Is the Mountain Collective Pass Worth It?

Picture yourself hiking the Headwall at Alta while the storm is still dumping, then two days later riding the tram at Jackson Hole in waist-deep powder. That freedom to chase snow across the best independent resorts in the world is exactly what the Mountain Collective Pass has delivered since 2012. For the 2025/26 season, the adult pass costs $699 during the early-bird window (rising to $839 after May), and it still gives you two free days at more than 25 legendary mountains, unlimited additional days at 50% off the window rate, and absolutely no blackout dates.

If you’re wondering whether the Mountain Collective Pass still makes financial and logistical sense in an era of $279 lift tickets and crowded resorts, here’s the complete, no-nonsense guide.

What Is the Mountain Collective Pass?

Born in 2012 when Aspen Snowmass, Jackson Hole, Alta/Snowbird, and Palisades Tahoe banded together to fight the mega-pass takeover, the Collective has always been the anti-corporate option. Today the 2025/26 alliance includes 26 partner resorts across North America, plus global partners in Europe, New Zealand, and South America.

The headline resorts are:

• Aspen Snowmass (all four mountains count as one partner)
• Jackson Hole
• Alta and Snowbird (treated as one)
• Big Sky
• Revelstoke
• Palisades Tahoe
• Sun Valley
• Taos
• Arapahoe Basin
• Snowbasin
• the three Banff-area resorts (Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay)
• Panorama
• Marmot Basin
• Tremblant
• Blue Mountain
• Coronet Peak and Remarkables in New Zealand
• Valle Nevado in Chile
• global days at Chamonix Mont-Blanc and Zermatt

The perks are simple and powerful:

• Two completely free days at every partner resort
• A bonus third free day at whichever resort you visit first
• Unlimited additional days at 50% off the in-season window price
• Zero blackout dates—ever
• Kids 12 and under get the same benefits for only $199

Overpriced, or Still a Bargain?

When the pass launched, it cost $349. By the 2018/19 season it had climbed to $469, then $589 in 2022/23, $679 last year, and now $699 for 2025/26 if you buy before the spring deadline. That’s roughly double the original price.

But lift tickets have more than doubled in the same period. Jackson Hole, Aspen, Palisades Tahoe, and Big Sky regularly charge between $259 and $279 for a single day. Even second-tier Collective resorts like Snowbasin and Panorama now push $180–$220 on weekends. When daily tickets cost that much, two free days plus half-price extras start looking attractive again.

Does the Pass Pay for Itself?

Here’s the real-world math using average 2025/26 window rates of about $240 at the premium resorts and $180 at the Canadian and smaller U.S. partners (50% off brings those down to roughly $120 and $90 respectively).

• A weekend warrior who skis ten days across Jackson Hole, AltaBird, and Revelstoke would pay around $2,400 buying individual tickets. With the Mountain Collective Pass the cost is $699 for the pass plus eight additional half-price days at $120 each ($960), for a total of $1,659. That’s a savings of more than $740.
• A committed powder chaser doing 17 days at six different resorts would face roughly $4,080 in window tickets. The pass plus 15 half-price days comes to about $2,499—saving almost $1,600.
• A family of four (two adults, two kids 12 and under) skiing twelve total days at Aspen and Big Sky would spend over $4,500 buying tickets. With two adult passes at $699 each and two kids passes at $199 each, plus some half-price days, the total drops under $2,800—a family savings of more than $1,700.

The Resorts: Where the Magic Happens

The general rule is simple: if you plan to ski eight or more days at three or more different Mountain Collective resorts, you almost certainly come out ahead.

The top-tier destinations that are worth a cross-country flight on their own are Jackson Hole, the Alta-Snowbird combo, Revelstoke, and Big Sky. Right behind them are the four-mountain Aspen complex, Palisades Tahoe, Sun Valley, and Taos. Strong but slightly less bucket-list options include Arapahoe Basin, Snowbasin, the Banff trio, and Panorama.

Don’t sleep on the under-the-radar gems: Marmot Basin is often empty despite huge terrain, the New Zealand and Chile partners extend your season into the southern hemisphere, and the two days in Chamonix or Zermatt are basically a European ski safari for the price of a Rocky Mountain lift ticket.

Pros and Cons in 2025/26

Let’s look at the pros and cons:

Pros

• No blackout dates—you can ski Christmas, Presidents’ Week, or any powder day without penalty
• Every resort is still independently owned and operated (no Vail Resorts vibe)
• The 50%-off tickets never expire and can be used year after year
• Real global partners you can actually use

Cons

• Only two free days per resort forces you to travel or pay half-price after that
• No lodging discounts or friends-and-family tickets like some Ikon tiers offer
• Jackson Hole and Revelstoke now require advance reservations for Collective days
• Peak holiday periods can still be crowded

Who the Mountain Collective Pass Is Perfect For

• Destination skiers who build two to four big trips each winter
• Storm chasers who follow the snow forecast religiously
• Families—the $199 child pass is one of the best deals in skiing
• Anyone who wants to support independent mountains instead of the big conglomerates

Who Should Look Elsewhere

• Locals who rack up 40+ days at a single home mountain
• Beginners who mostly stick to groomed runs
• Travelers on a very tight budget who can’t swing flights and lodging

Pro Tips to Get the Absolute Most Value

• Buy before the May deadline to lock in the $699 price.
• Make Jackson Hole and Revelstoke reservations the moment they open (usually early October).
• Save your 50%-off tickets for expensive spring-break weeks at Aspen or Sun Valley.
• Pair the pass with airline miles or the Southwest Companion Pass to keep travel costs low.
• Use your first two days at a smaller resort so the bonus third day lands at Jackson or Revelstoke.

Final Verdict

Yes, the Mountain Collective Pass costs twice what it did a decade ago — but so does everything else in skiing. If you’re the kind of skier who actually travels, plans around storms, and will use at least eight days across multiple destinations, it remains one of the smartest purchases you can make.
Quick yes/no test—if you answer yes to three or more, buy it today:

• Will you ski at least eight days this season?
• Will you visit three or more different Collective resorts?
• Do you refuse to deal with blackout dates?
• Are you willing to book a few reservations and chase snow?
• Do you have kids 12 or under?

Ready to browse or buy? Always get the lowest rate here Grab it at the lowest rate here.

See you on the tram dock!