The Best Epic Pass Resorts in the US and How to Choose the Right One for You
The Epic Pass is now available for the 2026-27 season. Book your Epic Pass through The Lodging Company for the lowest price and access to the best accommodations near the resort of your choice.
The Epic Pass is a popular ski pass from Vail Resorts. Vail owns 40+ properties worldwide and offers access to over 90 resorts through its partner network. Skiers and snowboarders can choose from several different options, from a season-long pass to single-day tickets.
What to Know About the Epic Pass
The Epic Pass is available as a single-day, multi-day, or unlimited pass. There are different pricing options depending on the pass type and whether you want access to ski resorts on peak dates.
Skiers and snowboarders can order a ticket for access to all resorts, or choose a regional pass at a discounted rate for specific ski resorts.
Purchasing the pass early in the season (usually by Black Friday) can be significantly more affordable.
Some early bird specials include free lift tickets for friends and family.
All Epic Pass tiers (including single-day tickets) save skiers money on rentals, lessons, and food.
When you sign up for an Epic Pass, toggle Autorenew off if you don’t plan to have the same number of days the following year.
Vail, Colorado
Nearest airport: Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), 35 miles, or Denver International Airport (DIA), 120 miles
Terrain: 5,317 acres | 18% Beginner | 29% Intermediate | 53% Advanced
Vail Resort is one of Colorado’s most treasured ski resorts, with over 5,300 acres of terrain. While there are runs for beginners and intermediate skiers, over half of the trails are designed for expert or advanced skiers.
The resort is spread across three villages, each with iconic Bavarian-style architecture. The pedestrian-only villages are great for families who want to slow down and take it easy, allowing them to walk from their accommodations to the ski resort, rental shop, ice skating rinks, or the many restaurants around Vail.
The base elevation is over 8,100 feet, and the resort typically sees over 350 inches of snow each season. Families can find plenty of groomed terrain on the north side of the mountain, while serious skiers can spend time exploring the seven back bowls, which account for over half of the ski runs at the legendary resort.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Vail
Vail Resort is best for:
Intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders
Anyone seeking backcountry thrills and enough terrain to explore new runs for days
Longer trips
Vail Resort is not ideal for:
Families with young children
Beginners
While there are some fun green and blue groomers, the layout at Vail is somewhat complicated and may involve long catwalks to get between suitable terrain for younger folks and beginners.
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Nearest airport: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), 55-60 miles
Terrain: 4,800 acres | 20% Beginner | 45% Intermediate | 35% Advanced
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a massive ski resort spread across two states and four villages.
The California/Nevada ski resort is known for incredible views of Lake Tahoe and is a popular getaway for skiers from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, and Reno.
Après-ski is also a big draw, with casinos, bars, and restaurants lining the main village.
It can get extremely busy at Heavenly, and peak prices for lift tickets can climb over $250 USD. This makes the Epic Pass an excellent option for budget-minded skiers who plan ahead.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Heavenly Mountain Resort
What to Expect at Heavenly Mountain Resort
There is ample terrain variety for beginners to experts, but many runs require long, flat traverses (snowboarders, you've been warned).
Beginner to intermediate skiers can still enjoy trips to Heavenly if they take the Heavenly Village Gondola, where they’ll find the Tamarack Lodge, the Big Easy chairlift, and a magic carpet.
Alternatively, the Boulder Lodge on the Nevada side has free parking, a less crowded rental shop, and a carpet leading to a learning area with a very subtle pitch.
Heavenly Mountain Resort is best for:
Nightlife
Scenic views
Group getaways
Heavenly Mountain Resort is not ideal for:
- Couples or families looking for a quiet mountain retreat
Breckenridge, Colorado
Nearest airport: Denver International Airport (DIA), 95+ miles
Terrain: 2,900+ acres | 11% Beginner | 31% Intermediate | 58% Advanced
Breckenridge is another very popular Colorado ski resort, with 1.5 million skiers visiting each year.
Due to its reputation and location, only two hours from Denver, lift ticket prices can soar to over $300 USD per day. If you plan to ski for a few days, the Epic Pass can save skiers hundreds of dollars per person.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Breckenridge
What to Expect at Breckenridge Resort
The base is over 9,600 feet, and the resort is home to the highest chairlift in North America, reaching 12,840 feet.
