While most skiers and riders are no doubt familiar with the major ski passes, like Ikon Pass and Epic Pass, which we compare here, there are some great lesser-known ski passes. We’ve previously highlighted the Indy Pass, which features many of America’s smaller ski areas. For frequent travelers, The Mountain Collective is a great option. However, a relatively new ski pass, which you may not be familiar with is the Power Pass, which now features a total of 11 ski resorts.
Who owns the Power Pass?
Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) is a growing company out of Durango, Colorado, which has acquired a number of ski resorts and bike parks, most of which are in the Southwest. MCP’s ski resorts in the Southwest include Sipapu, Sandia Peak, and Pajarito in New Mexico, Arizona Snowbowl, Lee Canyon near Las Vegas, Brian Head and Nordic Valley in Utah, and Purgatory in Colorado. In the Pacific Northwest they operate Willamette Pass. MCP made news last year when it became the majority owner of Valle Nevado, which has the largest amount of terrain in South America. MCP also owns Spider Mountain Bike Park, America’s first and only year-round lift-served mountain bike park, located 60 miles northwest of Austin, Texas.
In 2024, Mountain Capital Partners announced that it entered into an agreement to purchase La Parva Ski Resort, located in the Chilean Andes near Valle Nevado, which MCP became majority owner of last spring. Valle Nevado and La Parva make up two of the three ski areas known as Tres Valles, the largest area of lift-served ski terrain in the Southern Hemisphere. Power Pass skiers and riders (on the Power Pass or Power Pass Select) can enjoy 10 free interconnected days at Valle Nevado and La Parva. This makes for nearly year-round skiing on the Power Pass.
Who is the Power Pass for?
The Power Pass is ideal for those whose home mountain is one of the Power Pass resorts or for those who travel to the Southwest frequently during the winter months. If you live around Flagstaff, Albuquerque, or Las Vegas, then this is especially a great pass for you, since all but two Power Pass resorts are in the Southwest. If you live in Albuquerque, for example, you’re within a few hours of several ski resorts.
What are the Power Pass options?
The Power Pass is the preeminent pass, offering unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at 9 mountains, plus access to Spider Mountain Bike Park, and 10 days at Valle Nevado and La Parva for those on the Power Pass and Power Pass Select. The Power Pass Select and Power Pass Core are a couple good options if you’ll primarily just be skiing at a handful of MCP’s resorts. Find out more on the Power Pass website.
- Power Pass. Unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at 9 mountains, plus 10 free days at Valle Nevado and La Parva. Other benefits include 6 online tickets at 35% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult passes for the 25/26 season launched at $749, younger adult passes start at $449.
- Power Pass Select. Unlimited skiing at Sandia Peak, Sipapu, Pajarito, Brian Head, Nordic Valley, and Willamette Pass — and you’ll get unlimited uplift access at Spider Mountain Bike Park through April 30, 2026. You also receive 12 restricted days to share between Snowbowl, Purgatory, and Lee Canyon. Unlimited uplift access at Spider Mountain Bike Park. Other benefits include 10 free days at Valle Nevado and La Parva, 6 online tickets at 35% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult pass for the 25/26 season launched at $549.
- Power Pass Core. Unlimited skiing at Hesperus, Sipapu and Pajarito. Some restricted skiing at Nordic Valley and Willamette Pass, along with 4 total restricted days to share between Purgatory, Snowbowl, Brian Head Resort, Lee Canyon and Spider Mountain Bike Park (blackout dates apply). Other benefits include 6 online tickets at 35% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult pass for the 25/26 season launched at $299.
- Weekday Power Pass. The Weekday Power Pass allows skiers and riders to enjoy the flexibility of skiing their home mountain plus 8 other Power Pass mountains on the weekdays they choose. Additionally, it features weekday bike uplifts at Spider Mountain. Benefits include Buy Now, Ski Now and 6 online tickets for 35% off.
- Power Kids Pass. Free for all kids 12 and younger, no strings attached, including no blackout dates. Note that the Power Kids Pass doesn’t have the benefits listed above with the other passes. Power Kids also includes unlimited access at Valle Nevado & La Parva during the 2025 season.
- Super Senior Pass. Free for guests 75 and older, featuring the same access as the Power Kids Pass.
What are the Power Pass benefits?
Like many of the major ski passes, the Power Pass comes with some nice benefits. A number of the passes include 3 free days (no blackout dates) at partner resorts. Other benefits of the Power Pass include rental, lesson, food, drink, and retail discounts. Several of the passes also have mountain bike benefits. This is particularly beneficial with the main Power Pass, as it includes unlimited access at Spider Mountain Bike Park. Like many of the other passes, the sooner you buy, the more you benefit.
Header image ©Valle Nevado
April 15, 2025
