While most skiers and riders are no doubt familiar with the major ski passes, like Ikon Pass and Epic Pass, which we compare here, there are some great lesser-known ski passes. We’ve previously highlighted the Indy Pass, which features many of America’s smaller ski areas. For frequent travelers, The Mountain Collective is a great option. However, a relatively new ski pass, which you may not be familiar with is the Power Pass, which now features a total of 10 ski resorts.
Who owns the Power Pass?
Mountain Capital Partners (MCP) is a growing company out of Durango, Colorado, which has acquired a number of ski resorts and bike parks, most of which are in the Southwest. MCP’s ski resorts in the Southwest include Sipapu, Sandia Peak, and Pajarito in New Mexico, Arizona Snowbowl, Lee Canyon near Las Vegas, Brian Head and Nordic Valley in Utah, and Purgatory in Colorado. In the Pacific Northwest they operate Willamette Pass. MCP made news earlier this year when it became the majority owner of Valle Nevado, which has the largest amount of terrain in South America. MCP also owns Spider Mountain Bike Park, America’s first and only year-round lift-served mountain bike park, located 60 miles northwest of Austin, Texas.
Who is the Power Pass for?
The Power Pass is great for those who either live in the Southwest or travel to the Southwest frequently during the winter months. If you live around Flagstaff, Albuquerque, or Las Vegas, then this is especially a great pass for you, since all but two Power Pass resorts are in the Southwest. If you live in Albuquerque, for example, you’re within a few hours of several ski resorts.
What are the Power Pass options?
The Power Pass is the preeminent pass, offering unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at 10 mountains, plus access to Spider Mountain Bike Park. The Power Pass Select and Power Pass Core are a couple good options if you’ll primarily just be skiing at a handful of MCP’s resorts. Find out more on the Power Pass website.
- Power Pass. Unlimited and unrestricted skiing and riding at 10 mountains, plus 7 free days at Valle Nevado during its current season that started in June. Other benefits include 6 online tickets at 30% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult passes are currently $749, younger adult passes start at $449.
- Power Pass Select. Unlimited skiing at Brian Head, Sipapu, Nordic Valley, Pajarito, Hesperus, and Willamette Pass. 12 restricted days to share between Snowbowl, Purgatory, and Lee Canyon. Unlimited uplift access at Spider Mountain Bike Park. Other benefits include 7 free days at Valle Nevado, 6 online tickets at 30% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult pass is $549.
- Power Pass Core. Unlimited skiing at Hesperus, Sipapu and Pajarito. Some restricted skiing at Nordic Valley and Willamette Pass, along with 4 total restricted days to share between Purgatory, Snowbowl, Brian Head Resort, Lee Canyon and Spider Mountain Bike Park (blackout dates apply). Other benefits include 6 online tickets at 30% off, 3 free days at partner resorts, and 10% off on-mountain services. Adult pass is $299.
- Weekday Power Pass. New for 2024-25 is the Weekday Power Pass, which allows skiers and riders to enjoy the flexibility of skiing their home mountain plus 8 other Power Pass mountains on the weekdays they choose. Additionally, it features weekday bike uplifts at Spider Mountain. Benefits include Buy Now, Ski Now and 6 online tickets for 30% off.
- Power Kids Pass. Free for all kids 12 and younger, no strings attached, including no blackout dates. Note that the Power Kids Pass doesn’t have the benefits listed above with the other passes. However, if the Power Kids Pass is purchased before the end of the current ski season, it can be used for skiing through the end of the 2023-24 season with the Buy Now, Ski Now benefit.
- Super Senior Pass. Free for guests 75 and older. Like the kids pass, it has no additional benefits except for the Buy Now, Ski Now benefit.
What are the Power Pass benefits?
Like many of the major ski passes, the Power Pass comes with some nice benefits. A number of the passes include 3 free days (no blackout dates) at partner resorts, which include Loveland, Monarch, and Sundance. Note that the Power Pass Core comes with 3 free days only at Monarch Mountain, while the Power Pass Select comes with 3 free days at Monarch and Sundance. Power Pass and Power Pass Select passes comes with 7 free days during the current season at Valle Nevado.
Other benefits include rental, lesson, food, drink, and retail discounts. Several of the passes also have mountain bike benefits. This is particularly beneficial with the main Power Pass, as it includes unlimited access at Spider Mountain Bike Park. Like many of the other passes, the sooner you buy, the more you benefit. Those who buy a Power Pass early can enjoy skiing through the end of the 2023-24 ski season.
Payment Plans
Finally, Power Pass offers a no-interest payment play for all season passes. When purchasers elect a payment plan, the pass price is divided into equal monthly payment, and the pass can be used anytime while payments are being made.
Header image ©Valle Nevado
March 19, 2024
