Hitting the ski slopes can be an incredible experience for the entire family– if you can stomach the price tag. The affordability question holds many people back from trying skiing or snowboarding.
Those lift tickets alone can put the brakes on a potential trip to the mountains.
Luckily, there’s an incredible military deal for unlimited season access to all resorts owned and managed by Vail Resorts Management.
Military Epic Pass – Save Big on Skiing & Snowboarding Passes!
Getting a Military Epic Pass means you’ll have unlimited all-season access to 70+ mountain resorts at an unprecedentedly low rate. In fact, you can get discounted passes for the entire family.
What’s better? These resorts are located all over the country, making the Epic Pass a great option, no matter where you are stationed.
You’ll find Epic Pass resorts in:
- California
- Colorado
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Plus–– 3 resorts in Australia.
These resorts include:
- Vail
- Beaver Creek
- Whistler Blackcomb
- Breckenridge
- Park City
- Keystone
- Heavenly
- Northstar
- Kirkwood
- Stowe
- Crested Butte
- Okemo
- Mount Sunapee
- Stevens Pass
- Wilmot
- Afton Alps
- Mt. Brighton
- Mount Snow
- Attitash
- Wildcat
- Crotched Mountain
- Hunter
- Liberty
- Roundtop
- Whitetail
- Jack Frost
- Alpine Valley
- Big Boulder
- Boston Mills
- Brandywine
- Mad River
- Hidden Valley
- Snow Creek
- Paoli Peaks
- Perisher
- Hotham
- Falls Creek
Military Epic Passes do not provide access to any of our partner resorts, including Telluride, Sun Valley, Snowbasin, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Nakiska, Mont Sainte Anne, Stoneham), Hakuba Valley, Rusutsu, or any European access.
Who is Eligible for the Pass?
Epic Pass military discounts are more inclusive than most, which is great for everyone who has served our country.
Those eligible for Epic military discounts include:
- Active-duty Military (U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces, and Australian Defence Force)
- Dependents of Active Military (Child and Adult)
- Retired Military
- Dependents of Retired Military (Child and Adult)
- Military Veterans
- Dependents of Military Veterans (Child and Adult)
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Epic military discount is that qualifying dependents can purchase at the discount rate whether the service member purchases one or not.
Details on the Military Epic Pass
The standard Epic Pass provides unlimited access to ski and snowboard resorts with no blackout dates. It costs $999 for adults and $509 for children aged 5 through 12. It also includes a discount of 20% off food, lodging, lessons, and rentals at all the resorts.
Military Epic Passes also provide unlimited access without blackout dates and 20% off food, lodging, lessons, and rentals. They are all the low price of $189:
- Epic Military Pass Active
- Epic Military Pass Active Dependent
- Epic Military Pass Retired
- Epic Military Pass Retired Dependent
Additional discounted pass options include:
- Epic Military Pass Veteran: $579
- Epic Military Pass Veteran Dependent: $579
- Child (ages 5-17): $319
Reducing the Epic Pass price by over 80% for active duty service members and dependents is an almost unheard-of discount.
Epic Coverage is included with all Epic Passes. This provides refunds associated with certain personal events including illness, job loss, injury, change in duty station, and deployment. More information on Epic Coverage details can be found on the Epic Coverage page.
One disclaimer: Unlike the standard Epic Pass, Epic Military Passes do not include access to Partner resorts, including their international destinations.
How to Get the Epic Military Discount
All Epic Military Passes will require verification before purchase to ensure eligibility. However, the process is quick and easy. There’s no registration or third-party service to go to.
To get the military discount, select the Epic Military Pass or Passes that fit your eligibility and add them to your cart.
The verification process is part of the checkout flow. During checkout, you’ll be asked to provide proof of eligibility.
The approved forms for military identification are:
- DD214
- Orders
- VA ID
- Official letter
- LES dated within 90 days
The process is a little different for Australian and Canadian service members also eligible for Epic Military Passes. For information on Australian and Canadian eligibility and verification processes, visit Epic’s Australian or Canadian pages.
How Does the Epic Pass Compare to the Ikon Pass?
The other big name in annual ski passes is the Ikon Pass, which gives you access to 47 destinations around the globe. Coast-to-coast ski resort season passes are where Epic and Ikon go head-to-head. Let’s see how the two passes compare.
Ikon offers a discounted rate for three key demographics: active duty military, college students, and front-line healthcare workers. These three groups can purchase:
- Ikon Pass: $739 USD
- Ikon Base Pass: $569 USD
- Ikon Session Pass 4-Day: $359 USD
Ikon extends the discount eligibility to adult dependents as well. More information can be found on Ikon’s Military FAQ.
The Bottom Line
Vail Resorts Management was founded by two U.S. Army Veterans. Today, they continue their commitment to honoring those who serve with their slogan ‘Epic for Everyone.’ With these military discount prices, we see what they mean.
Need to purchase airfare to get to the slopes? Find more fantastic travel offers at Military Deals.