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Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort is one of the ten largest resorts in Colorado in the United States. The main feature of A-Basin (the resort’s ubiquitous nickname) is its summit elevation of a whopping 13,050 ft (3,977 m), the third-highest among all the country’s resorts. It is also legendary for its challenging advanced terrain — most slopes at the resort are difficult or expert. There are 145 slopes of 65 mi (105 km) or 1,428 acres (578 hectares) of skiable terrain and nine ski lifts. Arapahoe Basin ski season typically runs from mid-October until early June. Occasionally, the resort stays open until July 4th.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort is in the North American Rocky Mountains in Summit County, Colorado. The ski area is south of Loveland Pass (11,991 ft / 3,655 m), which connects Summit and Clear Creek County, both regions with heavy ski traffic. Nestled in the White River National Forest, the resort will give you an adrenaline rush in a beautiful setting — just make sure to wake up early, as the parking lot fills up quickly.
Denver, the largest city in Colorado, is just 68 mi (110 km) away.
Located in central Colorado, Arapahoe Basin is accessible via various transit options.
Most visitors from other states or abroad will fly into Denver International Airport, located approximately 90 mi (145 km) from the resort. Finding direct and connecting flights to this massive airport is easy (and relatively affordable).
If you have your own or rented car, your drive will mostly follow Interstate I-70 from Denver until turning onto Highway 6 before reaching Silverthorne to climb Loveland Pass. If you are heading to Silverthorne, Keystone, or Frisco for accommodations, keep driving on I-70, the exits are well-signed and obvious. If you wish to bypass Loveland Pass or head to Keystone, exit through Silverthorne.
Driver beware: I-70 is known for crashes, traffic, and poor weather conditions, so add extra time for arrival and departure, and drive with caution. The trip will take approximately an hour and fifteen minutes in perfect conditions.
The lower Early Riser Parking Lot at A-Basin fills up quickly: cars pack in tight when the parking lot opens at 7 am. The upper lot, on the other side of the highway, also fills up quickly.
Cars with three or more people can park for free in the lower Early Rider lot, conveniently located right next to the slopes. Otherwise, expect to pay $20 per vehicle. The upper lot, still within walking distance of the slopes, remains free. Do not park along the highway, as you will get towed.
EV charging stations are available at the front of the Early Riser lot.
The Denver International Airport offers plenty of shuttle services to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which you can find at Epicmountainexpress.com, Mountainshuttle.com, and other websites. The Colorado Department of Transportation also runs the Snowstang — an affordable bus option from Denver’s Union Station and the Denver Federal Center, which arrives at A-Basin around 8:30 am.
Once you arrive at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area or one of the surrounding towns, take the Summit Stage, a free county-wide bus network that services Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne. The “Swan Mountain Flyer” sector of the Summit Stage services A-Basin during peak ski season.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort is well-known for its early opening and late closing dates. Its earliest opening was October 9, 2009, and its latest closing was August 10, 1995. It has been open seven times on the 4th of July, most recently in 2019.
If you plan to ski A-Basin, the best conditions usually occur in February. But spring skiing here is excellent, given the mountain’s elevation and northern exposure. The mountain’s advanced terrain, including its high chutes, is usually in condition well into March and April.
The average snowfall at A-Basin is 350 in (889 cm).
Arapahoe Basin is a single ski area and is easy to navigate. It’s quite small compared to other resorts in Colorado, like Breckenridge or Vail. The resort has Front and Back sides that you can ski from the base area at 10,520 ft (3,206 m), serviced by the Black Mountain Express and Pallavicini ski lifts.
What the resort lacks in acreage, it gains in its in-bounds hike-to terrain, easy-to-repeat Front side outcrops, and challenging tree runs. In difficulty, the terrain is similar to what you might find at Taos Ski Valley but arguably more accessible. Arapahoe Basin’s advanced terrain of the East Wall and Steep Gullies require some hike-to equipped lungs, legs, and spirit — but the runs are well worth the work.
Linking the Front and Back sides and the hike-to/traverse terrain is more straightforward than in larger resorts since there is only one central base area and parking lot.
145 slopes (totaling 65 mi (105 km)) and nine lifts comprise A-Basin ski resort. Head here to find some of North America's best advanced alpine terrain. Experienced riders can get their heart rate up by hiking the East Wall or cutting over to The Steep Gullies. In contrast, intermediate and beginner riders will have a blast ripping down Montezuma Bowl or slopes off the Black Mountain Express.
The Front Side of Arapahoe Basin has the famed Pallavicini Lift, servicing double-black extreme terrain like the mogul-spotted Pallavicini and the Steep Gullies, which require a hike back.
You’ll find a collection of blue and green runs from the Black Mountain Express, the central lift from the base area. Cut over to the Lenawee Express (replaced with a high-speed six-person chair as of the 2022–23 season) to ride more steep intermediate runs and access the East Wall hiking gate (extreme terrain).
From the top of Black Mountain Express, skiers go down to the bottom into my favorite spot on the mountain, Beavers. Added in 2018, Beavers is nearly all gladed tree skiing. You can do it by the two blues, Loafer and Davis — they are steep, narrow, and fun. But what makes this area special is its wide array of lines that take you into a secluded forest. After burning their legs lapping the Beavers, riders can brave the extreme terrain adjacent to the Steep Gullies or ride the Beavers Lift back to Il Refugio at the top.
The Back Side of Arapahoe Basin is just as unique. The Zuma Lift accesses Montezuma Bowl, with a smattering of intermediate to expert trails. Below Zuma, expert skiers can catch powder turns on Lightning Trees or Crags with a short 10-minute hike back up to the lift.
