Ikon Pass Debuts for 2025-26 with A-Basin Unlimited on Full Pass; Base Plus Pass Discontinued

Earlier today, Alterra released the Ikon Pass product suite for the 2025-26 season. Adults can purchase a full Ikon Pass, which comes with unlimited access to 18 resorts and no holiday blackout dates, for $1,329—an increase of 6% from last year. An Ikon Base Pass, which offers unlimited access to 14 resorts with holiday blackouts, goes for $909, an increase of 5% from last year. As in previous years, children and young adults under 23—as well as military personnel, college students, and nurses—are eligible for significantly cheaper pass rates.

Six full Ikon destinations are excluded from the base pass, including Alta, Aspen/Snowmass, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole, Snowbasin, and Sun Valley. The Ikon Base Plus Pass, which previously allowed access to these mountains at a cheaper rate than the full Ikon Pass, is no longer available for 2025-26.

Ikon has maintained their Session Pass suite for the 2025-26 season, continuing to offer 2, 3, and 4-day access to select destinations. As with previous seasons, Session Pass products will offer flexible days of access to the overwhelming majority of resorts available on the Ikon Base Pass. Unlike the competing Epic Day Pass product, there are no 1, 5, 6, or 7-day access products for the Ikon Session Pass.

As in previous years, returning Ikon Pass holders are eligible for discounted renewal rates. Full Ikon Pass adult renewals cost $1,229, making for a $100 discount, and Ikon Base Pass renewals start at $859, making for a $50 discount. These renewal discounts will likely last through early May. While Session Passes do not come with renewal discounts, 2024-25 Session Pass holders are eligible for renewal discounts should they choose to upgrade to one of Ikon’s other products.

For 2025-26, a few Ikon access terms have changed. Most notably, Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin has moved to unlimited access on the full Ikon Pass after only offering seven days of access this past season; this follows its acquisition by Ikon’s parent company, Alterra. In addition, Ikon Passes now come with access to Europe’s Ischgl ski area, with seven days of unrestricted access on the full Ikon Pass and five days of unrestricted access on the Ikon Base Pass.

Finally, the full Ikon Pass comes with a new perk known as “Bonus Mountains”. Pass holders get two days of access to Wild Mountain, MN, Buck Hill, MN, Jiminy Peak, MA, and Cranmore, NH. Unlike all previous full Ikon Pass destinations, these mountains come with holiday blackouts; previously, all blackout date restrictions were confined to the Base and Session Passes.

Passes go on sale March 13.

Our Take

With Epic generally maintaining the status quo with its passes this season, it seems like the general pass landscape versus last season remains unchanged. Ikon continues to command a price premium over Epic with fewer unlimited mountains and more restrictive blackouts on the Ikon Base Pass, while Epic continues to offer access to Vail-owned mountains at competitive prices.

The biggest news comes with Ikon’s deletion of the Ikon Base Plus Pass. Guests who want to visit the six resorts absent from the Ikon Base Pass will need to upgrade to the full Ikon Pass, which will cost a bit more than a comparable Base Plus Pass would otherwise have. However, by the end of its life, the Ikon Base Plus Pass wasn’t all that great of a value compared to a full Ikon Pass, so it wouldn’t be surprising if too few people were buying it to justify its continued existence.

Another major change is Arapahoe Basin’s shift to unlimited access on the full Ikon Pass—a long-anticipated (and, for some, dreaded) move within the ski community. We’ll be paying close attention to what happens with Arapahoe Basin’s crowds; the resort was an unlimited member of the Epic Pass until 2018, and crowding was a significant problem until the switch to limited access days on Ikon. However, A-Basin also introduced a strict paid parking reservation system during peak times this past year, and the resort may be hoping that this policy is enough to artificially deflate crowds on busy days (other Alterra-owned resorts with limited capacity, such as Solitude, have made similar moves).

Ikon is also expanding its footprint this season with new additions and, for the first time ever, a departing partner. The standout newcomer is Silvretta Arena (Ischgl/Samnaun), a cross-border resort spanning Austria and Switzerland. This move aligns with both Ikon and Epic’s recent efforts to bolster their European offerings—just days ago, Epic announced expanded access to Verbier 4 Vallées. Known for its upscale atmosphere and vibrant après-ski scene, Ischgl/Samnaun enhances Ikon’s appeal for those planning European ski trips, especially when five other European Alps destinations are also included on the pass suite.

In a more unexpected move, Ikon has introduced a “Bonus Mountain” program featuring Wild Mountain, Buck Hill, Jiminy Peak, and Cranmore—all smaller, regional ski areas. Unlike most Ikon destinations, these resorts offer just two days of access, reminiscent of the Indy Pass model. It’s possible Ikon aims to use these mountains as feeder resorts, encouraging skiers on day or weekend trips to eventually visit its larger destination resorts. The institution of blackout dates for these partners is a bit surprising, especially given that the full Ikon Pass has never come with holiday restrictions before, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see some Ikon guests who don’t read the fine print show up on peak dates and get turned away. The reasoning behind the blackouts remains unclear, but it may have been the best deal Ikon could strike with these resorts.

Lastly, after years of speculation, Windham Mountain Club has officially exited the Ikon Pass. The New York resort has been moving toward exclusivity, enforcing strict weekend and holiday reservations while charging over $200 for peak-time lift tickets—despite offering just 285 acres of terrain. For many, the reservations were so hard to come by that it was hard to make use of an Ikon Pass anyway. That said, Windham’s departure puts Ikon at a disadvantage in the New York metropolitan area versus Epic, where Hunter Mountain remains an accessible option. Ironically, one of the best alternatives for Ikon Pass holders seeking a day-trip destination near the city is now Jiminy Peak, one of the new Bonus Mountains—though, as mentioned earlier, access is limited to the full Ikon Pass and comes with holiday blackouts.

For more information on resorts on the Ikon Pass, see our Ikon Pass mountain reviews as well as our Colorado, Tahoe, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Western Canada rankings.