Pass renewal season is here for WA, PNW ski areas. What's changing for next winter?
Washington's lift-serviced ski and snowboard season ends this weekend, when Crystal Mountain shutters for the summer after the inaugural Mt. Rainier Berm Brawl Banked Slalom. With that milestone upon us, there are good offseason habits to follow, including cleaning and drying your gear, sharpening your edges, waxing your bases, and storing skis and snowboards in a cool, dry place. Perhaps most important, it's also time to start planning for next winter.
The early bird gets the best price when it comes to season passes, which are inching their renewal launch dates ever earlier on the calendar - this year the first passes went on sale March 3. The sooner you commit, the less you will spend as prices generally increase a few times until the lifts start spinning again. While the last day to buy passes isn't advertised too far in advance, typically passes go off sale in early December.
Read on for a summary of prices and perks for the main season passes serving the Washington Cascades. As these products get ever more complicated with pricing differentiated by age group, blackout dates, military discounts, resort tiers, etc., check directly with your preferred pass seller for details not included here.
Epic Pass
Ski and ride WA: Stevens Pass
Travel the PNW: Fernie, B.C.; Kicking Horse, B.C.; Kimberley, B.C.; Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.
Adult price started at: $1,089
Your ticket to unlimited days at Stevens Pass and Whistler - and seven days at some top B.C. resorts - notched up its initial asking price by $38 this year but hopes to reel in Gen Z with a 20% discount for skiers and snowboarders ages 13 to 30. Last year, Vail Resorts also introduced Epic Friend Tickets, which knock 50% off the window rate. Vail has not added any North American destinations recently, but for those planning a European ski vacation, six additional Austrian resorts joined Epic Pass at the beginning of last winter. Epic is also known for its cheapest-in-the-industry military pass ($215). Strictly hitting up Stevens Pass next winter? Unlimited days start at $691.
Ikon Pass
Ski and ride WA: Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie (limited)
Travel the PNW: Alyeska, Alaska; Mount Bachelor, Ore.; Panorama, B.C.; Red Mountain, B.C.; Revelstoke, B.C.; Schweitzer, Idaho; SilverStar Mountain, B.C.; Sun Peaks, B.C.; Sun Valley, Idaho
Adult price started at: $1,399
The only way for all-you-can ski and ride at Crystal - plus seven days at The Summit - bumpedup$70 to start renewal season, and prices already went up once in April to $1,449 for adults. For PNW skiers, next winter sees the additionofseven days at SilverStar, B.C.'s third-biggest resort, plus two days at Tamarack, Idaho, with blackouts. Refunds were a hot topic in January after a slow start to the winter. Ikon purveyor Alterra now sells a refundable pass for an additional few hundred dollars (prices vary depending on pass type and when you buy). If you don't use the pass at all by Jan. 15, 2027, you are eligible for a 100% refund. Scan it once? Only 50% back.
IndyPass
Ski and ride WA: 49 Degrees North, Bluewood, Hurricane Ridge, Loup Loup, Mission Ridge, White Pass
Travel the PNW: Big White, B.C.; Eaglecrest, Alaska; Manning Park, B.C.; Mount Hood Meadows, Ore.; Silver Mountain, Idaho
Adult price started at: $399
The scrappy counterpoint to Epic and Ikon, the IndyPass serves up two days each at hundreds of ski areas around the world, including half a dozen in Washington and discounts with North Cascades Heli Skiing. There's also a refund guarantee if the worldwide figure drops below 300 partner resorts. Indy is a particularly good value for cross-country skiers, with pass privileges for a dozen odd Nordic trail networks across British Columbia and Washington. Unlike other passes, Indy only sells to the public during short windows. The initial public offering April 3 sold out in 37 minutes - join the waitlist for another crack at the apple later this year.
The Summit at Snoqualmie
Ski and ride WA: Alpental, Summit Central, Summit East, Summit West
Travel the PNW: Three free days at Boyne sister resorts
Adult price started at: $879
Boyne Resorts - a much smaller company than Alterra or Vail - owns Seattle's closest ski hill, so there's no access with an Epic Pass and just seven days with a full Ikon Pass. Instead, there is a suite of Summit-specific passes with some important updates for next winter. If you want to clock unlimited days anywhere at the Summit next winter, grab the Alpental Plus pass ($879) and pick up three days at each of Boyne's other resorts, including Big Sky, Mont.; Brighton, Utah; and Cypress, B.C. Not interested in weekend crowds at Alpental? Save $170 with the Summit Plus Pass. Not ready for Alpy at all? Knock off $220 with the Summit Pass. Weekday warriors get the best deal of all: $439 for the Off-Peak Pass, valid any nonholiday weekday and weekends starting at 3 p.m.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 11:36 PM.