Vail Resorts offers an average of 30% off lift tickets at 12 of its top resorts
With heavy snow covering ski resorts from coast to coast, there’s no denying that the 2025-26 North American ski season is upon us, and it’s going to be a good one.
In the Northeast, Vermont’s Stowe Mountain Resort is just a few storms away from totaling 100 inches of snowfall, while some western resorts, like British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb, have short-term forecasts that any powder skier will be excited about.
But for those procrastinators who can’t decide which multi-mountain pass to buy this season (Vail Resorts’ own Epic Pass is discontinued on December 4 and the Ikon Pass is discontinued on December 11), Vail Resorts is offering lift tickets to 12 of its most popular resorts at an average discount of 30% if purchased at least a month in advance.
Related: America’s Best Ski Resorts for Your Next Ski Trip
According to a statement from Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz, the move is “to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible to guests who may not have considered skiing and snowboarding until winter arrives.”
Trading basics
What: Advance discounts on lift tickets for 12 of Vail Resorts’ most popular ski areas
How to buy: Via each ski resort’s website
Appointment window: At least 4 weeks before your planned trip, with January 5, 2026 being the first qualifying ski day
Lift ticket sales
Vail Resorts is new for the 2025-26 ski season, offering access to Vail Ski Resort, Beaver Creek Resort, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Keystone Resort and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado Discounted lift tickets at Park City Mountain Resort, Utah; Whistler Blackcomb Mountain, British Columbia; Paradise Ski Area and Northstar California Resort, California; and Stowe Mountain Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort and Mount Snow, Vermont (requires purchase at least 4 weeks in advance).
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Skiers and riders can save more than $100 per lift ticket, depending on the dates and resort they plan to visit.
Additional benefits
To further sweeten the deal, skiers and riders who hold lift passes during the 2025-26 ski season can apply up to $175 of their lift pass fees toward the purchase of a 2026-27 Epic Pass.
RELATED: What are the best ski passes to buy this season? Compare Epic, Ikon, Mountain Collective and Indy passes
Plan ahead to make the most of your ski season
If you plan on skiing or riding for more than a few days next season, it’s smart to use this year’s lift tickets to get a discount on next season’s Epic Pass. Not only do Epic Pass holders receive perks like discounts on Friends admission; 20% off food, lodging, lessons, shuttles and rentals; and half-price ski or snowboard tune-ups, but they also have access to more than 90 Vail-owned and partner resorts around the world.
bottom line
The days of just buying lift tickets at the window are coming to an end. Today, the only way to get affordable passes at your favorite ski resort is to purchase a multi-mountain or season pass or reserve online in advance.
For those who don’t like to make any ski-related decisions before the season starts, Vail Resorts’ newest discount model is a money-saver this season, offering guests an average 30% discount on lift tickets purchased at least four weeks in advance.
