There are a lot of different lift tickets and passes. In general, there are a few things you need to know about the different tickets and passes on offer:

• Ski Resort Access: Some lift tickets give you access to other ski resorts in addition to Keystone. For example, EPIC Day Pass 
• Number of Ski Days: Some passes such as the season pass let you ski as many days as you want at the resort whereas other ski passes are more restrictive. 
• Black Out Dates: Some passes are cheaper because there are black out dates associated with those passes. Black out dates are special dates when the passes do not work. The dates vary each season but fall on peak ski days such as the Christmas and New Year period, MLK long weekend and Presidents Day long weekend. You can see the blackout dates for this season are 11/25/22 - 11/26/22, 12/26/22 - 12/31/22, 01/14/23 and 02/18/23 - 02/19/23.
• Pre-Ski Season Passes: These are ski passes which are only available for sale before the ski season. They are often a lot cheaper than lift tickets purchased in season as the ski resorts want to make sales before the ski season. 
• In Season Lift Tickets: These are lift tickets which you buy in season. You can buy these tickets online or at the ticket office at the ski resort. These tickets are generally a lot more expensive than passes purchased before the season starts. 

Keystone is owned and operated by Vail Resorts and as such, falls under the EPIC pass ski pass program. Below is a breakdown of the lift passes which grant access to Keystone Ski Resort and the key differences between the passes.

This is the lift ticket which you purchase at the ski resort at the ticket counter. You can purchase this online but you will still need to collect your pass at the ticket counter. This is almost always the most expensive option as you are purchasing last minute. Note that depending on resort capacity, Keystone warns that this type of ticket is limited but there has been no access issues to date.

• Mountain Access: This ticket will only give you lift access to Keystone. 
• Cost: Most expensive option, price varies day to day. Ranges from $150 - $200 per day for an adult ticket. 
• Days Valid at Keystone: Valid for the set days you’ve purchased the ticket. 
• Available for Purchase: After early December when pre-ski season tickets go off sale.
• Ideal for: Unplanned ski vacation or last minute day trip to Keystone. 

The day pass ranges from 1 to 7 days. It is one of the most flexible and cheapest passes available, granting access to all Vail owned ski resorts including Keystone. It is only available for sale BEFORE the ski season starts. There is also a holiday restricted option and a unrestricted option. Holiday restricted option do not allow access on black out dates but are cheaper.

• Mountain Access: This ticket will give you access to 34 resorts owned or partnered with Vail Resorts. This includes major Colorado resorts such as Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte as well as international resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb in Canada and other resorts in Europe and Australia.  
• Cost: The EPIC 1-7 day pass has two options - restricted and non restricted. Restricted passes do not allow access on black out dates but are cheaper. Non restricted passes allow you to ski black out dates. The cost also depends on when you purchase the pass. Prices increase for the pass around September and November. Ranges from $80 - $100 per day. 
• Days Valid at Keystone: Once you purchase the pass, it will grant you access to the number of days purchased. The ski days on the passes are valid throughout the entire season. Please be mindful that access may be impacted by black out days depending on whether you have purchased the restricted or unrestricted pass.
• Available for Purchase: Goes off sale around late November to early December after which you will need to purchase a lift ticket. 
• Ideal for: When you are certain that you will be going skiing before the ski season.

This is the flagship product of Vail Resorts which owns and operates Keystone Ski Resort. It has the same access as the EPIC Day passes but is valid for the entire ski season with unlimited days of skiing. It is most flexible and cheapest option if you are planning on skiing more than 7 days at Keystone (or any other Vail owned ski resorts and partners).

• Available for Purchase: Goes off sale around late November to early December after which you will need to purchase a lift ticket. 
• Additional Benefits: Additional benefit of being an EPIC pass holder is that you are able to purchase discounted over the counter lift tickets.
• Ideal for: If you are planning to ski alot at Keystone (or other Vail owned ski resorts).

Keystone has a special program where kids under 12 years of age can ski for free. There are some limitations to the program:

1. The child needs to be under 12 years of age on the ski days
2. The free child ticket/s must be ordered with adult ticket/s
3. You must be staying at Keystone Resort operated lodging for two or more nights.

Eligible lodging include:

• River Run Village (By Keystone Resort)
• Timbers and Lone Eagle
• Keystone Lodge and Spa
• Evergreen Condominiums
• Hyatt Place Keystone
• Keystone Lakeside Village
• Ski Tip Lodge
• Slopeside Condominiums
• Gateway Mountain Lodge
• Aspen Ridge Condominiums
• Forest Condominiums

If you meet the above criterias, you can collect the free kids ticket at the reception of the lodging when you check-in.

If you are planning a ski vacation to Keystone, you can package lift tickets with lodging, rental equipment, flights as well as transfers. SnowPak is a mountain travel company specializing in ski vacations and will make sure you have all the right ski products for your winter getaway. See Keystone ski packages for more information. If you are considering skiing at other Colorado ski resorts, see Colorado Ski Resorts, Vacation Packages 2022/23.