Verified Oct 2026 against each resort's own page. Dates and rules can change, so click through before you book.
The one that is actually free
Purgatory in Durango publishes it in those words: kids 12 and under always ski FREE, via a free Power Kids Pass, proof of age and a waiver, no adult-ticket string. That is not a January promo week. It is the reason this mountain is in the database even at a 6.5 Family Score. Frame it as a Southwest Colorado trip, not an I-70 add-on — it is a 6-hour drive from Denver.
Also actually free, all season
June Mountain (California, Mammoth's sister hill, 20 minutes north): kids 12 and under ski and ride free all season. Reserve a $0 June Mountain Child Season Pass on IkonPass.com ahead of time, then pick it up at the Ticket Office. You can also get it issued at the window on arrival. If the birthday on file says older than 12, bring proof of age. June's scheduled opening day is Dec 19, 2026, weather permitting.
Source: https://www.junemountain.com/explore-june-mountain/kids-ski-and-ride-free
The rest of the Power Pass (Brian Head in Utah, Arizona Snowbowl, Willamette Pass in Oregon, and more): Purgatory's free Power Kids Pass is good at every Power Pass mountain. Kids 12 and under, no purchase, no blackout dates. Pickup is an RFID card at a mountain kiosk.
Early-season free weeks (December 2026)
These are dated windows. Miss the week and you pay full price.
Steamboat, Nov 21 to Dec 15, 2026: kids 12 and under get $0 lift tickets from opening day through Dec 15. No other purchase needed. On the lift ticket page pick the "12 and Under Kids Ski Free Nov. 21 - Dec.15, 2026" option and add one per day. Early season means limited terrain... set expectations. Steamboat's free window covers Thanksgiving week; see our Thanksgiving ski trip with kids 2026 guide.
Source: https://www.steamboat.com/plan-your-trip/deals-and-packages/kids-ski-and-ride-free
Mammoth Mountain, Dec 5 to 11, 2026: kids 12 and under ski free. Reserve a $0 child ticket online for each day. One ticket per child per day, up to seven, issued as single day tickets, not a multi-day product. Already bought a kids ticket for that week? Mammoth says it will refund it (800.MAMMOTH). There is an optional $199 add-on with lesson and rentals.
Source: https://www.mammothmountain.com/plan-your-trip/deals-and-packages/kids-ski-free-week
Deer Valley, Dec 5 to 11, 2026: kids 12 and under get a complimentary daily lift ticket, plus 50% off Tot and Junior rentals. Kids still need a ticket in hand for the chairlift, so get the free one online first. Works for online and walk-up tickets. Pairs with their Ski, Stay & Save lodging package (up to 30% off lodging and lifts Dec 4 to 17).
Source: https://www.deervalley.com/plan-your-trip/packages-specials/kids-ski-free
Early-season dates and the Denver vs Salt Lake choice: Early-season skiing with kids, Colorado vs Utah.
The rest of the 26/27 cluster
Mt. Bachelor: kids 12 and under get a free season pass when an adult buys an Outplay 365 or Full Season Pass. Mt. Bachelor steps pass prices up during the fall — they did it around the start of October last year — so this is a buy-early deal rather than a buy-now-or-lose-it one. Check their pass page for the current price deadline before you sit on it. Separate multi-day products let ages 6–12 ski free the same number of days as parents when bought advance online. Do not read that as 'always free at the window.' Palisades Tahoe: 4 and under free every day. Kirkwood (Epic): 4 and under free at the ticket window — same Vail policy, not a promo week. Snowmass: under 6 with a parent purchase. Sun Peaks and Big White: 5 and under free. Camelback: 5 and under free. Boyne Mountain: $1 tickets ages 0–5. Stratton: 4 and under around $10. Mont-Tremblant: Kids Ski Free Week — 12 and under, up to 7 days, dates change. Powder Mountain: free kids season pass (up to two) with an adult Unlimited for 26/27 — we have a resort page now; the mountain is still not a family campus.
Steamboat (rest of season): kids 12 and under ski and rent free for the same number of days as a parent, grandparent or legal guardian who buys a 5+ day adult ticket and/or rental. The catch: it must be bought before the season starts. Season passes and in-season purchases do not qualify. One free child per qualifying adult. Source: https://www.steamboat.com/plan-your-trip/deals-and-packages/kids-ski-and-ride-free
Keystone (Epic): book two or more nights directly on KeystoneResort.com and each kid 12 and under gets one free ski day, plus one more day per extra night. No blackout dates. Third-party bookings do not count. Ask for the tickets at the front desk at check-in. Source: https://www.keystoneresort.com/plan-your-trip/stay/kids-ski-free.aspx
Deer Valley (rest of season): its Ski, Stay & Save lodging package includes a complimentary lift ticket for kids 12 and under, one per paying adult, Dec 4, 2026 to Apr 18, 2027, minimum nights vary by property. Source: https://www.deervalley.com/plan-your-trip/packages-specials/ski-stay-save-package
Stowe is not on this list. Four-and-under can get a complimentary Epic pass with an adult, in-resort or by phone — that is a pass product, not a kids-ski-free week, and it is not Tremblant's dated free week.
Do the family-of-four math anyway
A free child ticket next to a $250 adult window and a $400 lesson is not a budget trip. Purgatory and Bachelor change the equation because the child product is season-shaped, not a coupon for Tuesday. Lodging, rentals, and food still exist. If the 'free' week requires the $400 hotel, run the kitchen-condo numbers. Keystone and Deer Valley's lodging deals are the same trade: the kid ticket is free because you booked the room through the resort. Compare that room rate against a condo before you call it a savings. Our deals page does not invent tracking links for these — go to the resort.
We will update this every August
Age cutoffs and 'with a paying adult' rules move. If a resort changes 12-and-under to 10-and-under, this page should be the thing that catches it. That is the job. Screenshots of last year's blog are how families buy the wrong week.
Last updated: 2026-10-14