Ski passports for 2025-26, free or almost free, 4th, 5th, and/or 6th grades in selected regions

[marzNC]

I know it's early for families to plan ski trips for the upcoming season, but for those with kids in elementary school it's better to be aware of "ski passports" sooner rather than later. Many passports are only available during the fall. Most are available regardless of where people live. For example, the Utah passport is not restricted to Utah residents. In general, need to plan ahead.

To get an idea of what may be available, here's the related info for 2024-25:

Ski passports for 2024-25, free or almost free, 4th, 5th, and/or 6th grades in selected regions

Parents with kids in elementary school may be able to take advantage of "ski passports" depending on the region where they plan to ski/board in 2024-25. Most are available regardless of where people live. For example, the Utah passport is not restricted to Utah residents. In general, need to...

www.theskidiva.com

Epic SchoolKids registration is open. There are programs for Colorado, Utah, and Whistler-Blackcomb that provide a few days of free lift access to kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade. There are holiday blackout dates that vary depending on location. No purchase of an adult Epic pass is required. For Park City, a free first-timer lesson and rental package can be set up in advance once per child. The Colorado program provides to most days (4 days at each Epic resort in CO), but also requires in-person registration.

Epic SchoolKids | Epic Season Pass

With the Epic SchoolKids program, kids in Colorado, Utah, Washington, and Canada can ski and snowboard for free at local Epic resorts. Register now!

www.epicpass.com

 

[Skac1919]

Thanks for posting this earlier thread… I had forgotten this is the year for Adirondacks with the 3rd and 4th grader! Any thoughts about how conditions will be for Christmas week in NY?

 

[marzNC]

For NY skiing, I follow NYSkiBlog. The Conditions threads for a given mountain are on-going across seasons. The current threads all started several years ago when that forum switched to Xenforo (same as TSD). Are you thinking Whiteface or Gore or ?

Here's a link to the start of the Whiteface posts for 2024-25:

Whiteface Conditions

They are closed for the fall. Usually when they are closed, they close the gate at the beginning of the bridge. Meaning you can't drive right in - not sure what would happen if you walked around. I would send an email or call ahead to be sure - I have to imagine the front desk is open as people...

nyskiblog.com

@Olesya C has been skiing Whiteface during Thanksgiving weekend in recent years.

 

[marzNC]

I had forgotten this is the year for Adirondacks with the 3rd and 4th grader!

Based on the info for last season, there are mountains that have blackout dates during Christmas week and the holiday weekends in Jan, Feb. The ORDA mountains--Whiteface, Gore, Belleayre--are unrestricted.

NY Kids Passport:

 

[Tvan]

Sidebar: the elementary school in my town has less than 100 kids and every Wednesday during ski season, they put them on a bus and spend the afternoon at the cross country ski facility owned by the college. I love Vermont.

 

[marzNC]

Pennsylvania is going all out to help 4th and 5th grade kids and their parents have fun outdoors. Instead of just having a pass for skiing, there is now a pass for outdoor activities in general. At Blue Mountain and Camelback, the pass is good in the summer and the winter since those are 4-season resorts. There are eight ski hills/resorts for snowsports.

Get one use for each activity during the Use Year, which is Sept. 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026.

PA Outdoor Adventure Pass

The PA Outdoor Adventure Pass for 4th & 5th graders turns any day into an adventure when Pennsylvania’s best outdoor experiences are at your fingertips.

paoutdooradventure.com

 

[marzNC]

The NY Ski Passport applications will be available starting in October 2025.

SKI NY Ski & Ride Passport Program | SANY - SKI AREAS OF NEW YORK, INC

The 2025-26 SKI NY Free for Kids Passport Program For 3rd, 4th & 5th Graders 2025-26 Passport Program applications will be accepted soon and we take the applications all season long! To be put on our notification list send an email to [email protected] requesting that. We will notify you when...

www.iskiny.com

 

[marzNC]

Sidebar: the elementary school in my town has less than 100 kids and every Wednesday during ski season, they put them on a bus and spend the afternoon at the cross country ski facility owned by the college. I love Vermont.

Taos has a program for local elementary schools too. Not only provides the bus, also rental gear as I understand it. No cost to the families. There is some fundraising involved for expenses as I understand it.

What Vermont has that's unique when it comes to families who want to learn to ski is Cochran's. A Family Season Pass is $295 for everyone, no matter how many kids. Can choose to donate when buying a family pass to cover the cost for another family who can't afford it. Or request a price reduction based on financial need.

