The 2026-27 Ski Pass Guide: Every Mountain Update, Addition, and Departure

September 11, 2026 · News

The 2026-27 ski season is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic in recent memory. Major pass coalitions have finalized their rosters, independent resorts have made bold moves, and new pass products have entered the market to challenge the status quo.

With FirstChair now tracking 500 mountains across 9 passes, here is your complete pass-by-pass breakdown of what changed, who joined, who left, and how to plan your season.

At a Glance: 2026-27 Pass Shifts

Indy Pass: Surpassing 300 Resorts Worldwide

The Indy Pass has officially entered its most ambitious season yet. Adding 60 new partner resorts across the globe, the coalition surpassed 300 total partner destinations for the first time in history. FirstChair now tracks 297 distinct Indy partner mountains.

Headline Addition: Smugglers' Notch

The crown jewel of Indy's 2026-27 expansion is northern Vermont icon Smugglers' Notch. Boasting 2,610 feet of vertical drop, three interconnected peaks, and the legendary Black Hole (Vermont's only marked triple-black diamond), Smuggs proves that a world-class resort can stay fiercely independent.

Indy Pass holders receive two days with zero blackout dates. To preserve the mountain's uncrowded slopes and Comfortable Carrying Capacity, all visits require an advance reservation.

Community Hills & Regional Favorites

Indy continues to champion affordable, community-owned ski hills that form the backbone of local winter sports:

• Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center (Adirondacks, NY): Saranac Lake's historic village-owned hill features 15 skiable acres, 329 feet of vertical, 100 percent snowmaking, and night skiing under the lights.

• Thrill Hills at Fort Ridgely (MN): Bringing accessible community skiing and winter recreation back to southern Minnesota.

• Domaine Skiable des Contamines (Mont-Blanc Region, France): Exceptional high-alpine freeriding and panoramic views of Mont Blanc.

The Nordic Expansion

Cross-country skiing saw a historic wave of additions on Indy this year, offering passholders groomed tracks and touring trails alongside alpine terrain:

• Whitehorse Nordic Centre (Yukon): Over 85 kilometers of world-class groomed trails in northern Canada.
• Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (NH): Tucked at the base of Mt. Washington with stunning Presidential Range vistas.

• The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park (MN): The urban Nordic home of the Loppet Foundation in Minneapolis, complete with snowmaking and lighted loops.

• Northern Maine Community Trails (ME): Four non-profit Nordic centers across Aroostook County.

• Sleepy Hollow Inn Ski & Bike Center (VT): 35 kilometers of classic and skate trails in the foothills of Huntington, Vermont.

Roster Promotions & Nordic Additions

• King Pine Ski Area (NH): Promoted from the discounted Indy AddOn program to a full Indy Pass partner with two free days.
• Dual Alpine & XC Operations: Separate cross-country operations are now listed at Jay Peak Resort (VT), Granby Ranch (CO), and Spirit Mountain (MN).

Snow Pass: The New Player in Town

The biggest structural news in the multi-mountain pass world is the launch of the Snow Pass by Snow Partners (the team behind Mountain Creek and Big SNOW American Dream).

Priced under $400 ($339.99 early bird / $399.99 standard), the pass provides two days at each of its 14 partner mountains, plus 30 percent off subsequent day tickets.

The New York Anchor

The Snow Pass lineup is anchored by New York State's premier Olympic and state-run mountains:

• Whiteface: The greatest vertical drop east of the Rockies (3,430 ft).
• Gore Mountain: Expansive Adirondack tree skiing spanning four separate peaks.
• Belleayre: Catskills favorite with modern high-speed lifts and dependable snow.

Complete 14-Mountain Roster

• New York: Belleayre, Gore Mountain, Whiteface, Oak Mountain, HoliMont
• Massachusetts: Ski Butternut, Blue Hills Ski Area
• New Jersey: Mountain Creek, Big SNOW American Dream
• Connecticut: Mount Southington
• Maine: Pleasant Mountain
• Nova Scotia: Ski Martock
• Colorado: Monarch Mountain
• Wyoming: Snow King Mountain

For skiers based in New York, Boston, or Philadelphia, the Snow Pass presents an unbeatable regional road-trip package without having to buy expensive Western-centric products.

Epic Pass: European Acquisitions & Expansions

Vail Resorts has focused its latest expansion moves on the European Alps. Following its acquisition of an 84 percent majority stake in Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in the Valais region of Switzerland, the resort has been fully brought into the Epic Pass network.

