Epic Ski Pass 2023-24 Blackout Dates
Vail Resorts created the Epic Pass as the first multi resort ski lit pass option on the market. It has since been joined by the likes of Mountain Collective, IKON and INDY.
There are over 50 different pass types that Epic offers, and some of them are subject to blackout dates. Blackout dates are those days that the Epic pass is not valid for. This means that even if you have an epic pass, you cannot ski during those days unless you purchase a separate lift ticket.
These blackout dates are simply there, so the resorts can squeeze out more revenue on the most popular days of the year. They blackout the weekends around major holidays, when most people have off. They also include the full week between Christmas and New Years in this blackout schedule.
Blackout dates occur two different ways:
- By Resort – This means that only certain resorts are subject to blackout dates. This type of blackout usually only is attached to the most popular of Vail resorts like Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, and Park City, to only name a few.
- By Pass Type – As mentioned earlier, Epic has numerous pass types. They have regional ones (that are only valid for a select set of nearby resorts), the local pass, as well as an unlimited pass. All but the Unlimited are subject to blackout dates.
Read More: Current Epic Pass Pricing
To use your Epic pass, there are no reservations needed. You simply bring your physical Epic Pass card, which lift operators will scan as you attempt to board.
How to Get Around Blackout Dates
There are only two real ways to ski during the Epic Pass blackout dates.
- Buy an on-demand lift ticket. If you are a holder of a pass that is subject to blackout dates, there is only one way to get around it. You’ll have to go to your resort’s walk-up window or to their website and order a full price lift ticket.
- Buy the Epic Unlimited Pass. They don’t call it ‘unlimited’, but they should. Vail’s default “Epic Pass” is not subject to any blackout dates. They do have restrictions on how many total days you can visit some of the most popular resorts, but do not blackout any specific days.
2023-24 Blackout Dates for the Epic Local Pass
The ski resorts Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Stowe, Vail, Beaver Creek and Whistler Blackcomb are blacked out during the peak holiday days. These days are as follows:
- Thanksgiving: 11/24/23 – 11/25/23 (Friday & Saturday)
- Christmas & New Year’s Eve: 12/26/23 – 12/31/23 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Martin Luther King Day: 1/13/24 (Saturday)
- President’s Day: 2/17/24 – 2/18/24 (Saturday & Sunday)
New Years Day is amazingly not a blacked out date!
2023-24 Blackout Dates for the Epic Day Pass
The Epic Day Pass allows you to purchase anywhere from 1-7 days at all 37 resorts within the Vail network. Buying this pass gets you up to 65% off on-demand lift tickets.
- Thanksgiving: 11/24/23 – 11/25/23 (Friday & Saturday)
- Christmas & New Year’s Eve: 12/26/23 – 12/31/23 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Martin Luther King Day: 1/13/24 (Saturday)
- President’s Day: 2/17/24 – 2/18/24 (Saturday & Sunday)
All 37 resorts within the Day Pass, are subject to the following blackout dates:
2023-24 Blackout Dates for Various Epic Regional Passes
The following Vail resorts follow the same blackout schedule as the Epic Local Pass:
- Tahoe Local Pass – We have an article that discusses the best Epic ski resort in Tahoe!
- Tahoe Value Pass
- Keystone Plus Pass – If you purchase this ticket, we have a ski trip itinerary just for you!
- Summit Value Pass
- Northeast Midweek Pass
- Stevens Pass Select Pass
These six passes are subject to the following blackout dates for the 2023-24 ski season:
- Thanksgiving: 11/24/23 – 11/25/23 (Friday & Saturday)
- Christmas & New Year’s Eve: 12/26/23 – 12/31/23 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Martin Luther King Day: 1/13/24 (Saturday)
- President’s Day: 2/17/24 – 2/18/24 (Saturday & Sunday)
Northeast Value Pass Blackout Dates
The Northeast Value Pass, which provides access to 21 Northeast US resorts, is subject to one extra day (Sunday, January 14th, 2024) in their blackout schedule:
- Thanksgiving: 11/24/23 – 11/25/23 (Friday & Saturday)
- Christmas & New Year’s Eve: 12/26/23 – 12/31/23 (Tuesday to Sunday)
- Martin Luther King Day: 1/13/24 – 1/14/24 (Saturday)
- President’s Day: 2/17/24 – 2/18/24 (Saturday & Sunday)
Epic Passes with No Blackout Dates
These lucky passes from Epic are not subject to any blackout dates. This means that you get 11 more days to ski as a pass holder.
- Epic Pass (Their default, unlimited pass) – View Pricing
- Kirkwood Pass
- Park City Youth Pass
- Epic Military Pass Active
- Military Pass Active Dependent
- Military Pass Retired
- Military Pass Retired Dependent
- Military Pass Veteran
- Military Pass Veteran Dependent
- Wilmot Pass
- Afton Alps Pass
- Mt. Brighton Pass
- Ohio Pass
- Paoli Peaks Pass
- Snow Creek Pass
- Hidden Valley Pass
- Stevens Pass Premium Pass
