Winter is starting to show itself. First flakes are already flying, opening dates are hitting calendars, and 26/27 is coming into focus around the world.
There’s more to seek this season, with new destinations across North America and Asia, more Bonus Mountains, fresh terrain, expanded snowmaking, new lifts, lodges, restaurants, benefits, and more ways to share winter. Across 70+ destinations worldwide, the map keeps getting better and the reasons to get out there keep stacking up.
This is your season to Seek Unique. Lock in your 26/27 Ikon Pass.
DEER VALLEY KEEPS EXPANDING
Deer Valley Resort
One of the largest ski resort expansions in history keeps getting bigger.
After effectively doubling its terrain over the last two seasons, Deer Valley Resort continues its Expanded Excellence vision for 26/27 with the new Hail Peak Express, opening access to another 200 skiable acres and seven new runs. With the latest additions, Deer Valley now spans 4,500 skiable acres served by 32 chairlifts.
There’s more for families to seek too. New snow feature zones bring rollers, berms, and gentle ski-cross elements to the mountain, creating playful places for younger and beginner skiers to build confidence while finding their flow.
Behind the scenes, a new 10-million-gallon reservoir will work alongside the Summit Pump House to support expanded snowmaking, with coverage now reaching 932 acres.
And Deer Valley is only one part of what’s changing across the Ikon Pass community.
MORE MOUNTAINS TO SEEK
Beidahu Ski Resort, China
3 NEW TO THE CREW IN ASIA
Three new destinations expand Ikon Pass deeper into Asia for 26/27, bringing new terrain, cultures, and entirely different ways to spend a winter day.
Madarao Mountain Resort, Japan
In northern Nagano, Madarao is a tree skier’s playground built around deep snow and natural terrain. With 60% of its terrain left ungroomed and one of Japan’s largest collections of tree-run terrain, it delivers a distinctly Japanese powder experience just a bullet train and short bus ride from Tokyo.
Beidahu Ski Resort, China
Set in the foothills of the Changbai Mountains, Beidahu combines dry powder, serious vertical, and terrain built for long days on snow. Its wind-protected setting helps create a lengthy winter season, while 74 trails, extensive lift infrastructure, and one of Asia’s largest night-skiing operations keep the mountain moving well beyond first chair.
Lake Songhua Resort, China
Just outside downtown Jilin City, Lake Songhua pairs mountain time with easy city access. Fifty runs spread across 2.4 million square meters of terrain, while its 1.2-kilometer VPARK brings a dedicated freestyle playground into the mix.
4 NEW DESTINATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA
Closer to home, four new destinations join the Ikon Pass community for 26/27, adding more ways to seek winter across British Columbia and the Midwest.
SilverStar Mountain Resort, British Columbia
Set in British Columbia’s Monashee Mountains, SilverStar brings wide-open views, a colorful ski-in, ski-out village, and plenty of mountain to explore. It’s a distinctly Canadian stop with its own personality from first chair through après.
Snowriver Mountain Resort, Michigan
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, winter shows up differently. Snow falls deeper, crowds thin out, and two distinct mountain areas, Jackson Creek Summit and Black River Basin, deliver plenty of room to roam with a free shuttle connecting the two.
Lutsen Mountains, Minnesota
At Lutsen Mountains, the landscape does most of the talking. Four peaks rise above the vast blue of Lake Superior, pairing big North Shore views with varied terrain, hidden glades, and a mountain experience that feels far beyond the Midwest.
Granite Peak, Wisconsin
Rising above the forests of central Wisconsin, Granite Peak brings big-mountain energy to the Midwest. Fast lifts, classic runs like Legends, and tree-lined terrain give Wisconsin’s largest ski area plenty to seek from first chair to last.
5 NEW BONUS MOUNTAINS
Five new Bonus Mountains join the lineup for 26/27, bringing the collection to 11 Bonus Mountains with 2 days of access at each. More places to ride, more reasons to hit the road.
Devil’s Head, Wisconsin
Set among the rolling terrain of Wisconsin, Devil’s Head adds another Midwest stop to the mix, with an approachable mountain feel built for laps with the whole crew.
Tamarack Resort, Idaho
Tamarack brings Idaho mountain time into the Bonus Mountain lineup, adding another western stop with plenty of room to ride, roam, and make a trip out of it.
Giants Ridge, Minnesota
Giants Ridge joins the Ikon Pass community with a distinctly northern Minnesota setting and terrain made for winter laps, from groomers to tree-lined runs.
Caberfae Peaks, Michigan
Surrounded by the Manistee National Forest, Caberfae Peaks pairs classic Northern Michigan character with varied terrain, reliable snow, and nearly 90 years of skiing history.
