The price to go skiing or snowboarding has been skyrocketing the past 5 to 10 years. Here is a great article on the subject from StormSkiing.com. The above screenshot is from their article. The price increases are at least partially due to the Ikon Pass and Epic Pass buying or partnering with almost all major mountain resorts in the United States. Peak season lift ticket prices at all the best resorts will be over $300 after tax for the 23/24 season, but there are a few ways to save some money. Since Faultline395 is from the Eastern Sierra, our knowledge is based on our experience with resorts in Mammoth and Tahoe, but I believe the pricing strategy is basically the same at all snow resorts these days.
The best and easiest way to save money on lift tickets is to order a season pass; you can get one for under $800 if you purchase in advance. With an Epic or Ikon pass you only have to hit the slopes 3-4 times and you will be saving money (compared to walk-up ticket window prices). If you do not own an Ikon or Epic pass and you plan to ski or ride Mammoth, Palisades, Northstar, Kirkwood or Heavenly during the 23/24 winter season, there are a few ways to save a few bucks on lift tickets. Our suggestions include skipping "peak season", planning ahead and purchasing lift tickets in advance, or utilizing the "bring a friend" deals.
The extremely high prices charged at the walk up ticket window are even higher around the Holidays, aka "peak season". You can expect to pay top dollar for a lift ticket around Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Presidents Day weekend. Hotels and Airbnb's also charge a premium that time of year, so expect to spend $1000+ per day on tickets and accommodation if you visit a ski resort town during the holidays. Planning to hit the slopes early in the season, before mid-December, or later in the season, closer to spring time, could say you hundreds of dollars a day.
There are a few ways to save on list tickets regardless of the time of year. The easiest way to save is with the "Bring a Friend" deals that Epic and Ikon pass holders can give to their friends. You can save upwards of 25% per day, even at the last second, if you have a friend with an Ikon or Epic pass. Check the mountain resort websites for details on how to score the deal. Another easy way to save on lift tickets is to buy 4-packs of lift tickets. Both passes offer similar deals, some of which are around $100 per day, and you do not have to use the tickets consecutively. The package ticket deals are a great option if you plan to ski or ride several times over the winter season. Ski resorts also offer daily lift tickets at steep discounts if you order in advance online. A little planning can save you a ton of money even on single day lift tickets, so just get online a few weeks before you want to slide on snow to save some dough.