Breckenridge is great for skiers who want to take advantage of the steep tree runs, bowls along its five peaks, and long groomers.
However, families also enjoy an abundance of activities year-round, and there is a highly regarded ski school offering group or private lessons.
Breckenridge’s terrain parks attract advanced riders and are among the best in North America. It features a progressive design that allows skiers and snowboarders to build confidence on jumps, boxes, and rails of varying sizes.
Heavenly Resort is best for:
High elevation expert terrain
Intermediate groomed runs
Fun for the whole family
Heavenly Resort is not ideal for:
- Skiers and snowboarders looking for a laid-back, “local” vibe (lift lines can get very long).
Park City, Utah
Nearest airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), 35 miles
Terrain: 7,300+ acres | 8% Beginner | 42% Intermediate | 50% Advanced
The largest ski resort in the USA, Park City, is a destination that many skiers and snowboarders dream about their whole lives.
What makes Park City special is that, because it is so large and has over 40 ski runs, visitors are treated to a wide range of terrain that is all relatively easy to access.
The mountain has plenty of intermediate groomers, multiple terrain parks (each with a different focus), and enough chutes and glades to keep expert skiers happy.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Park City Resort
What to Expect at Park City Resort
Just a short drive from Salt Lake City, this ski resort is popular with Utah residents and travelers from around the world. It’s important to remember that a ski trip to Park City can be expensive, especially during peak dates. However, the Epic Pass is an easy way to save big on lift tickets!
Main Street is only a short drive from the lifts, and is home to an excellent dining scene, lovely accommodations, and the world-famous Sundance Film Festival.
Park City Resort is best for:
Variety of terrain
Nightlife
Variety and abundance of accommodations
Park City Resort is not ideal for:
- Skiers and snowboarders wanting a smaller ski resort experience
Northstar Resort
Nearest airport: Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), 40 miles
Terrain: 3,100+ acres | 13% Beginner | 60% Intermediate | 27% Advanced
Northstar Resort is a destination for beginner to intermediate skiers to enjoy one of California’s premier ski resort experiences before moving on to more challenging resorts like Heavenly or Palisades.
While there is some advanced terrain, this resort is all about the intermediate groomers, park terrain, and beginner areas.
None of the terrain here is off the charts in difficulty; it’s an excellent place to gradually progress and work on fundamentals on the long, enjoyable groomers.
Skiers and snowboarders who want more challenging runs can continue up the mountain, where Mt. Pluto, The Backside, and Lookout Mountain all offer intermediate and advanced runs.
There is a ski school and beginner terrain at the magic carpets near Mid Mountain, with additional beginner terrain accessible via the lifts located near the school.
Photo Credit: Vail Resorts - Northstar Resort
What to Expect at Northstar Resort
Northstar is one of the most popular resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, and prices can get very high on peak dates. The Epic Pass not only lowers the price of lift tickets, but can save you money on purchases like rentals, lessons, and food.
The high-end base village is excellent for families, with an ice rink, dining options, and rentals all within an easy walk from the Highlands Gondola.
Parking at Northstar is a bit of a drawback, as the closest paid lot fills up fast, and the overflow lots require a 10-15 minute drive on what can be a very crowded shuttle.
Northstar Resort is best for:
Families
Beginners
Northstar Resort is not ideal for:
Expert skiers
Anyone looking to escape the crowds
Choose the Best Ski Resort for You
Many of the ski resorts on the Epic Pass are widely considered among the best in North America. However, each resort has its strengths, depending on who you ski with and what terrain you’re after.
Family-friendly: Northstar
Park terrain: Breckenridge
Advanced terrain: Vail
Variety: Park City
Scenic views: Heavenly
At The Lodging Company, our travel consultants help plan trips to the best ski resorts throughout North America. Call us Toll-Free at 1-888-676-9977 or contact us today to learn more about where you should ski as an Epic Pass cardholder, or to purchase your pass!
About Deric Brown
Deric Brown is a writer who has traveled domestically and internationally, writing about his journeys along the way. A storyteller at heart, he’s always looking at both the small details and the big picture. Whether snowboarding in the Sierra Nevada Mountains or hiking the Marin Headlands near his San Francisco home, he loves experiencing the beauty of California and beyond, and writing about each solo adventure and family trip.