 

[marzNC]

For families who ski in the southwest, worth considering the Power Pass resorts, which are owned by Mountain Capital Partners (MCP). Kids 12 and under can get a season pass for free! Arizona Snowbowl and Purgatory are perhaps the best known outside the region.

Brian Head in southern Utah has grand expansion plans so could be a good destination for a family ski vacation. Has slopeside lodging and an actual town that pre-dates the ski resort. The elevation is quite high, over 9000 ft. That's good for snow preservation in the spring but for people who don't adjust well to sleeping that high, that can be an issue.

 

[marzNC]

The Colorado ski passport is $72 for grades 3-6 and $67 for grades K-2. Provides 4 days at resorts that are members of Colorado Ski Country, which doing marketing for their members. Note that Vail Resorts left CSCUSA around the time VR started buying resorts outside Colorado in earnest.

Kids Ski Passport | 76 Days of Skiing for Students Grades K–6

Ski for less with the Ski Passport! Students in grades K–6 get four days at 19 Colorado resorts. Family fun without breaking the bank.

www.coloradoski.com

There is also a GEMS pass for teens that offers 2 days at 10 CSCUSA member resorts.

 

[marzNC]

Fifth graders can get a Vermont passport for $35. Good for checking out alpine mountains as well as cross-country ski areas. Sales start this week.

 

[marzNC]

The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) should be selling their ski passport for 4th and 5th graders soon. Need to have the app. Provides up to three free lift tickets at 29 ski areas, but must be with an adult who also pays for lift access. There are bonus coupons for 20% off for buying a helmet or $20 off when spending $100+ at participating ski shops. Michigan doesn't have mountains with much vertical, but it gets plenty of cold for snowmaking as well as lake-effect snow.

MSIA Cold is Cool Passport

Cold is Cool - Fourth and Fifth Graders ski free in Michigan, sponsored by Michigan Snowsports Industries Association.

www.goskimichigan.com

 

[marzNC]

The Colorado ski passport is $72 for grades 3-6 and $67 for grades K-2. Provides 4 days at resorts that are members of Colorado Ski Country, which doing marketing for their members. Note that Vail Resorts left CSCUSA around the time VR started buying resorts outside Colorado in earnest.

Kids Ski Passport | 76 Days of Skiing for Students Grades K–6

Ski for less with the Ski Passport! Students in grades K–6 get four days at 19 Colorado resorts. Family fun without breaking the bank.

www.coloradoski.com

There is also a GEMS pass for teens that offers 2 days at 10 CSCUSA member resorts.

I didn't realized that K-2 is new for Colorado Ski Country for 2025-26. There is no residency requirement, so families interested in traveling to Colorado might want to check out which resorts are included. Vail Resorts pulled out of Colorado Ski Country a while back, so no Epic resorts are on the list.

Monarch, Powderhorn, Purgatory, and Sunlight are in the midst of multi-year major upgrade projects to lifts and snowmaking. Might be worth keeping in mind for 2026 and beyond.

August 2025

Colorado Ski Country USA Kids Ski Passport Expands to Now Include Grades K-6

With Budget-Friendly Multi-Mountain Pass Options, Colorado Ski Country USA Resorts Welcome Skiers and Riders With a Mountain for Everyone

media.coloradoski.com

"
Denver, CO — Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) is proud to announce a major expansion of its longstanding Ski Passport program to include kindergarten through second grade students. With the addition of grades K through 2 to the program, the Ski Passport now welcomes all elementary-aged children—grades K–6—to experience the joy of skiing and snowboarding and build lasting memories on the mountain.

"This program now provides a seven-year on-ramp to the sport for kids and their families at an accessible price point," said Colorado Ski Country USA President and CEO, Melanie Mills. "From first turns to lifelong traditions, the family-favorite Ski Passport is where it all begins."

The K-6 Ski Passport is an open invitation to explore the outdoors, embrace winter adventure, and connect with loved ones in the fresh mountain air. With passes that grow with your kids, families can now spend more time on the slopes, together.

"This expansion is all about planting the seeds for a lifelong love of the mountains," continued Mills. "We’re proud to help families share experiences that span generations. This is an investment by Colorado Ski Country USA resorts in childhood, in shared family experiences, and in the future of skiing and snowboarding."
. . .

 

[marzNC]

as the start of the season approaches.

The free ski passport programs for kids typically either sell out or go away by Thanksgiving.