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DENVER SKIGUIDE
Illustrative alpine bowl at dusk

Season pass guide · 2026–27

Epic vs Ikon in Colorado

The right pass is the one that covers the mountains you'll actually drive to.

Last reviewed November 2026 · Updated for the 2026–27 season · Verify before traveling

Illustrative image

We don't publish pass prices—they change through the sales season. Confirm current products, tiers, blackout dates and reservation rules on epicpass.com and ikonpass.com.

Coverage near Denver

ResortPass (historical)Notes
Loveland Ski AreaIndependentIndependent area with its own lift tickets and season passes; not on Epic or Ikon. Check Loveland's site for current products.
Eldora MountainIkonEldora has historically been included on the Ikon Pass. Confirm 2026–27 access levels and any reservation or blackout rules on ikonpass.com.
Arapahoe BasinIkonArapahoe Basin offers its own passes and has had Ikon Pass access subject to product tier, reservations or restrictions. Check arapahoebasin.com and ikonpass.com for 2026–27 terms.
Keystone ResortEpicKeystone is owned by Vail Resorts and has been included on Epic Pass products. Check epicpass.com for 2026–27 products and any holiday restrictions.
Copper MountainIkonCopper has been included on the Ikon Pass and sells its own passes. Check coppercolorado.com and ikonpass.com for 2026–27 details.
Winter Park ResortIkonWinter Park has been included on the Ikon Pass and sells its own passes. Check winterparkresort.com and ikonpass.com for 2026–27 terms.
Breckenridge Ski ResortEpicBreckenridge is a Vail Resorts property included on Epic Pass products. Check epicpass.com for 2026–27 terms and restrictions.
VailEpicVail is the flagship Vail Resorts mountain on Epic Pass products. Check epicpass.com for 2026–27 terms.

Epic: the Vail Resorts network

Epic products have covered Vail Resorts' Colorado mountains, which near Denver include Keystone, Breckenridge and Vail. If you'll mostly ski Summit County and want overnights in Breck or Vail, Epic tends to fit. Lower tiers may restrict holidays or certain resorts.

Ikon: a multi-owner network

Ikon has included Winter Park, Copper Mountain, Eldora and—subject to product and restrictions—Arapahoe Basin. Ikon suits skiers who want variety on day trips, including the non-I-70 Eldora and the Winter Park train. Access can be unlimited at some resorts and limited days at others depending on tier.

Independent: Loveland

Loveland sells its own tickets and passes. If your plan is lots of short-drive day trips, a local pass can complement—or replace—a mega-pass.

How to choose

  1. List the mountains you'd realistically ski more than twice.
  2. Check which pass covers most of them on the tier you'd buy.
  3. Read restrictions: blackouts, reservations, limited-day access.
  4. Compare against buying individual tickets in advance for a few days.
  5. Factor in drive and transit—an "included" resort you never reach isn't value.

Limitations to watch

  • Pass partnerships can change between seasons.
  • Some resorts may require reservations or parking bookings on top of a pass.
  • Deadlines for pass sales and refunds/insurance policies differ.