Vail Resorts lift-ticket sales capped; buy your Epic Pass by Dec. 4

Ski season is already in swing at Vail Resorts in Breckenridge and Vail, Colorado; Park City, Utah; and others, and the last day to purchase Epic Passes is Dec. 4.

As it did during the 2020-2021 season, Vail Resorts will limit lift tickets daily across its 37 North American resorts, to "prioritize the on-mountain experience" for pass holders, the company said in a press release Nov. 21.

As a result, some resorts have already reached capacity for lift tickets on certain days.

Some resorts already have sold-out dates where lift tickets are no longer available to purchase online or at ticket windows.

Here's what we know about how this ski season will look across the network of Vail Resorts.

Lift-ticket sales again capped

Rather than massively overpaying by buying individual lift tickets at big-name resorts like Vail, Park City and Breckenridge, consider purchasing a ski pass of some sort — even one with a set number of days.

Another reason to consider a pass is that Vail Resorts is once again capping individual lift tickets, which have and will continue to sell out. Last year, Vail Resorts limited lift tickets across three holiday periods. This year, however, the company said that all passes, including Epic Day Passes, will not be restricted beyond any holiday dates associated with the purchased pass type.

Vail Resorts lift-ticket sales will be limited every day across every resort in order to preserve the guest experience.

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Lift-ticket availability will be visible on the resort websites; if tickets are sold out, you cannot make a purchase at the walk-up ticket windows either.

"If you know you'll ski and ride this season, even just a few days, don't wait to buy lift tickets," Ryan Bennett, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts, said in a press statement. "We have a variety of pass options so everyone can benefit from the value and flexibility that our passes offer. Whether you'll hit the slopes one day or every day, by purchasing now you'll avoid paying for full-priced lift tickets later."

Epic Pass not limited

An exception to the aforementioned limits, Epic Pass holders will have unbridled access to the slopes, as they are not limited in their ski days beyond any date restrictions associated with the pass.

Epic Day Pass and Epic Pass holders don't need to make a reservation this year; they aren't affected by capacity restrictions the way that individual lift-ticket skiers may be on certain dates.

Related: A powder hound in the making: 4 tips for taking your 1st ski trip as an adult

A one-day Epic Pass currently starts at $51 per adult (ages 13 and older) and $26 per child (ages 5-12) for access to 22 resorts, with per-day prices that decrease as the number of days on the pass increase.

Note that many Epic Passes also come with "Ski With a Friend" ticket vouchers, which you can share with friends and family for a discounted lift ticket.

Many ski resorts are already open

So far, six resorts have opened ahead of schedule for the 2022-2023 season, with the rest set to open next month, pending weather conditions:

• Oct. 28: Keystone (Colorado).
• Nov. 11: Breckenridge and Vail (Colorado).
• Nov. 12: Heavenly (California) and Northstar (California).
• Nov. 16: Park City (Utah).
• Nov. 18: Afton Alps (Minnesota), Hunter (New York), Stowe (Vermont) and Wildcat (New Hampshire).
• Nov. 19: Okemo (Vermont).
• Nov. 20: Mount Snow (Vermont).
• Nov. 23: Beaver Creek and Crested Butte (Colorado) and Mount Sunapee (New Hampshire).
• Nov. 24: Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia).
• Nov. 25: Seven Springs (Pennsylvania).
• Dec. 2: Kirkwood (California) and Stevens Pass (Washington).
• Dec. 3: Mt. Brighton (Michigan) and Wilmot (Wisconsin).
• Dec. 16: Big Boulder, Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail (Pennsylvania).
• Dec. 17: Alpine Valley (Ohio), Boston Mills/Brandywine and Mad River (Ohio), Hidden Valley and Snow Creek (Missouri) and Paoli Peaks (Indiana).
• Dec. 23: Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain (Pennsylvania).

New at Vail Resorts this season

This season, Vail Resorts is debuting 18 new chairlifts and gondolas.

Bottom line

Remember that all 2022-2023 Epic Pass holders save on their entire mountain experience through Epic Mountain Rewards, which includes 20% off on-mountain food and beverage, lodging, group ski-and-ride school lessons, equipment rentals and more.

The last day to purchase an Epic Pass is Dec. 4.

More than half of Vail Resorts properties across North America are already open for the season, thanks to Mother Nature.

Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner.