Vail Resorts has opened sales for the 2026-2027 Epic Pass season with a notable addition: discounted rates for young adults that match the teen pricing tier. The change cuts 20 percent from the standard adult rate on several pass options and applies to skiers between 18 and 30 years old. Early purchases still secure lower rates than those available later in the fall, though the steepest early-bird window has closed. ([1])
New Pricing Targets Younger Skiers
The introduction of young adult pricing stands out as the clearest departure from prior seasons. Adults previously paid the full rate regardless of age once they turned 18. Now, the 18-to-30 group pays the same reduced amount as 13-to-17-year-olds on both the full Epic Pass and the Epic Local Pass. This adjustment lowers the cost of the full Epic Pass to $909 for qualifying young adults, compared with $1,145 for those 31 and older. The Epic Local Pass drops to $675 for the same age group, down from $849. Children ages 5 to 12 continue to receive separate, lower rates on both products.
Core Pass Options and Access Levels
Buyers still choose among several tiers that balance price against flexibility. The full Epic Pass delivers unrestricted access across dozens of Vail-owned and partner mountains in North America, plus limited days at additional destinations such as Telluride and select Canadian resorts. The Epic Local Pass costs less but carries blackout dates during peak holiday periods and caps visits to certain flagship resorts. Regional options, including the Northeast Value Pass, focus on specific geographic clusters and carry their own restrictions. Epic Day Passes provide an alternative for those planning only a handful of trips. These fixed-day products scale in price according to the number of resorts included and the total days purchased, with per-day rates falling as the package size grows.
Additional Perks That Reduce Overall Trip Costs
Every Epic Pass product includes Epic Mountain Rewards, which delivers 20 percent off food and nonalcoholic drinks up to a daily cap, group lessons, lodging at participating properties, gear rentals, and airport shuttles. One free ski tune and a discounted second tune round out the package each season. Epic Coverage, automatically included, refunds pass holders for cancellations tied to job loss, injury, illness, or certain resort closures. The combination of discounted lift access and these ancillary savings can materially lower the total expense of a winter trip.
Practical Considerations Before Purchase
Holiday blackout dates for the Epic Local Pass this season fall on November 27-28, 2026; December 26-31, 2026; January 16, 2027; and February 13-14, 2027. Travelers who expect to ski during those windows generally need the unrestricted Epic Pass. Military members, students, seniors, and individuals with permanent disabilities continue to qualify for separate discounts. Families with young children may also explore limited-availability Tot Passes for certain regional products. The window to lock in current pricing remains open but will not last indefinitely. Past patterns show at least one additional price increase before sales conclude in November. For skiers who already know their winter plans, securing a pass now converts an otherwise expensive series of day tickets into a predictable, lower per-day cost.