Snowy Range Ski Area, Wyoming
Set within Medicine Bow National Forest, Snowy Range brings a laid-back Wyoming experience with 27 trails, 990 feet of vertical, and approachable terrain for a wide range of skiers and riders.
NEW EXPANDED ACCESS
Arapahoe Basin
Ikon Base Pass holders now get unlimited access to Arapahoe Basin.
Snowmass
Ikon Base Pass holders get 5 days at Aspen Snowmass.
Aspen Snowmass
TERRAIN, TUNED UP
Some of the biggest changes on the mountain happen before you ever click in. For 26/27, destinations are reshaping terrain, opening up new lines, and creating better places to learn, progress, and explore.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Deer Valley keeps expanding for 26/27 with another 200 skiable acres and seven new runs opening around Hail Peak. New snow feature zones add rollers, berms, and gentle ski-cross elements too, creating playful terrain for younger and beginner skiers to build confidence and progress.
Tremblant, Quebec
At the base of Versant Soleil, Tremblant is introducing a dedicated new learning area built specifically for first-time skiers and riders. Gentle terrain and purpose-built infrastructure create a place to build confidence from the very first turns and progress into a bigger mountain experience.
Steamboat, Colorado
Maverick’s Halfpipe is getting smarter from the ground up. Steamboat is using excavated material from The Stockman development to reshape the base of the halfpipe in Bashor Bowl, reducing the amount of snow required to build it by 60% while helping the feature open earlier in the season.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is adding more room to progress and explore. Sunny’s Adventure Park brings a new beginner-focused experience with kid-friendly terrain and playful learning features, while 40 new acres of glades on Bald Mountain open even more lines for experienced skiers and riders.
Sugarloaf, Maine
Sugarloaf is adding two new conveyor lifts to its Learning Area, opening up more space on the Birches and creating a smoother setup for first turns and early progression.
SkiBig3: Lake Louise Ski Resort, Alberta
Lake Louise is opening up more ways to explore with new terrain in Grove Glade, expanded glades, and the full development of Pikaboo and Prunepicker.
NEKOMA Mountain, Japan
NEKOMA Mountain is expanding its tree-run zone with five distinct areas for a range of ability levels, bringing even more ways to seek out deep JAPOW through the forests of a national park.
Dolomiti Superski, Italy
Dolomiti Superski is adding new slopes and connections across its vast network, creating more terrain variety and smoother ways to move between mountain areas.
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing, British Columbia
Mike Wiegele is extending its popular Holiday Catski Camp by three weeks for 26/27, creating more opportunities for families to explore beyond the chairlift. The program runs December 19 through January 23, with dedicated Kids Cat-Ski experiences designed to build skills and confidence in the backcountry.
NEW LIFTS & GONDOLAS
Faster laps, smoother connections, and more ways up the mountain are coming for 26/27. New and upgraded lifts are ready to turn chairs across the Ikon Pass community.
Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Hail Peak Express joins Deer Valley’s growing lift network for 26/27, opening access to 200 new skiable acres and bringing the mountain to 32 chairlifts across 4,500 acres.
Aspen Mountain, Colorado
The new Nell Bell high-speed quad replaces the Bell Mountain and Little Nell lifts, creating a direct ride from Gondola Plaza to the top of Bell Mountain and faster access to some of Aspen Mountain’s signature terrain.
Snowbird, Utah
Snowbird is replacing the longtime Chickadee double with a new quad, alongside a regraded slope and realigned lift designed to create a better learning experience for newer skiers and riders.
Big Sky Resort, Montana
Explorer Gondola returns for its first full winter, connecting Mountain Village directly to the Lone Peak Tram with a high-speed, 10-person ride designed to make the journey up the mountain faster and smoother.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley adds two new chairlifts for 26/27, Lookout Express and Christmas, continuing a run of major lift upgrades across the mountain.
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mt. Bachelor is modernizing Northwest chairlift with upgraded electrical and operating systems designed to better handle ice and severe weather, improving long-term reliability and access to some of the mountain’s most sought-after expert terrain.
Alyeska Resort, Alaska
Alyeska is upgrading key pieces of its lift network, with improvements to Ted’s Express and the aerial tram designed to strengthen reliability across the mountain. The resort is also adding a new PistenBully 600 Winch snowcat to its grooming fleet.
Niseko United, Japan
Niseko United is dialing up uphill access with several major lift upgrades. The new Shin Mori-no Gondola will nearly double capacity with 86 cabins, while Wonderland moves from a single to a double chair. At Grand Hirafu, a new high-speed four-person Ace No. 3 chair will more than double capacity through the mid-mountain area.
