Top Rated Ski Resorts

Overall

A ski resort with terrain for all levels and closeby lodging, lots of apres ski activities and a good ski school make for great vacations on snow.

Most Popular Indy Pass Ski Resorts

Planning a Indy Pass ski trip? Browse our collection of skier and snowboarder-submitted reviews for Indy Pass ski resorts to see which mountains claimed the top spot in each category. Indy Pass reviews rank ski areas on a scale of one to five stars in the following categories: Overall Rating, All-Mountain Terrain, Nightlife, Terrain Park and Family Friendly. See how your favorite Indy Pass ski area stacks up among the top rated in terms of skiing and après.

Plan Your Trip

Indy Pass Ski Resorts FAQ

Indy Pass: No cookie-cutter mold here

Check out Indy Pass skiing if you are looking for the least expensive, yet wide ranging ski pass of them all -- a real alternative to the IKON and Epic passes and even the more competitive (price-wise) Mountain Collective pass. It is by far the easiest to use -- it's cloud based and there's no need for a physical pass --just show up at the ticket window.

You have your choice of 121 ski and cross-country resorts and can purchase the pass in several configurations.

More important: This is hardly a cookie-cutter bunch of ski resorts and most certainly not under one management. There are three ways to use it and all of them are priced right.

What is Indy pass?

The Indy Pass includes 121 independent resorts in 32 states and provinces and offers a wide variety -- big and small, short and tall -- of skiing and riding truly within a relatively short drive of skiers in North America.

Here's how they put it: "Discover the spirit of alpine skiing at North America's authentic independent resorts." You won't find household names like Aspen, Vail and Whistler on the list, but you will find allied resorts of regional renown offering plenty of skiing and riding for your whole family for the season.

Indy Pass resorts provide two days of skiing and riding each at 121 independently owned resorts including new six new alpine partner resorts in the Upper Midwest, New England, and Pacific Northwest. They include Marquette Mountain, Nub’s Nob and Treetops Ski Resort in Michigan; Mount Mankato, Minnesota and BigRock Mountain, Maine. Perhaps the new "crown jewel" is Mt. Hood Meadows, the largest of the nation's independent resorts and the most exciting in the western U.S. Do the math: that's a whole lot of days on the ski slopes for just under $300. Are your ski legs up for that?

Those of you who love cross-country skiing will be excited as Indy Pass holders can take advantage of a nationwide network of many of the best XC areas and if you're really into skinny skiing, XC only Indy Passes also are available.

Each participating independent ski resort is unique, user-friendly, and welcomes you. That ought to be enough action for you, right? For the latest and most up to date information on the Indy Pass, visit 2022/23 Buyer’s Guide: Indy Pass.

Just as the 2022-23 season got underway, Indy Pass officials announced even more additions. They include: Calabogie Peaks Resorts and Alpine Loch Lomand, Ontario, Canada; Granby Ranch and Echo Mountain, Colorado; Mountain High and Dodge Ridge, California; Arctic Valley, Alaska; Mt. Crescent, Iowa; Sleeping Giant, Wyoming; Ski Snowstar Winter Sports Park, Illinois; Dry Hill Ski Area, New York; and Whitecap Mountain, Wisconsin. In addition, several cross-country areas were added: Jay Peak Cross-Country Center, VT; Nickel Plate, B.C.; Bear Valley Adventure Center, CA; and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, MT.

Who owns the Indy Pass?

The Indy Pass is not owned by major resort partnerships. It was created in 2019 to offer skiers access to independently owned and operated ski areas across North America; a more affordable alternative to the Epic, Ikon, and Mountain Collective pass products.

It was originally launched by Doug Fish, owner of Fish Marketing in Oregon who continues to serve as President of the pass as well as producing Snovana, a pre-season ski show in the Northwest.

What ski resorts participate in the Indy Pass?

West resorts on Indy Pass (18):

Alaska resorts on Indy Pass -- Eaglecrest; B.C Apex, Manning Park, Sasquatch Mountain; California -- China Peak, Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Snow Valley, Mountain High, Dodge Ridge; Oregon -- Hoodoo Ski Area,; Mt. Hood Meadows; Washington -- 49 Degrees North Mountain Resort, Hurricane Ridge Ski & Snowboard Area, Mission Ridge, Ski Bluewood, White Pass.

