Already buying your 2026-2027 ski pass? Here’s what to know for California resorts
Snow is still falling in the Sierra Nevada, but avid skiers and snowboarders are already making plans for the 2026-2027 season.
Though it seems early, springtime is the best time of year to buy season passes to ski resorts as they are at their lowest prices of the year. For many, prices are already set to rise at the beginning of May.
With world-class skiing areas and a plethora of season pass options available across California, it can be overwhelming for newcomers and returning skiers and snowboarders alike to make their choice for the next ski season.
Here’s what to know if you’re navigating the vast ski resort season pass realm this year.
Multi-resort passes
For skiers and snowboarders who like to vary the terrain they lay tracks on, some resorts are part of a group that share a season pass which gives access to the grouped resorts.
Though they’re usually more expensive than a single-resort pass, extra perks and the flexibility to choose between multiple resorts is highly appealing to snowboarders and skiers.
Epic Pass
California resorts: Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort
Prices: $66-$1,089
The Vail Resorts Management Company, which operates some of the biggest ski resorts in the U.S. and abroad, including three in the Tahoe area, offers a highly customizable pass.
Epic Pass offers access to dozens of resorts around the world, with varying restrictions based on the price level. Access to the Tahoe resorts comes with 12 of the 26 different pass options, spanning from a single-day lift pass to a daily unrestricted pass.
Tahoe skiers and snowboarders can purchase an exclusive pass at two price points. The $685 Tahoe Local Pass offers daily access to the three Tahoe-area Vail resorts plus a handful of days at five Colorado resorts, while the $585 Tahoe Value Pass provides much more limited access to Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.
Many of the pass options have blackout dates during some of the most popular winter holidays, including Thanksgiving, the days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s Day weekend.
The Epic Pass often goes up in price around Memorial Day, and again in the summer and fall, though Vail has not yet announced price increase dates.
Ikon Pass
California resorts: Mammoth Mountain, Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows, Big Bear Mountain Resort and Snow Valley Mountain Resort, June Mountain, Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort
Prices: $149-$1,738.80
The Ikon Pass is a favorite among international skiers and snowboarders, since access to 43 U.S. resorts is offered under the pass.
There are three main levels: The classic Ikon Pass starting at $1,449 for adults aged 23+, the more restricted Ikon Base Pass starting at $1,019 for adults and the Ikon Session Pass, which offers 2, 3 or 4 days of skiing at a handful of resorts for $319 and up.
Some of the California resorts also have individual base passes through Ikon, for skiers and snowboarders who prefer to stick with one or two resorts per season.
With a steeper price tag than most other passes, Ikon offers a payment plan through Affirm, with payments split over 3, 6 or 12 months. Prices already went up in mid-April, and additional price hikes are expected in the fall.
Cali Pass
California resorts: Bear Valley Mountain Resort, China Peak Mountain Resort, Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, Mountain High
Prices: $159-$679
Some of California’s smaller ski resorts are now bound by a shared pass, aptly named the Cali Pass. Pass holders can access four ski resorts, in Bear Valley, Wrightwood, Pinecrest and Lakeshore.
Passes for adults aged 23-69 are the most expensive, at $679, while seniors aged 75+ can get a pass for less than $200. Each paying adult can bring two children aged 5 and under with them for free. Cali Pass also offers deals to college students aged 18-25.
Each individual college student can get a pass for $399, or if they sign up to be part of a “Crew” with their college friends, prices drop as low as $249 per person.
Prices are set to rise on Thursday, April 30, with the current costs being the lowest of the season, according to the Cali Pass website.
Skiers who prefer to stick to one mountain at a time may also purchase season passes direct from a resort. All four Cali Pass-affiliated resorts offer base passes, with prices each about $100 lower than the Cali Pass.
Ski California Gold Pass
California resorts: All 36 Ski California resorts
Price: $4,250 per pass
The most comprehensive California ski pass is sold by the state’s ski resort organization itself. This unique offering comes with an eye-watering price tag and perks to match.
With the Gold Pass, skiers and snowboarders have fully unlimited access to all 36 resorts affiliated with Ski California. There are no blackout dates, and pass holders are allowed to transfer the pass to anyone who wants a ski trip.
