Aspen Snowmass introduces new Pass options for 2026/27 winter season
Aspen SkiCo CEO Geoff Buchheister talks about evolving with the times
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Aspen Snowmass has expanded its offerings of Passes for the 2026/27 winter season, with new flexibility, broader access and loyalty appreciation going live on Wednesday.
While the familiar Alpine 2-Day Pass and the Premier Pass are being offered per usual — along with the recently announced Ikon Base Pass — they’re joined by a Flex Pass option and a Weekday Pass option that are part of an initiative to evolve the experience on Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass while providing a balance between local and visitor needs.
According to Geoff Buchheister, CEO of Aspen Skiing Company, Aspen Snowmass’ newly released lineup is an opportunity to stand out from Ikon and Epic Passes — attempting to more intentionally meet skiers and snowboarders where they’re at.
“I do believe that we deliver an unrivaled mountain experience,” Buchheister said. “This place is so special and we want to find the right balance to share it with all of the people that want to experience it. What we’re trying to do is evolve some of our products. We’ve taken a first step in the evolution and we’ll see how this year goes, and go from there.”
In that bigger context of Colorado ski resorts and the mega pass industry, Buchheister expressed his commitment to keeping Aspen “uniquely Aspen” on and off mountain while still accommodating destination visitors that want to share in what valley locals know is so special about this place.
“We want to be in the mix of (mega passes) because we think we’ve got a great product,” Buchheister said. “We think it’s authentic to core mountain culture and skiing. I think all of us doing well is a good thing. Together, we grow the sport.”
For him, growth and moving forward is almost counterintuitively the only way to ensure the core on-mountain experiences remain intact and maintained.
“If you think of it as a bicycle, as soon as you stop pedaling, eventually your bike will fall over,” Buchheister said.
Flex Pass: four to seven days, starts at $679
The new Flex Pass provides a significantly lower per-day cost than lift tickets for guests wanting to ski or ride four to seven days next season and who are willing to make an advanced purchase. Flex passes don’t have to be used on consecutive days and have no blackout dates.
This product is replacing the Valley Pass — with “more flexibility than ever before for this type of access,” according to a press release.
“We have our loyalists and we’re not really changing much for them, but we have people who want to try Aspen and we want to make it more attainable for them,” Buchheister said of the Flex Pass. “I want to be welcoming to all. If you’re someone that can’t commit to the longer windows, then now we’ve got an option for you.”
The Flex Passes are available in limited quantities and start at $679. As part of Aspen Snowmass’ new loyalty appreciation initiative, current Valley Pass holders will receive 20% off a Flex Pass for the upcoming winter.
Weekday Pass: unlimited access Monday-Friday, weekend access at the beginning and end of season, starts at $2,099
The Weekday Pass will provide unlimited mountain access Monday through Friday, with no blackout dates. Weekday Pass holders will have weekend access from opening day until Dec. 13, and again from April 5, 2027, until resort closing.
This pass is envisioned to offer something new for valley locals, but is available for anyone.
The Weekday Pass price begins at $2,099.
“Let’s let the Pass meet people in a spot that works for them,” Buchheister said. “Even in the past four or five years, I think the way people use the mountains is different and I anticipate that will continue. We want to be there and show up in the marketplace with flexibility. We need to change a little bit with the times … this is phase one of trying to see what works.”
These additions come alongside the oldies-but-goodies that continue to be offered.
Alpine 2-Day Pass: two days of skiing Monday-Sunday each week, starts at $2,099
The Alpine 2-Day Pass allows Pass holders two days of skiing, Monday through Sunday, each week throughout the season, beginning at $2,099.
Premier Pass: unlimited access, comes with an Ikon Base Pass and Uphill Pass, starts at $3,099
The Premier Pass is Aspen Snowmass’ flagship product, providing unlimited skiing and riding across all four mountains with no blackout dates.
The Premier Pass comes with an Ikon Base Pass and Uphill Pass, along with expanded benefits including eight friends and family 50% off daily lift ticket discounts, one Demo Day to try ski and snowboard equipment, two 50% off Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School group lessons, two 50% off Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School private lessons, 20% off parking passes at Aspen Highlands parking garage and Two Creeks parking lot at Snowmass and more.
The Premier Pass pricing will begin at $3,099.
Price increases for Passes will take effect on June 27 and will increase through the summer and fall.
Pass holder appreciation credit
In addition to 20% off Flex Passes for Valley Pass holders, Aspen Snowmass will also be offering a limited-time Pass holder appreciation renewal incentive, providing a $100 credit toward Premier Adult, Senior and Silver Pass holders who renew before April 30.
“To be in a community where so many people measure the value of their winter by how many days they got, and by getting that 100 day pin, by being loyal to us through great snow years and more challenging ones like the one we just had … there’s a loyalty to that renewing guest,” Buchheister said. “A little bit of it is a thank you for hanging in with us this year, but I’m optimistic about what’s ahead of us.”
Renewals before April 30 essentially lock in a Pass holder for something more aligned with the previous year’s rate, Buchheister confirmed, acknowledging not just the low snow season this year but the routine annual price increases to Passes that many locals and loyalists express discontent with.
The cost of reinvestment
Buchheister stressed it’s all about attempting to find a balance between keeping Pass prices in a feasible zone for people while being able to reinvest back into the mountain and the community to keep Aspen “a world class experience.”
“What we’re spending to build a chairlift now is exponentially more than we did 10 years ago,” Buchheister said.
Last summer, almost $80 million was put into infrastructure-improvement projects across the Aspen Snowmass mountains, including replacing the Elk Camp quad chair lift, replacing the platter lift on the Cirque with a T-bar and remodeling Ullrhoff.
“These high mountain construction projects, they’re the real deal,” Buchheister said. “The costs have really escalated.”
And coming off the historically low snow winter, Aspen Snowmass is intentional about investing in snowmaking to ensure that, even with climate change, Aspen doesn’t lose as many days of winter as other resorts might.
Off the mountain, Aspen Snowmass is also committed to reinvesting in the gateway community that provides the access to alpine adventures by contributing to airport projects, joining the Entrance to Aspen conversation, keeping the Buttermilk parking lot free of charge, funding RFTA winter routes to all four mountains with roughly $4 million annually and supporting employee housing and childcare projects with hundreds of millions of dollars.
“When I think about the experience, it’s one thing to have a great experience on the mountain … but there’s also an experience in our town. It might not matter how great your mountain experience is if you spend 45 minutes to an hour in traffic at the airport or if you can’t get out of Highlands after a busy day,” Buchheister said. “We want to think about those community issues, along with where are our employees and the employees of this community gong to live? For us, to be the best ski resort in the world and the best ski town in the world, we have to all work together.”
Community access
Aspen Snowmass continues to offer access programs to the local community. The military pass program for the 2026/27 season has been expanded, offering eligible active-duty military members, veterans and retired service members 50% off any Pass and lift tickets — this doubles the discount offered in prior seasons.
Community discounts have also been expanded for the 26/27 season to include a $1,000 Premier Pass and a $400 Flex 7-Day Pass available to eligible Roaring Fork Valley teachers.
Grade and high school Roaring Fork Valley students and Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club will also receive discounted Pass programs, and local Chamber member businesses will have access to discounted passes for eligible employees through Aspen Snowmass Chamber pricing.
All local and discounted pass programs will be available for purchase starting June 27.
The 26/27 season Passes are currently available at https://shop.aspensnowmass.com/s/2026-2027-pass-sale.
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