2023-24 Season Pass Primer

Chilly days and the sight of snow on mountain peaks throughout the Wasatch Range have local powder hounds counting down the days until the first lifts start spinning at area resorts.

We’re bringing you all the info on season passes to help with the age-old question, “Where will I make my turns this year?”

Ski Swap Central

Procuring gear for the whole family can break the bank, so it’s nice to live in a resort town with easy access to some of the best ski swaps in the country. Most swaps include both gently used and new gear, and it’s a great place to outfit the littles knowing they’ll be growing out of this year’s “fit” before the end of the season. Ski Utah compiles a handy list of swaps throughout the Salt Lake Valley, but the inimitable swap is the annual Park City Ski & Snowboard Swap scheduled for November 3-5 at Basin Recreation Field House. Named by Ski Magazine as “one of the best ski swaps in the country,” the event is the single largest fundraiser for the nonprofit and welcomes more than 5,000 visitors each year. To purchase tickets, click here.

Deer Valley Resort
Season: Dec. 2, 2023 – April 14, 2024 (conditions permitting)

Each year, we start our ski pass primer with Deer Valley Resort because, well, it’s Deer Valley Resort and the “Deer Valley Difference” places it head-and-shoulders above all others in terms of customer service, facilities, food, and those world-famous corduroy trails.

Some of the benefits of being a Deer Valley season pass holder include a 25% ticket discount off the window rate for friends and family, 15% off dining and retail, and the Wasatch Benefit Program, which offers shared skiing privileges at Alta Ski Area, Brighton, and Snowbird resorts good for one day ticket each season (valid Monday-Thursday and not from Dec. 26-28, 2023).

 Full Season Passes are outlined in the table below:

Qualifying Utah residents can opt for the “Deer Locals” pass, which provides skiing Monday-Friday at a significant discount: 

For non-locals, the Mid-Week Season Pass offers access Monday through Friday (excluding 12/26/2022 – 12/29/2023) for just $1,540.

Deer Valley is again offering “First Tracks” on specific Wednesdays, allowing season pass holders to access the mountain 30 minutes early on Jan. 10 & 25, Feb. 7 & 14, and March 6 & 27, 2024.

The Ikon Pass also offers days of skiing at Deer Valley, along with other local resorts like Snowbasin, Snowbird and Alta, with discounted prices until Oct. 12 and more info available at ikonpass.com.

To purchase Deer Valley Resort passes or learn more, click here.

Park City Mountain
Opening Date: Nov. 17, 2023

Park City Mountain will open this season with much-needed, shiny new Red Pine Gondola cabins, which were installed over the summer. Also new this year, Park City Mountain has launched the My Epic app to replace the old Epic Mix app to now include mobile pass and mobile lift ticket technology that allows guests to go right to the lift to get scanned, hands-free, without hitting the ticket window. The app will also allow you to stay ahead of the weather that often plagues the Canyons base and places the gondola and Orange Bubble Express lifts on wind hold as it provides the status of all lifts and runs across the mountain, and can help prevent heading to the mountain early just to wait in line for the lifts to start turning. Like Epic Mix, the app will also track personalized stats such as vertical feet and includes the “Find My Friends” feature to stay connected with friends and family while on the mountain.

Park City will continue to limit daily lift ticket sales to prioritize the mountain experience for guests, though season [assholders will not be affected by this limit, nor will their benefit tickets, including Ski with a Friend and Buddy tickets. 

A season pass discount available until October 11, 2023, and you can lock in the discounted prices by purchasing Epic Pass prices online here. For skiers and riders who want to hit the mountain during holidays, the full Epic Pass offers no blackout dates and includes access to all Vail Resorts-owned properties for $949 for ages 13 and older, or for $483for children ages 5-12 (there is no teen option, but there is for the Epic Local Pass). The Epic Local Pass, which excludes holidays (though half-price day passes are available for blacked-out dates), is $705 for ages 19 and older, $570 for teens ages 13-18, and $367 for children ages 5-12. The Park City Youth Pass is $377 for kids ages 5-12 and provides access to Park City Mountain with no blackout dates, but cannot be used at other Vail Resorts. Kids four and younger are eligible for a free Epic Pass, but you must go to a ticket window in person to procure, as they are not available to order online. 

