If you are a skier or snowboarder in Utah, there is one thing that happens every single year without fail — and yet somehow it still catches people off guard.
Ski pass prices go up. Steadily, predictably, and without exception, the longer you wait to buy your pass for the upcoming season, the more you are going to pay for it.
We are now in the window where that matters most. With ski season still more than 90 days away, the passes for the 2026-27 season are available right now at their best remaining price — and from here, the trajectory only goes one direction.
How Ski Pass Pricing Works
Both the IKON Pass and the EPIC Pass operate on a tiered pricing model that increases at set intervals throughout the spring and summer. The earliest buyers — those who purchase in spring before the season even ends — get the absolute best price. From there, prices step up in increments as the calendar moves closer to opening day.
What this means practically is that every week you wait costs you money. Not a small amount, either. The difference between buying a full IKON Pass or EPIC Pass at its lowest price versus its opening week price can easily run $100 to $200 or more per pass. For a family of four, that math gets significant very quickly.
The good news: there is still time to act before the next price increase hits.
The Case for the IKON Pass in Utah
For skiers based in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front, the IKON Pass is one of the most compelling options available.
The IKON Pass provides access to some of the most celebrated terrain in Utah — including Deer Valley Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort, Brighton Resort, Alta Ski Area, and Snowbird — alongside dozens of partner resorts across North America and beyond.
For Utah skiers who want flexibility across multiple Wasatch Front resorts without paying full price at each one, the IKON Pass delivers exceptional value. And with Deer Valley adding the Hail Peak Express chairlift this season and expanding its total skiable terrain to 4,500 acres, the value proposition for Deer Valley access alone is stronger than it has been in years.
The IKON Base Pass is also worth considering for skiers who have specific home resorts and want a more focused option at a lower price point. Both passes are available now — and both are priced lower today than they will be in 90 days.
The Case for the EPIC Pass in Utah
For skiers who spend most of their time at Park City Mountain Resort, the EPIC Pass is the natural choice.
The EPIC Pass provides unlimited access to Park City Mountain Resort — Utah's largest ski resort and the anchor of the 2034 Winter Olympics — alongside dozens of Vail Resorts properties across North America, Europe, and Australia. For frequent skiers, the EPIC Pass essentially pays for itself over the course of a season.
Park City Mountain Resort is installing Utah's first eight-passenger high-speed lift this season — the new Silverlode Express eight-pack — dramatically increasing uphill capacity on one of the mountain's busiest corridors. For Park City regulars, this upgrade alone makes the 2026-27 season one of the most anticipated in recent memory.
The EPIC Day Pass is also available for more casual skiers who want flexible access without committing to a full season pass. Like the full EPIC Pass, pricing on day passes increases as the season approaches — so locking in now still makes financial sense.
Why Utah Specifically Is Worth Planning Around
Utah's ski resorts are not just good. They are consistently ranked among the best in the country — and the investment being made in Wasatch Front resort infrastructure heading into the 2034 Winter Olympics is making them better every season.
Park City Mountain Resort is getting its eight-passenger lift. Deer Valley is expanding to 4,500 acres. Powder Mountain is opening 1,000 acres of expert terrain in the DMI zone. Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, and Solitude continue to offer some of the deepest, lightest powder in the world — backed by the Greatest Snow on Earth designation that Utah has held for decades.
For anyone living in Salt Lake City or the Wasatch Front, the 2026-27 ski season is setting up to be one of the best in years. Getting your pass locked in now — before prices step up again — is the move that every frequent skier eventually wishes they had made sooner.
The Bottom Line
Ski passes are one of the few purchases where waiting is guaranteed to cost you more. The IKON Pass and EPIC Pass are both available now at better prices than they will be in 30, 60, or 90 days — and ski season is coming regardless of when you decide to buy.
Do not let another price increase go by. Lock in your pass now, enjoy the rest of summer, and know that when the snow starts falling on the Wasatch Range, you are already taken care of.