Zermatt Matterhorn, Switzerland
Zermatt debuts a new six-seat Pattrularve chairlift, replacing the existing lift with a faster, more comfortable ride through Matterhorn Ski Paradise.
Valle d’Aosta, Italy
Three new 10-passenger gondolas arrive across Courmayeur Mont Blanc and La Thuile, replacing four existing lifts and making it easier to move through two of Valle d’Aosta’s iconic ski areas.
Dolomiti Superski, Italy
Four new gondolas and five new lifts are coming across Dolomiti Superski, increasing uphill capacity, shortening travel times, and making it even easier to roam its vast network.
Ischgl, Austria
Ischgl adds three new eight-seat chairlifts across the Silvretta Arena, complete with heated seats and weather-protection hoods, while the Samnaun tram gets a new generation of cabins.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz has completely overhauled its trams after 40 years of operation, along with major station upgrades designed to improve comfort and accessibility across the mountain.
MORE SNOW & SAFETY ON TAP
Deer Valley Resort, Utah
Deer Valley is adding serious snowmaking muscle with a new 10-million-gallon reservoir working alongside the Summit Pump House. The expanded system supports snowmaking across 932 acres, helping more of the mountain get ready when temperatures drop.
June Mountain, California
June Mountain is adding more than 8,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe, bringing more reliable coverage from the Chalet all the way to the parking lot and helping create more consistent conditions throughout the season.
Winter Park Resort, Colorado
Winter Park continues its multi-year rebuild of snowmaking infrastructure with additional automated fan guns, mobile guns, and system improvements. The upgrades support earlier-season snowmaking, double capacity on Lower Hughes, and improve water-use efficiency.
Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
Solitude keeps pushing for Utah’s longest ski and ride season with another multi-million-dollar snowmaking investment. New fixed and mobile snow guns, along with system-wide upgrades, will increase both coverage and capacity across the mountain, building on a massive investment in snowmaking improvements last season.
Brighton, Utah
Brighton’s Snake Creek snowmaking project comes online for 26/27, bringing more reliable early-season coverage and helping terrain open sooner while keeping conditions dialed throughout winter.
Loon Mountain, New Hampshire
Loon Mountain is upgrading snowmaking in East Basin and North Peak with new infrastructure and high-efficiency snow guns designed to make the most of cold-weather windows, bring terrain online sooner, and keep conditions more consistent throughout the season.
SkiBig3, Alberta
Across SkiBig3, Lake Louise is adding snowmaking on Richardson’s Ridge while Mt. Norquay upgrades its snowmaking infrastructure, helping deliver more consistent conditions across the season.
More Snowmaking Across North America
Blue Mountain, Alyeska Resort, Copper Mountain, and Sun Valley are dialing up snowmaking too. New and upgraded guns, pipelines, pumps, automation, and other infrastructure are helping teams make the most of cold-weather windows, improve efficiency, and bring more reliable early-season coverage to the mountain.
More Snowmaking Across Europe
Across Europe, snowmaking is getting a boost too. Kitzbühel is adding a new reservoir for greater snow reliability, while Dolomiti Superski is expanding snowmaking systems and water storage across its network.
Safety First in California
When natural snow goes big, new remote avalanche mitigation technology at Palisades Tahoe, Mammoth Mountain, and June Mountain gives patrol teams more tools to manage conditions safely and efficiently during major storms.
NEW PLACES TO LAND + REFUEL
New and reimagined lodges, lounges, restaurants, and slopeside stays bring better places to land, linger, and refuel.
Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
A Snowmass favorite returns after a $42 million transformation. The new 26,000-square-foot Ullrhof more than doubles capacity to 600+ guests and brings four concepts under one roof: Ullr Market, Ullr Signature Restaurant, Ullr Bar, and Ullr Grill. It also becomes Aspen Snowmass’ first all-electric on-mountain restaurant.
Steamboat, Colorado
New Steamboat Hospitality brings a wider collection of hotel rooms and slopeside condos together in one place, making it easier to find and book a stay across Steamboat Springs.
Alta Ski Area, Utah
Alta’s Albion base area gets a new gathering place with the expanded Albion Day Lodge, adding 3,400 square feet of dining space, extended patio seating, a fireplace lounge, lockers, and a larger home for Alta Java with indoor and outdoor service.
Snowbasin, Utah
The new Meadow Pavilion gives guests another place to warm up, grab lunch, and regroup between laps. Big mountain views and a dedicated home base for ski school make it an especially welcome addition for families.
Brighton, Utah
Two Brighton favorites are getting fresh flavors for 26/27. Milly Chalet becomes a Mexican-inspired counter-service spot, while Wasatch Mountain Lodge welcomes Snow Blossom Bistro with noodles, sushi, and other Asian-inspired dishes.
