek, with some dates excluded. https://www.epicpass.com/
Colorado Ski County USA Gold Pass – $4,600
It is not cheap, but the Gold Pass is fully transferable with no blackout dates and can be used at 20 of Colorado’s ski areas. This means it can be shared with family, friends, clients, employees, etc. It can be used every day of the season for one person at one resort. https://www.coloradoski.com/passes-and-deals/gold-pass/.
Planned/projected 2024-2025 Colorado ski area opening dates:
- Arapahoe Basin – Open/Opening Soon
- Aspen Mountain – 11/28/2024
- Aspen Highlands – 12/14/2024
- Beaver Creek – 11/27/2024
- Breckenridge – 11/08/2024
- Buttermilk – 12/14/2024
- Copper Mountain Resort – 11/08/2024
- Crested Butte – 11/27/2024
- Echo Mountain – mid-December
- Eldora – 11/15/2024
- Granby Ranch – 11/28/2024
- Howelsen Hill Ski Area – 11/30/2024
- Keystone – Open/Opening Soon
- Loveland Ski Area – Open/Opening Soon
- Monarch Mountain – mid-November
- Powderhorn Mountain Resort – 11/29/2024
- Purgatory Resort – 11/16/2024
- Ski Cooper – 12/11/2024
- Silverton – 12/28/2024
- Snowmass – 11/28/2024
- Steamboat – 11/23/2024
- Sunlight Mountain Resort – early December
- Telluride Ski Resort – 11/28/2024
- Vail – 11/15/2024
- Wolf Creek – Open
- Winter Park Resort – Open/Opening Soon
The above is based on the information available at press time. Check with resorts directly for the most up-to-date information. Additional information can be found at www.coloradoski.com.
By Rachel Poe; photo courtesy of Krysta Parr