Rocky Mountain resorts on Indy Pass: (20):

Alberta -- Castle Mountain Resort; Arizona -- Sunrise Park Resort; Colorado -- Sunlight, Bluebird Backcountry, Granby Ranch, Echo Mountain; Idaho -- Brundage, Kelly Canyon, Pomerelle, Silver Mountain, Soldier Mountain, Tamarack; Montana -- Blacktail Mountain, Lost Trail Powder Mountain, Red Lodge Mountain; Utah -- Beaver Mountain, Eagle Point Resort, Powder Mountain; Wyoming: -- Antelope Butte, Snow King Mountain, White Pine Ski Resort.

Midwest resorts on Indy Pass (28):

Iowa -- Seven Oaks, Sundown Mountain; Michigan -- Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort, Caberfae Peaks, Crystal Mountain, Marquette Mountain, Nub’s Nob, Pine Mountain Resort, Schuss Mountain at Shanty Creek, Swiss Valley Ski and Snowboard Area, Treetops Ski Resort; Minnesota -- Buck Hill, Detroit Mountain Recreation Area, Lutsen Mountains, Mount Mankato, Powder Ridge Winter Rec Area, Spirit Mountain; So. Dakota --Terry Peak Ski Area; Wisconsin -- Granite Peak, Little Switzerland, Nordic Mountain, The Rock Snowpark, Trollhaugen, Tyrol Basin Ski & Snowboard Area.

Eastern resorts on Indy Pass (20):

Connecticut -- Mohawk Mountain; Maine -- BigRockMountain, Saddleback Mountain; Massachusetts -- Berkshire East Mountain Resort; McIntyre Ski Area; New Hampshire -- Black Mountain Ski Area, Cannon Mountain, Pat’s Peak, Waterville Valley Resort; New York -- Catamount Mountain Resort, Greek Peak Mountain Resort, Snow Ridge Ski Resort, Swain Resort, Titus Mountain, West Mountain; Vermont -- Bolton Valley Resort, Jay Peak, Magic Mountain, Saskadena Six Ski Area.

Mid-Atlantic resorts on Indy Pass (10):

No. Carolina -- Cataloochee Ski Area; Pennsylvania -- Blue Knob Resort, Montage Mountain, Shawnee Ski Area), Ski Sawmill; Tennessee -- Ober Gatlinburg; Virginia -- Bryce Resort, Massanutten Resort; W. Virginia -- Canaan Valley Ski Resort, Winterplace Ski Resort.

Japan resorts on Indy Pass (5):

Geto Kogen, Okunaakayama Kogan, Shimokura, Tazawako.

Cross-Country resorts on Indy Pass (18):

49 Degrees North Nordic Center, Washington; Enchanted Forest, New Mexico; High Point XC Ski Center, New Jersey; Jackson XC, Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire; Manning Park Resort, Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, B.C.; Maplelag Park Resort, Minnesota; Rikert Nordic Center, Woodstock Nordic Center, Vermont; Treetops XC, Michigan; and White Grass Ski Touring Center, W. Virginia.

How much does the Indy Pass cost?

Indy Base Pass: Adults $299; Kids $139. This pass includes some blackout days. 

Indy Base AddOn Pass: Adults $199; Kids $99. You must have an unlimited season pass at an Indy Pass ski resort. Turn your season pass into a "travel pass" and explore any and all of the 100 resorts. However, your AddOn pass is not valid at your home resort.

Indy Plus Pass: Adults $399; Kids $189. There are no blackout dates with this pass.

Indy + AddOn Pass: Adults $309; Kids $149.

The Indy Cross-Country pass: Adults $69; kids $29.

Some advice: Buy your pass at the end of the current season and you can take advantage of a small down payment and a payment plan due in full by December.

Can you buy pass protection?

You may purchase a pass protection policy for $30, Kids & Kids+ $15, Adult+ $40 that guarantees you a full refund – no questions asked. The deadline for 22/23 pass refund or rollover requests is September 1, 2023. Pass Protection must be purchased for each pass at the time of purchase. Note: Purchases are assessed a 3% service fee to cover pass processing and other related costs.

How do you use the pass?

Easy-peasy, so to speak. Go to any Partner Resort’s ticket window to redeem your lift ticket. Just present your driver’s license or other photo ID to the ticket agent each time you wish to redeem and they will issue you a day ticket. Remember -- The Indy Pass is not a physical pass. Only one pass can be redeemed per day per person. Passes do not need to be used sequentially.

Conclusion: It's a bargain and much more.

There is no question that the Indy Pass is the deal for your money. But that matters only if you plan to ski the areas participating and don't yearn to impress your Facebook and Instagram buddies with your smiling family portrait atop Aspen Mountain. This is an unpretentious, wide-ranging pass and a great deal. Join the Indy... if it fits.

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