The alarm pierced the pre-dawn silence at 4 a.m., and I was already questioning my life choices. Another alpine start to beat the infamous canyon traffic heading to Utah’s ski resorts. But today was different. I was pointing my beat-up Honda Element northeast instead of southeast, driving past Logan and up the empty canyon road to Beaver Mountain, where I could use my Indy Pass.
Despite the early start, things went better than I’d expected. There was no traffic. The parking lot was totally deserted. Confusion overwhelmed me. Was the resort closed? Didn’t people know it was a pow day? Where was the powder panic?
I got an old-school wicket day pass from a rosy-cheeked woman at the ticket office. Then, I was ready for a day of deep turns to come — with no lift lines and very few other people to share the stashes with.
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Skiing on the Indy Pass feels like I’ve stepped into a time machine and gone back about 25 years. I can’t promise everyone that every powder day at any of the 230+ mountains on the Indy Pass will be as uncrowded and stress-free as my days at Beaver Mountain were last winter. But I can promise that it will change your riding experience. Having so many options at so many small resorts makes for a distinctly unique ski season.
The Indy Pass has carved out its own niche by partnering with independent ski areas across North America. You get 2 days at each participating resort, with options for adding days at a discount.
In short: The Indy Pass is for skiers who want an alternative to mega-resort passes or overpriced exclusive mountains. It offers variety, flexibility, and value. It has a globe-spanning roster of partner resorts and a dedication to maintaining mom-and-pop vibes at all of them. You only get 2 days at each resort on the pass, which can feel limiting. But it is also an encouragement to get out and experience other small, independent mountains that you otherwise never would have visited.
- 230+ partner resorts:
- 2 days/resort:
- $419 w/ blackout dates:
- $539 w/o blackout dates:
Pros
- Incredible value
- Supports local independent ski areas
- Exploration/road tripping
- Less crowding
- Less lines
- Forces you to slow down
Cons
- Uneven geography
- Only two days per resort
- Inconsistency in partners from season to season
- Gradually rising cost
- More money/time spent on travel
- Forces you to slow down
Indy Pass Review
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It’s All in the Family
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Independent … But Not Necessarily Small
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Thinner Crowds, Chiller Vibes
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