Big Sky Resort, Montana
Iglu returns bigger this winter at the base of the Lone Peak Tram, now with easier pedestrian access from Explorer Gondola. Grant Achatz and M by The Alinea Group return for a second season too, bringing another round of high-alpine dining to Big Sky.
Mammoth Mountain, California
A fresh restaurant concept is coming to The Westin Monache at Mammoth. Apricity reimagines both the space and the menu with an open floor plan, seafood, family-style entrees, and seasonal specials built for gathering after a day on the mountain.
Stratton, Vermont
A new slopeside lounge brings an elevated home base to guests with Stratton’s premium Black Bear Pass. Set above Guest Services, the club pairs floor-to-ceiling mountain views and an outdoor deck with a wood-burning fireplace, full restaurant, and bar.
Sugarloaf, Maine
Bullwinkle’s is adding a new iglu experience, giving the popular ski-in, ski-out restaurant another slopeside spot to settle in and take in the view.
SkiBig3: Banff Sunshine, Alberta
Banff Sunshine brings back the GOAT Club après venue and adds a new Coco Lab coffee and hot chocolate bar at Goat’s Eye Lodge, along with expanded cocktails and refreshed dining at Centennial Day Lodge.
Valemount Lodge, CMH
CMH Valemount Lodge, British Columbia
One of CMH’s most coveted private heli-ski experiences gets a full refresh for 26/27. CMH Valemount Lodge debuts 10 completely renovated modern guestrooms, exceptional hospitality, and access to more than 400 backcountry runs, all with a personal helicopter waiting outside.
RED Mountain, British Columbia
The Daly debuts this winter at the base of RED Mountain, bringing new ski-in, ski-out lodging with modern alpine design, an outdoor pool, hot tub, and immediate access to the mountain and Rossland.
NEKOMA Mountain, Japan
NEKOMA Mountain is adding more than 300 slopeside accommodations in its South Area, creating a bigger ski-in, ski-out base for longer stays and deeper exploration.
Niseko United, Japan
Moxy Niseko Village debuts in late 2026 at the foot of Mount Yōtei, bringing contemporary design, lively communal spaces, craft cocktails, and a terrace built for the après side of the trip.
Furano Ski Resort, Japan
Shin Furano Prince Hotel is adding a new outdoor terrace with fire pits and table seating, creating a fresh spot for après, stargazing, BBQs, and beer gardens.
Dolomiti Superski, Italy
At Passo San Pellegrino, a new bar and restaurant opens near the base station of the Col Margherita tram, adding another place to refuel between Dolomites laps.
NEW WAYS TO SAVE
Loon Mountain
More ways to seek winter also means more ways to make the season work for your crew and your budget.
For 26/27, new savings and purchase options include Child Pass savings, Squad Pack, and refundable Ikon Pass and Ikon Base Pass options available for purchase at checkout.
Save on Unlimited Child Passes
Winter goes deeper when you share it. Save up to $100 on every Child Pass, ages 5–12, with the purchase of one Adult Ikon Pass. It’s the best family pricing mountains-wide, making it easier to build a winter full of family fun.
Squad Pack
A fresh offering for riders ages 23–28, the new Squad Pack lets one person buy five Ikon Base Passes for $800 each, a $219 savings per pass. Same crew. Same pass. More shared laps. Age validation required.
PASS HOLDER PEAK PERKS, BACK FOR MORE
The good stuff is sticking around. Returning pass holder benefits include Friends & Family lift ticket discounts, food and beverage savings at participating destinations, and Peak Perks from brands including The North Face, Smartwool, icebreaker, Kiehl’s and more.
And the lineup isn’t finished yet. More pass holder benefits are in the works for later this season.
WINTER IS LOADING
Lock in your Ikon Pass now at the lowest price of Fall before prices go up after October 8, then get ready to plot a season that looks different from anyone else’s.
OPENING DATES
Winter is getting closer around the world. These destinations are currently targeting some of the earliest starts in each region:
CALIFORNIA
Mammoth Mountain: November 13
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Crystal Mountain + Schweitzer: November 27
ROCKIES
Copper Mountain: November 6
EAST
Sunday River: November 15
CANADA
Sun Peaks Resort: November 21
EUROPE
Zermatt Matterhorn: October 1
ASIA
Mona Yongpyong: November 20
See the latest opening dates across the Ikon Pass community as more destinations announce their plans.
Note: opening dates are targeted and subject to change based on weather and conditions. For the most up-to-date information, always check directly with the destination you’re planning to visit.
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