With Epic Pass In Hand, Hit The Road (And Airports)

Trails and trails as far as the eye can see at Vail. (Vail Mountain/Facebook)

Here’s a sample road trip for those who have purchased an Epic Pass, have a week or two on the loose, and are ready to ski and ride across the West without having to shell out for a day ticket.

Begin at the Epic epicenter, Vail Mountain. Take a couple of days to cover all 5,200 acres – and more if you wander over to neighbor Beaver Creek and check out the World Cup downhill Birds of Prey.

Drive over Vail Pass and hit up Breckenridge and Keystone, a couple of Summit County mountains that feature wide-open green and blue runs. Apres-ski, check out town of Frisco that’s replete with breweries and mountain cuisine.

Head back over the pass and catch the daily flight from Eagle County Regional Airport to Salt Lake City. After a short shuttle ride, the behemoth Park City Mountain awaits. With eight peaks and 7,300 acres, this former silver mining area requires a multi-day stay to fully absorb. A side visit to Olympic Park’s jumps and bobsled runs completes the venture.

Back to Salt Lake for a short flight to Reno, Nev. Again, a shuttle will whisk you to Lake Tahoe where a trio of Epic resorts await.

Famed Heavenly Valley overlooks the south end of the lake, with 3,000 feet of vert over 4,600 acres – and a California-Nevada stateline at mid-mountain. A lake boat ride, night at the casinos or tour of Bonanza’s Ponderosa Ranch can top off the visit.

Head around the shoreline to Kirkwood, with its high-intensity chutes and gullies dropping right into the lake. Continue to north end, past Agate Bay and up to Northstar California -- another 3,000-plus acre mountain with wide variety of terrain. Treat yourself to a night at the Ritz Carlton at the base.

Then it’s right over the hill to the Reno airport and a flight back home.