For almost every western state, it’s been a weird, frustrating ski season that’s rapidly approaching its last leg. Thanks to the heat, ski resorts from California to Colorado are closing shop early, leaving a chairlift-sized hole in our hearts.
We’re optimists, though. And we like cheap skiing.
While your options are far fewer than they would be during a more normal season, several spring ticket and pass deals could make venturing back into the mountains for a last hurrah (or three) worth your time. The party’s not over yet.
Here’s where to score inexpensive turns before the season winds down.
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Courtesy Timberline Lodge
Timberline Spring Pass
The Timberline Lodge, Oregon, spring pass is the stuff of legend. For one, it’s cheap, coming in at only $219, or less than you’d pay for a lift ticket at some ski resorts. The access, too, is good, lasting all the way until May 25, 2026.
Then, there’s the skiing itself. Timberline Lodge, like almost every ski resort out West, hasn’t seen a ton of snow this season (as of early April, the snowpack was well below average). But several lifts remain open, and Timberline, as any local can tell you, has a certain incalculable “vibe,” particularly as the weather warms up. This place was built for spring skiing.
Throw some slushy terrain park laps into the mix, and you have the recipe for a good time. Plus, if you book a midweek queen room for $470 at Timberline Lodge, you can get two spring passes for free. That deal is good until May 11.
Photo: Courtesy Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe Season Pass Deal
Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Nevada, knows its audience. Following the March heat dome, ski resorts around Lake Tahoe dropped like flies. Presumably, that left some skiers stranded. With the resort where they bought a season pass closed, they might, understandably, be inclined to throw in the towel altogether.
A $60 lift ticket sounds pretty enticing, though. Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe is offering that deal to anyone who shows their season pass from another mountain at the ticket window. It comes out to around 50% off, which, we think, is a good enough excuse to get out and ski for another day or two. For kids, the deal is even better, costing only $30.
Bear in mind that the end of Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe’s season is coming up fast: the resort closes on Sunday, April 19.
Photo: Courtesy Brian Head Resort
Lift Tickets Are Back on the Menu
Speaking of lift tickets, now is the time to reconsider what you know.
With the arrival of mega passes, ticket prices have skyrocketed, reaching prices of $200 or more. These days, many skiers wouldn’t even think about dropping that much on a lift ticket. Instead, they opt to lean on their pass.
But now that it’s spring, those ticket prices have dropped considerably. At Mammoth Mountain, California, some midweek days have crept below the $100 mark into more reasonable territory. The story is the same at Palisades Tahoe, California.
Camelback Resort, Pennsylvania, yes, Pennsylvania, is operating on weekends throughout April and into May (conditions permitting). Lift tickets are just $50, a considerable discount from the $139 midseason price.
Another spot with cheaper lift tickets is Crystal Mountain, Washington, which also has a kids-ski-free special running this month.
One of the best ticket options we could find was at Brian Head, Utah, where they start as low as $14 (no kidding!), depending on the day. Out East, Loon Mountain, New Hampshire, and Sunday River, Maine, also have some good-looking ticket calendars.
While this might not have been true in the middle of winter, it’s now worth scoping ticket prices. At some resorts, they won’t hit your wallet too hard anymore.
Photo: Lucas Herbert/Arapahoe Basin
Ikon Pass Spring Access
If you already bought an Ikon Pass or Ikon Base Pass for next winter, you might be able to ski for free the rest of this season. The deal applies to 2026-27 Ikon Passes and includes a select number of ski resorts.
While some of those mountains have already closed, many, like Snowbird, Utah, and Mammoth Mountain, California, are still running. Using your 2026-27 Ikon Pass this spring also doesn’t deduct dates from next season. It’s a little window of bonus time.
Of course, this doesn’t benefit skiers with a 2025-26 Ikon Pass—they can already ski at these resorts. But for those making the jump to the Ikon program, the immediate spring access adds more bang for their buck. And it’s an excuse to keep the season going a little longer.
These are the mountains where the rollover applies (some may be closed by the time you read this, so check their websites before planning a trip).
- Arapahoe Basin
- Blue Mountain, Canada
- Crystal (Ikon Pass only)
- June Mountain
- Mammoth Mountain
- Palisades Tahoe
- Solitude
- Stratton
- Sugarbush
- Tremblant
- Winter Park
Hanne Lundin
Banff Area Spring Passes
You may have heard the word that somewhere, near Banff, Alberta, all this lousy ski season business was nothing more than a bad dream. You heard right. The town’s two major ski resorts, Banff Sunshine Village and Lake Louise, still have plenty of snow. They also have spring passes.
Lake Louise’s option is a tad cheaper, coming in around $500, but it also has less access because Lake Louise closes on May 3. Banff Sunshine Village’s slightly costlier $525 spring pass includes a good bit more skiing, offering access all the way through May 18.
Now, the time to buy and maximize these passes was in early March, when they first kicked in. But the midweek options trim the price further. And if you have some time off to spare, picking up a spring pass and bumming around Banff for two weeks could help you forget the less-fun parts of this winter.
Ben Bloom/Getty Images
Killington Spring Pass
Sticking to the Northeast? That’s great, too. Killington, Vermont—the mountain known for hosting the region’s longest ski seasons—also has a spring pass for $419. Upgrading to the pass from a Pico, Midweek, or Ikon Pass costs $199.
Now, the one slightly tricky part. Killington, as of now, hasn’t confirmed a closing date, unlike Lake Louise or Banff Sunshine Village. That makes it tough to know exactly how much more skiing you’ll get.
But historically, Killington makes it until late May or early June. In fact, last season’s May 11 closing date was considered early by the resort’s standards. And by most metrics, the Northeast had a great winter, which should bode well for Killington’s late-season push.
Related: Powder Days Are Great, but I’d Rather Ski in the Spring
