How far can an Epic Pass take you? This skier tested it at 66 mountains

Grace Donner set out to see how far one Epic Pass could take her and finished the season after skiing 66 mountains across five countries.

For skiers and snowboarders considering an Epic Pass, Donner’s unusually ambitious season offers a useful lesson: getting value from a pass doesn’t require following her around the world. A few trips to a nearby mountain, a bigger ski vacation, or a combination of both can shape how much use you get from the pass.

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How Grace Donner skied 66 mountains on one Epic Pass

Donner’s itinerary stretched from destinations including Switzerland, Japan, and Australia — among many others. But one of the most personal parts of the journey was much closer to where she started skiing.

A Minnesota native who learned at Afton Alps, Donner joined her dad for a road trip to nine Midwest resorts in eight days across five states. The trip gave them time together on the slopes while bringing Donner back to the region where she first learned to ski. Her travels also showed how much the experience of the sport can change from one destination to another.

“There are so many cool places one Pass can take you and ski culture looks completely different across the world. It’s important to lean into it wherever you are to learn how and why others experience it differently!” Donner said.

What you get with an Epic Pass

Epic Pass is a multi-resort ski and snowboard season pass that offers unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail Resorts’ 42 owned and operated mountains, plus additional access at partner resorts worldwide.

Partner access varies by Pass product; that distinction matters when choosing among pass options. Rather than counting how many resorts are available in total, start with the mountains you realistically expect to visit and how often you plan to ski or ride.

Donner’s 66-mountain itinerary represents the far end of what a ski season can look like, not a benchmark travelers need to match.

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How young skiers can save on Epic Pass

Price is also part of the calculation.

Adults ages 18 to 30 can save 20% on an Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass. For the 2026/27 season, ages 13 to 30 save 20% on Epic Pass compared with young adult pricing.

Passholders can also use Epic Mountain Rewards for 20% off eligible food, lodging, group lessons, rentals, and more; those benefits can make lift access only one part of the math when planning a ski trip.

The practical approach is to choose the pass that matches the mountains you intend to visit and the number of days you are likely to ski or ride. For some travelers, that might mean regular laps at their local resort. For others, it can mean adding a bucket-list destination to the season.

And if Donner’s trip proves anything, a single ski season can cover a lot of ground.

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This article originally appeared on 10Best.com: How far can an Epic Pass take you? This skier tested it at 66 mountains

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