However, only one person may use each Gold Pass at a time, meaning groups that ski together must each have a separate lift ticket or season pass. Still, it can be a good option for multiple people who ski alone and on different schedules to split the cost of one Gold Pass.
The pass goes on sale Friday, May 1, and it will have a very limited stock, according to a Ski California news release. Pass holders can pay the $4,250 cost in full upon purchasing, or they can place a deposit for $1,150 per pass, with the remainder due in four months.
Other California ski passes
Though a majority of California’s most popular resorts fall under the major group passes, some other mountains sell their own individual season passes.
Not every resort has put out information about season passes yet, check the individual resorts’ websites for up-to-date information as winter approaches.
Sugar Bowl Resort
Address: 629 Sugar Bowl Road, Norden
Prices: $79-$1,349
This Tahoe-area favorite remains independently owned after more than 85 years in operation. Sugar Bowl’s season passes not only provide mountain access, but also additional perks at the resort’s shops.
Sugar Bowl’s fully unrestricted pass, which has no blackout dates, starts at $1,349 for adults aged 23-64. The Slightly Restricted Pass, blacking out Dec. 26-31, Jan. 16 and 17 and Feb. 13-14, goes for $949 for adults. Local K-12 students in the Placer County, Nevada County and Washoe County, Nevada school districts can get discounted youth tickets at $249.
Sugar Bowl is part of the Mountain Collective, a partnership of global resorts, many of which are independently owned. A Sugar Bowl pass also provides 50% off lift tickets to other Mountain Collective resorts.
The price of Sugar Bowl passes is set to go up May 1, according to the resort’s website.
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Mt. Baldy Resort
Address: 8401 Mt. Baldy Road, Mt. Baldy
Prices: $349-$1,999
In Southern California, Mt. Baldy Resort has a unique offering among area resorts — multi-year passes. Skiers, snowboarders and even hikers can purchase year-round passes good for up to four years.
Mt. Baldy runs its lifts throughout the year, transitioning from snow sports to warm weather activities as the snow melts. Pass holders have access to winter and summer lift trips alike.
For a single year, adults aged 23-64 pay $699, rising to nearly $2,000 for an extended four-year pass. Two-year passes cost $1,249 for adults and three-year passes are $1,749.
According to Mt. Baldy’s website, prices will go up, but as of Wednesday it had not announced when.
Mt. Shasta Ski Area
Address: 4500 Ski Park Highway, McCloud
Prices: $149-$499
As one of the only ski areas in far north California, Mt. Shasta Ski Area keeps prices relatively low, and the resort did not raise prices from last season.
Mt. Shasta’s season pass option is simple — there is only one, with pricing determined by the pass holder’s age:
- Adults 18-64: $499
- Youth 13-17: $349
- Seniors 65-69: $269
- Juniors 8-12: $219
- Seniors Plus 70-84: $199
- “Pups” 5-7: $149
- “Tykes” 0-4 and “Golden Seniors” 85+: Free
On top of unlimited lift access with no blackout dates, Mt. Shasta pass holders also get discounts on snow tubing, food, equipment rentals, tuning services, lessons and retail shopping.
This ski resort is also part of the Indy Pass, a consortium of independent ski resorts around the world. Most Indy Passes have sold out for the 2026-2027 season already, but a Mt. Shasta pass also provides access to many of its partner resorts.
Tahoe XC
Address: 925 Country Club Drive, Tahoe City
Prices: $99-$399
Cross-country skiers can also purchase season passes at Nordic-dedicated resorts in the region. In Tahoe City, 50 kilometers of groomed runs make up the Tahoe XC cross-country skiing area.
This resort only has one class of season pass split by age category, as well as add-ons.
Adults aged 19-69 can currently get a pass for $399, while seniors 70-75 can purchase one for $119 and teens 13-17 can get one for $99. Seniors 76 and above, and kids 12 and under can reserve a pass for free.
Those who enjoy skiing with their dogs can purchase a season pass for their pup at $139. Seniors over 70 can purchase a one-time Legacy Pass for $399 valid for the rest of the pass holder’s life.
An adult Tahoe XC pass also provides access to Tahoe City Winter Sports Park trails and limited access to the Tahoe Donner Cross-Country Ski Center.
The lowest price of the year was already offered in early April, but the current sale on Tahoe XC passes will last through July 1, according to the resort’s website.
