Getting kids into skiing and snowboarding doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of dollars on season passes. Across the country, several ski associations offer remarkably affordable programs that give young skiers access to dozens of days at participating mountains for less than $100.
These aren’t traditional season passes with unlimited skiing at one resort. Instead, they’re multi-mountain passports that provide a certain number of lift tickets at each participating ski area, giving families an inexpensive way to explore different mountains throughout the winter.
For the 2026-27 ski season, four programs stand out, with prices starting at just $29 and access ranging from 36 to 90 potential days on snow.
1. Colorado Ski Country USA Passport: 76 Days for $76
Colorado’s Ski Country USA Ski Passport offers one of the most generous deals in the country. For $76, students in kindergarten through sixth grade receive four days of skiing or snowboarding at each of 19 participating Colorado ski areas.
That adds up to a potential 76 days on the mountain for roughly $1 per day if every available ticket is used.
Participating mountains include Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Copper Mountain, Winter Park, Steamboat, Telluride, Loveland, Arapahoe Basin and several smaller ski areas.
The program, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this season, is available to eligible students regardless of where they live. Each passport also includes two complimentary junior daily rental packages from Christy Sports.
There are restrictions during Christmas week and the Martin Luther King Jr. and Presidents Day holiday weekends. Passport sales are scheduled to end January 31, 2027, unless they sell out earlier, and pricing is subject to change.
2. Ski Vermont Fifth Grade Passport: Up to 90 Days for $40
Vermont’s Fifth Grade Passport offers fifth graders an impressive collection of skiing opportunities for just $40 plus tax.
The passport includes three lift ticket vouchers at each of 20 participating alpine ski areas, providing up to 60 days of downhill skiing or snowboarding. It also includes 30 cross-country skiing day passes, bringing the total to as many as 90 days on snow.
The program is open to fifth graders from any state, not just Vermont residents, and includes access to a variety of mountains across the state.
There is one important condition for families planning to use the passport: children must ski with an adult who holds a valid lift ticket or season pass. One adult can accompany up to two passport holders.
Some participating ski areas also offer discounted adult lift tickets when a child redeems a voucher, potentially reducing the cost of the outing for the entire family.
Blackout dates and redemption requirements vary by mountain, and applications must be approved before the passport can be used.
3. Idaho Peak Season Passport: Up to 54 Days for $29
Idaho’s Peak Season Passport is another exceptional deal, especially for families with fifth- or sixth-grade students.
Fifth graders receive three complimentary ski or snowboard days at each of 18 participating mountains, for a maximum of 54 days. Sixth graders receive two days at each resort, giving them up to 36 days on the slopes.
The passport costs just $29 through December 20, with the price increasing to $49 beginning December 21.
Participating destinations include Sun Valley, Schweitzer, Bogus Basin, Brundage Mountain, Tamarack, Silver Mountain, Soldier Mountain and Grand Targhee.
As with the Colorado program, children do not need to live in Idaho to qualify. Any eligible fifth- or sixth-grade student can apply, and Ski Idaho also accepts qualifying children from outside the United States.
The 2026-27 passport program introduced tiered pricing this season, but even at the higher $49 rate, the available mountain access represents substantial savings over purchasing individual lift tickets.
A parent or guardian must accompany the child, and individual resorts may impose blackout dates or restrictions during races and special events.
4. Ski Utah Passport: Up to 42 Days for $79
The Ski Utah Passport gives students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades three days of skiing or snowboarding at each participating resort for $79.
The program currently includes 14 operating mountains for the 2026-27 season, providing as many as 42 days on the slopes. Ski Utah’s promotional materials still reference 15 resorts and 45 days, but Eagle Point is closed this winter because of damage from the Cottonwood Fire.
Participating destinations include Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Snowbasin, Solitude, Park City Mountain, Deer Valley, Powder Mountain and Sundance. Families should note that Alta and Deer Valley do not permit snowboarding.
The passport is available to qualifying students regardless of their home state, and the price increases to $99 on December 1, before any applicable taxes.
Blackout dates vary by mountain. Brian Head, Cherry Peak, Nordic Valley, Snowbasin and Solitude have no passport blackout dates for the season, while nine other participating destinations restrict access during several major holiday periods.
Families can review the resort-specific restrictions and redemption instructions before planning their trips.
Affordable Skiing Still Takes Some Planning
While these programs offer extraordinary value, the advertised number of days represents the maximum available if a child visits every participating mountain enough times to use every ticket.
Families still need to account for transportation, equipment, lessons, lodging and any required adult lift tickets. Some mountains also have holiday restrictions, reservation requirements or additional charges for lift-ticket cards.
For families who live near several participating resorts, however, these passports can dramatically reduce the cost of introducing children to skiing and snowboarding. Even using a fraction of the available days could provide considerable savings compared with purchasing individual lift tickets throughout the season.
