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With the price set to increase on the Epic Pass after this weekend, Vail Resorts just announced that pass holders will have access to two major Austrian megaresorts for winter 2025-’26.
Watch: Epic Pass Now Offers 13 Days of Skiing in the Austrian Alps
The new resorts are the interconnected ski areas of Saalbach and Zell am See–Kaprun, located in the Pinzgau region, and the resorts of Hintertux/Mayrhofen, in the country’s Tyrol region. The mountains join Ski Arlberg—where full Epic Pass holders get three days—as the second and third Austrian ski areas on the Epic Pass. As partner resorts, Epic Pass holders will have five days to use at each—and at resorts this big, they’re going to need all of them.
Saalbach is one the country’s largest ski areas. It includes the resorts of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, and Fieberbrunn, which together offer 165 miles of slopes, 70 trams and lifts, and over 60 mountain huts and restaurants. The resort is known for its massive terrain variety, with a mix of mellow cruisers, high-alpine bowls, and enough challenging off-piste terrain to keep experts happy.
About 10 miles away but connected by lifts, the ski areas of Zell am See–Kaprun include family-friendly Schmittenhöhe and the glacier resort of Kitzsteinhorn. The former serves up wide, sunny boulevards perfect for family cruising, while the Kitz glacier, which tops out at 9,900 feet, is along the earliest to open and latest to close every season. The five days of access on the Epic Pass are split between Saalbach and Zell am See–Kaprun.
Another five ski days can be used at Mayrhofen and Hintertux, despite the fact they’re two separate resorts not connected by lifts. Hintertux, which is home to the country’s only year-round skiing on the Hintertux Glacier, offers entirely high-alpine terrain with incredible, unobstructed Alps views. A summit elevation of 10,720 feet ensures good snow reliability, especially during the winter months.
Mayrhofen comprises a massive network of interconnected slopes known for their modern lift network, varied pistes, and après scene. The ski areas of Penken, Horberg, Ahorn, Finkenberg, Rastkogel, and Eggalm have all types of terrain, and groups of even the most disparate skills will find something they can ski. As for more challenging terrain, experts come from near and far to ski the resort’s most recognizable trail, Harakiri—the country’s steepest run, with a 78-percent pitch.
All together, the new Epic Pass additions add 543 miles of skiing and 204 lifts, with 10 combined days between them. Skiers who want to add Arlberg into the mix get another 186 miles of slopes and 85 lifts and cablecars—and another three days of access. For reference, Arlberg is located about three and a half hours west of Saalbach and Zell am See and two hours west of Hintertux/Mayrhofen
All of this is to say that if skiing in Austria is in your plans for next winter, the Epic Pass now includes 13 days at world-class ski resorts across the country. It’s also on sale at its lowest price of the season through Monday, May 26. The full Epic Pass is $1,051 (13 and up) and $537 (ages 5-12), while the Epic Local is $783 (19 and up), $663 (teens 13-18), and $407 (kids 5-12; up from $380). But remember, there’s no Austrian skiing available on the Local, so be sure to purchase the full Epic Pass if you want to ski Austria in 2025-’26. It’s also worth noting here that some of the Alps partner resorts require that lodging is booked to unlock mountain access. For all of the relevant details or to purchase a pass, visit the Epic Pass website.
