Vail Resorts has raised the price of an Epic Pass for the 2022-23 ski season by 7%, but it will remain considerably cheaper than the rival Ikon Pass, according to pricing information released by Vail Resorts on Monday.

The Epic Pass for next season is selling at $841, while the Ikon Pass is $1,079. The Epic Local pass is $626; the comparable Ikon Base pass is $769. Alterra Mountain Company announced its Ikon Pass prices on March 3.

At this time last year, Vail Resorts announced it was slashing prices 20% for the 2021-22 Epic Pass, but in the early weeks of the season, many skiers and snowboarders complained the company had “oversold” passes. Critics said limited early season snow, compounded by staffing shortages, caused long lift lines and overcrowded slopes.

The Epic Pass now on sale is still $138 less than the Epic Pass price of two years ago.

Last week, Vail Resorts announced that it would increase its minimum wage by $5 to $20 per hour to address staffing issues. The company previously announced an “incremental $175 million investment” in its employees and $300 million in capital improvements for next season, including 21 new lifts at 14 of its 37 resorts. In Colorado, that will include a new bowl experience at Keystone, a new lift in Sun Down Bowl at Vail, an upgraded lift in Game Creek Bowl at Vail, and a new lift at Breckenridge.

The Bergman Bowl expansion at Keystone will add 555 acres of terrain (16 trails) served by a new six-person lift.

“We will not waiver in our commitment to continuously reinvest in the ski and ride experience with the goal of creating an experience of a lifetime for our pass-holders,” Ryan Bennett, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts, said in a news release announcing the new pricing structure.

Epic 2-Day passes will be $86 to $183, depending on levels of resort access. The 3-Day is going for $126 to $267 and the 4-Day will cost $162-$347.

Pass-holders who purchase early will receive 10 Buddy Tickets. Vail Resorts also is introducing Epic FlexPay, which will allow buyers to pay in monthly installments.

“The deferred payment option includes zero down payment, zero interest and, if purchased early, zero payments until September,” according to the release.

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