For locals and visitors only planning to hit the slopes a few days this season, or who plan to ski a a few days at a variety of resorts, the multi-day Epic Passes are an excellent value. Valid at most 38 Vail resorts, these passes start at $107 for one day for skiers ages 13 and older, and $56 for one day for children ages 5-13. For every day added, the price per day decreases, with the daily price for the seven-day pass just $90 ($625 total), but do note that holidays are excluded.

Benefitting active duty and retired military who served at least 20 years, the Epic Military Pass is just $167 and includes all dependents.

All Epic full and local passes offer 20% discounts on food, retail, lessons, and rentals, plus summer lift access.

Woodward Park City

Conveniently located off I-80 from either the Summit Park or Jeremy Ranch exits, Woodward Park City is a small resort offering learning, experiential, and performance mountain parks, each designed to provide ways for skiers and boarders to learn, regardless of experience. Their terrain zones also include Peace Park and Red’s Backyard, plus tubing and the only night-time mountain access in Park City. Traditionally less expensive than other resorts, Woodward Park City’s youth programs include the multi-week ski and snowboard Woodward Mountain Kids for ages 7-12, and the Woodward Mountain Micros for ages 4-6. They also offer three-day-a-week Development Teams for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders ages 7-17 with training both on-mountain and inside, and Dryland Ski & Snowboard Training starting Nov. 28, which is a four-week program meeting two times a week to improve skills for the upcoming season for $299.

Snowbird
Dec. 1, 2021 – May (or even July, depending on the snowpack …)

For those unfamiliar with the legendary Snowbird, or “The Bird,” as locals call it, the resort has created a “New to the Bird” welcome page that lists everything you need to know before you go, including tips for navigating to the resort through the at-times unpredictable Little Cottonwood Canyon, along with family-friendly runs and information. Like most resorts on busy days, parking can be limited, so while Snowbird offers first-come, first-served parking, they also provide reserved daily parking and a Preferred Parking Pass. Learn more here. They also have an app that provides real-time list and trail status, weather data, and live webcam feeds. Learn more at https://www.snowbird.com/snowbird-app/.

The wide variety of passes that provide access to Snowbird opens the resort to folks both looking to ski there exclusively, and those hoping to mix in a few days alongside their usual resort. The Summit Pass offers a full-mountain pass with no blackout dates (see prices below – add an Ikon Base pass for an additional $349 per pass), while the Flex-5 Pass provides five days at $100 day and is ideal for newcomers or weekend warriors. You can also ski Snowbird with the Mountain Collective Pass, which offers two days at each of 24 destinations across five continents, including Alta Ski Area, Big Sky, Grand Targhee, Aspen Snowmass, Snowbasin, and Jackson Hole at just $650 for adults, $530 for teens ages 13-18 and $200 for kids 12 and under with no blackout days.

The Alta-Bird pass is also a great way for skiers (no snowboarders allowed at Alta) to experience the best of both iconic resorts, with prices as follows:

Ski Utah 4^th, 5^th & 6^th Grade Passport

The Ski Utah 4^th, 5^th & 6^th Grade Passport easily provides the best value for young skiers at just $69 for 45 days of skiing and riding. The pass includes three days at each of Utah’s 15 resorts, which means kids get a chance to try terrain from Beaver Mountain to Brian Head and every resort in between. The price increases to $89 on December 1, and be aware of blackout dates. We also recommend you check out the companion Ski Utah Yeti Pass for $719 for yourself, and enjoy one day of skiing at each resort while trying to keep up with your kids.

Ski Utah also keeps an up-to-date list of all resorts and their season pass prices, so if you’re interested in checking out Utah’s lesser-known, but often less crowded and more affordable, resorts like Beaver, Brian Head, and Eagle Point, click here.

Proximity to a plethora of world-class skiing and snowboarding options is one more reason to Choose Park City. Connect with Christine Grenney at 435-640-4238 or Brendan Trieb at 585-410-5536, or visit their website by clicking here.