Crans-Montana delivers 4,593 feet of vertical drop, 140 kilometers of trails, and glacier skiing stretching up to 3,000 meters above sea level. This joins Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis in Switzerland, alongside an expanded European partner network spanning France (Les 3 Vallées), Italy (Skirama Dolomiti), and Austria (Ski Arlberg, Kitzbühel).

Ikon Pass: Departures, Clarifications, and Global Reach

The Ikon Pass continues to refine its premium resort network.

Windham Mountain Club Departs

The most significant North American roster change is the exit of Windham Mountain Club in New York's Catskills. As Windham transitions toward a semi-private luxury club model with capped daily ticket volumes, it has formally withdrawn from the Ikon Pass.

Roster Cleanups & Regional Independents

Several independent mountains historically linked with promotional arrangements have their pass profiles refreshed:

• Ski Butternut (MA): Now a core member of the new Snow Pass.
• Buck Hill (MN), Cranmore (NH), and Jiminy Peak (MA): Confirmed as independent partners not carrying standard Ikon access.

Core Strengths Retained

• Arapahoe Basin (CO): Now part of Alterra Mountain Company, A-Basin remains a marquee destination on Ikon and Ikon Base passes.
• Midwest Continuity: Great Lakes favorites Lutsen Mountains (MN), Granite Peak (WI), and Snowriver (MI) remain active on Ikon Pass products for 2026-27.
• Global Expansion: Ikon has deepened its international network, with European partner access at Ischgl (Austria) and Megève (France), plus expansive Japanese partner resorts including NEKOMA Mountain, APPI, and Furano.

Mountain Collective: A-Basin Departs, Bromont Arrives

The Mountain Collective pass underwent key adjustments ahead of 2026-27:

• Departure: Following Alterra's acquisition, Arapahoe Basin (CO) is no longer part of the Mountain Collective roster.
• Additions: Eastern Canada gains prominent representation with Bromont, Montagne d'Expériences in Quebec, alongside Megève in the French Alps.

Mountain Collective passholders continue to receive two days at each of its 33 member destinations, with 50 percent off additional days.

Powder Alliance: Streamlining to 18 Member Mountains

The Powder Alliance has streamlined its roster down to 18 core member mountains across the Western US and Canada.

Five Departures

Five resorts have exited the reciprocal pass coalition for 2026-27:

1. Castle Mountain Resort (Alberta)
2. Lost Trail Powder Mountain (Montana/Idaho)
3. Marmot Basin (Alberta)
4. Turoa (New Zealand)
5. Whakapapa (New Zealand)

(Note: All five departed resorts remain live on FirstChair so you can continue to log trips, track vertical, and favorite them).

The 18-Resort Active Core

The remaining coalition offers season passholders at any partner resort up to three free or discounted days at every other mountain in the alliance:

• California: Bear Valley, China Peak, Dodge Ridge, Mountain High, Mt. Shasta Ski Park, Sierra-at-Tahoe
• Colorado: Loveland Ski Area, Ski Cooper
• Pacific Northwest: Mt. Hood Skibowl, Timberline Lodge, Mission Ridge, White Pass
• Northern Rockies & Alaska: Blacktail Mountain (MT), Bogus Basin (ID), Silver Mountain (ID), Snow King Mountain (WY), Eaglecrest (AK), Angel Fire (NM)

Uphill New England: Dawn Patrol Network Reaches 26

For skinning and human-powered touring enthusiasts, Uphill New England continues to expand access to designated uphill routes across the Northeast.

For the 2026-27 season, the pass includes 26 participating ski areas, highlighted by three key additions:

• Burke Mountain (VT): Expansive Northeast Kingdom terrain with classic winding uphill routes.
• Ragged Mountain (NH): Accessible touring in central New Hampshire.
• Granite Gorge Mountain Park (NH): Reopened under fresh stewardship outside Keene, featuring active uphill community nights.

The single membership streamlines individual waivers and armbands, giving ski tourers simple digital check-in across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

Track Your 2026-27 Winter on FirstChair

Whether you are holding an Indy Pass, testing out the new Snow Pass, chasing powder with the Epic or Ikon passes, or skinning before sunrise with Uphill New England, FirstChair makes it easy to keep track of your season:

• Explore 500 Mountains: Filter by pass, region, night skiing, or uphill access.
• Log Days and Trips: Track your vertical drop, days skied, and resort bucket lists.
• Pass Comparison: See which passes cover your favorite local hills and dream road-trip destinations.

Check out the full mountain directory on the FirstChair home page or browse all nine pass lineups on our Passes overview.