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Skiing get more expensive every year, so knowing how to stretch your ski dollars is more important than ever. Trust me, I get it. With 5 kids of my own, I know firsthand how quickly ski costs can snowball (pun intended!). Between lift tickets, rentals, lessons, and that inevitable hot chocolate stop, a day on the slopes can feel like a major financial commitment. But here’s the thing – living here in Utah, I’ve discovered that our incredible Utah ski resorts actually want to help families experience our world-famous powder without emptying their wallets.
After years of skiing with my own crew and working as a ski instructor, I’ve become something of an expert on finding the best ski deals for families. Utah truly is a parent’s dream when it comes to getting kids on skis affordably, and the family friendly ski atmosphere is one of the main reasons why we moved to Utah. Here, I’ll share all the insider knowledge I’ve gathered about programs that let your kids ski free or incredibly cheap.
READ: The Best Utah Ski Resorts for Families
The Best Utah Kids Ski Free Programs
Epic SchoolKids Utah Pack – A Game Changer for Elementary Ages
If you have kids in kindergarten through fifth grade, this program is absolutely incredible. Park City Mountain offers five completely free ski days, plus a free beginner lesson and equipment rental for first-timers. As someone who’s seen countless kids take their first turns on these slopes as a Park City ski instructor, I can tell you that Park City has some great learning terrain.
The catch? You need to register online ahead of time – don’t show up expecting to sign up at the ticket window! In fact, in 2025, the Epic School Kids Utah sign up ends on October 8th. Also, there are blackout dates during busy holiday periods, which makes sense but requires a bit of planning.
Historically, the first-timer lessons have pretty limited avaialbility, and they must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. My tip is to try and get your kids into a December lesson for the best availability.
Read all about our best tips for skiing Park City with kids.
Power Kids Pass – Free Skiing at Brian Head and Nordic Valley
Here’s one that not enough families know about! If your children are twelve and under, both Nordic Valley (just outside Ogden) and Brian Head Resort down south participate in the Power Kids Pass program. What makes this special is that it’s not just a few free days – it’s a full season pass that works at multiple mountains.
I love Nordic Valley for families because it’s got that smaller, less intimidating vibe that’s perfect for kids who are still building confidence. Brian Head, on the other hand, offers a completely different experience with higher elevation and longer runs. Having access to both through one free pass? That’s pretty amazing.
Best of all, you can technically stretch the season pass into your childs 13th year in many cases. I have a child who turns 13 in the summer, so we got his Power Kids Pass for the upcoming year, while he was still 12, and it will be good for the entire upcoming year.
If you really want to make a budget ski trip happen, both Nordic Valley and Brian Head offer tiered lift ticket pricing, so the earlier you buy your passes online, the cheaper they can be. I’ve seen adult lift tickets as cheap as $20, so this is an excellent deal.
Read: Skiing Nordic Valley with Kids
Read: Planning a Brian Head Ski Getaway
Snowbird’s Kids Freeloader Pass – Teens Ski Free in Utah!
Snowbird has a reputation for steep, extreme skiing, and it’s a well earned reputation. While the expert terrain at Snowbird is amazing, there’s also a great learning area, as well as plenty of intermediate terrain. If you are already planning to get an adult seaon pass, if you purchase by May 14, you get a kids unlimited Snowbird Season Pass for FREE. Best of all, it works for kids 18 and under, so it’s the best way for teens to ski free in Utah.
I love that the kids Freeloader pass also comes with a free UTA bus pass, so kids don’t need to drive up the canyon in the winter, AND it includes 5, 50% off tickets for friends or family to use. I know my teens would be SO EXCITED about this!
Young Kids Ski Free in Utah
Almost every Utah resort has some version of “kids ski free” for very young children, but the age cutoffs vary more than you might think. Sundance Resort, which has such a beautiful, family-friendly atmosphere, lets kids five and under ski completely free. Other resorts set their limits at four, five, or six years old.
Here’s what I always tell parents: call ahead and check websites before you go. These policies and the information I’m sharing below can change, and there’s nothing worse than budgeting for free tickets only to discover your six-year-old just aged out of the program!
- Brian Head Resort – Kids 12 & under ski free with the Power Kids Pass.
- Nordic Valley – Kids 12 & under ski free with the Power Kids Pass.
- Eagle Point Resort – Kids 12 & under ski & ride free.
- Brighton – Kids 6 & under ski free with a paying adult.
- Cherry Peak – Kids 5 & under ski free with a paying adult.
- Park City Mountain – Kids 4 & under ski free every day.
- Powder Mountain – Kids 6 & under ski free (changing soon to 4 & under).
- Snowbird – Kids 6 & under ski free all season
- Solitude Mountain Resort – Kids 4 & under ski free.
- Sundance Mountain Resort – Kids 5 & under ski free.
- Snowbasin Resort – Kids 4 & under ski free.
- Deer Valley Resort – Kids 4 & under ski free
Note, that all of these programs for toddlers and preschoolers to ski free in Utah require that you have a paying adult (or passholder) present.
The Ski Utah Passport – Best Budget Skiing in Utah
While not technically free, the Ski Utah Passport deserves a mention because it’s such an incredible value. For fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, this $69 pass (if you buy before December 1st) gives you three days at each of Utah’s fifteen major resorts. That’s forty-five potential ski days!
As someone who loves exploring different mountains with my kids, this passport is fantastic for families who want variety. Each resort has its own personality – from the high-speed quads at Deer Valley to the laid-back vibe at Powder Mountain. The passport lets your kids experience them all without the sticker shock.
Real Talk: Making These Programs Work for Your Family
After years of navigating these programs with my own kids and helping other families as an instructor, I’ve learned some important lessons. First, registration is almost always required ahead of time. I can’t stress this enough – don’t just show up and hope for the best! Most resorts have online registration that takes just a few minutes.
Second, those blackout dates are real, especially around holidays and long weekends. I get it – those are exactly when families want to ski together. But if you can be flexible with your timing, you’ll save serious money and often have a better experience with smaller crowds.
Third, read the fine print about what’s included. Some programs truly let kids ski completely free, while others require an adult pass purchase. Even when lift tickets are free, you might still need to budget for equipment rentals (usually around $35-50 per day) and lessons if your child needs them.
Why These Programs Matter (Beyond Just Saving Money)
Having worked with hundreds of families on the mountain, I’ve seen how these programs do more than just make skiing affordable – they make it accessible, something that seems rare these days. I grew up when almost anyone could afford to ski, and now it’s begining to feel like a sport for the upper class. There’s something magical about watching a child experience their first run down the mountain, and cost shouldn’t be the barrier that prevents that from happening, so I’m so thankful for programs in Utah that make skiiing more affordable for families.
Utah’s resorts understand that today’s kids who learn to love skiing become tomorrow’s lifelong skiers. These programs are investments in the future of our sport and our mountain communities. As someone who’s passionate about getting families outdoors together, I love that our state makes it so easy to introduce children to skiing.
Planning Your Free Ski Adventures
Whether you’re staying close to home here in the Salt Lake area with places like Park City and Sundance, or you’re planning a family road trip down to Brian Head or up to Nordic Valley, Utah offers amazing opportunities for budget-conscious families.
My advice? Start with one or two resorts where you can use these free programs, then expand your adventures as your kids develop their skills and your family discovers what types of terrain and resort experiences you enjoy most. There’s no rush – Utah’s mountains aren’t going anywhere, and neither are these generous programs that make family skiing possible for everyone.