If you are a beginner, stay near the base area. The blue runs at Arapahoe Basin are steeper and narrower than what you might find at nearby Keystone, for example. However, the runs are still well suited to beginners. If you are a true first-time skier or boarder, stick to Molly Hogan, the “Bunny Hill” at A-Basin. Wrangler is the easiest way down from the top of the Black Mountain Express. Better yet, head to nearby Keystone to ski limitless beginner and intermediate pistes before eventually working up to A-Basin.
Slopes
Ski lifts
Other features and services
Loveland Pass is one of the closest backcountry ski areas to the Arapahoe Basin. Most riders will park a car at the bottom and hitchhike up to the top when skiing the pass. Loveland Pass is perched between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and boasts around 600 vertical ft (183 m) of skiable terrain easily accessible from the road.
There are many different zones and lines off Loveland Pass, especially since the riding is so accessible by vehicle. The Loveland Pass bowl is the most popular section and is skiable from the top of the pass.
The North East Glades is a popular route that also starts there. The ski line drops 2005 vertical ft (611 m) and funnels from an open snowfield at the top into glades lower down to a switchback (popular for hitchhikers) at the bottom.
Backcountry skiers seeking a long descent should look no further than Loveland Ridge. The ski line is about 1 mi (1.6 km) long. The skin track follows Loveland Ridge for 1.5 mi (2.4 km) from the top of the pass into avalanche-prone (37-degree) terrain. If the avalanche conditions are stable, this accessible, 3,520 vertical ft (1,073 m) descent has the potential to reward you with some serious pow turns.
However, backcountry adventurers should not take the endeavor lightly. The Colorado snowpack is notoriously unstable, and avalanches kill backcountry enthusiasts every single year. Check the avalanche and weather conditions at the Colorado Avalanche Information Center before you set out. Always carry the proper equipment (a functioning beacon, shovel, probe, and trustworthy ski buddies).
If you want to try out your touring gear in a controlled environment, purchase an A-Basin Uphill Pass, which gives you access to the ski area below Black Mountain Lodge. The Uphill Pass is a great way to get used to hiking uphill without the added avalanche risk.
Lastly, if you’re looking for something gnarly, the S**t For Brains couloir will pique your interest. This profanely-dubbed couloir is one of Colorado’s all-time classics, conveniently located just to the looker’s left of the ski area. The couloir is about 1500 vertical ft (500 m), with an average pitch in the low 40-degree range. The steepest sections reach 46 or 47 degrees, and the couloir occasionally pinches down to a couple of ski lengths, depending on the season.
For access, you can either traverse over from the East Wall area of the resort or skin up from the upper parking lot. Either way, once you ascend the apron and reach the actual couloir, you’ll have to transition to bootpacking.
If you plan to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, the Keystone Nordic Center is a great place to start, with 10 mi (17 km) of groomed trails. Rentals are available for touring skis, skate skis, and snowshoes. Guided snowshoe hikes and cross-country lessons are also available at the center.
Nearby skiers can also access 25 mi (40 km) of backcountry trails in the White River National Forest, where the Spruce Creek Trail is among the most popular routes. The course is 8.5 mi (14 km) out and back and ends at Upper Mohawk Lake, where you will find views of Mt. Helen and the great Tenmile Range.
The Frisco Nordic Center is also a fantastic option for groomed trails and lessons if you're staying in Frisco.
For beginners, head to Miners Creek Road near Frisco, a 5 mi (8 km) out-and-back hike. The trail is rated as moderate.
Luckily, Arapahoe Basin has a wide variety of pass options available.
If you plan to visit other ski resorts in Colorado, including Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and more, consider purchasing the IKON pass. A-Basin is included on this pass option, but with limited days. The full IKON pass gives riders seven days of shredding, while the cheaper IKON Base pass gives riders five days.
But if you only want to ski at A-Basin, you have options, too. From Mid-week, No Saturday or Sunday Only to Early Season and Full Season passes, A-Basin lends flexibility to the pass holder. No matter what, make sure to purchase your pass in advance since tickets are only sold online and not at the window.
Until a few years ago, Vail Resorts’ infamous Epic Pass included unlimited days at A-Basin. The mountain became overrun as the Epic Pass (and other multi-resort passes) soared in popularity. Many locals and long-time visitors began to lament that the quality of the skiing experience had diminished significantly. Guests were frequently treated to long lift queues, a lack of parking, overcrowded pistes, and a general sense of straining infrastructure.
The area has taken two important steps to improve the legendary ski experience. First, they ditched the Epic Pass — they weren’t actually owned by Vail Resorts, so they had the option to opt-out. The decision to forsake the Epic Pass was remarkable for a ski area in an industry largely driven by profit. Because the Epic Pass includes nearly all other Summit Country resorts, skier visits are down significantly at A-Basin. However, by all accounts, the overall experience is vastly improved.
Secondly, A-Basin has made several lift upgrades recently, including adding the Beavers lift and replacing the Pallavicini and Lenawee Express chairlifts. As a result, this celebrated Colorado establishment is firing on all cylinders, and there has never been a better time to visit.
Before or after skiing, contact Silverthorne’s official tourist office, the largest town closest to A-Basin.
Town of Silverthorne Tourist Office
601 Center Circle, P.O. Box 1309, 80498, Silverthorne, Colorado, United States
+19702627300
At Arapahoe Basin, there are a surprising number of dining options.
At mid-mountain, you can hang out on the porch at Black Mountain Lodge or eat sausages and down a beer at the new, German-style Steilhang Hut after ripping down Montezuma’s Bowl. At the base area, make sure to grab a Bloody Mary.
Despite the mountain’s dining options, A-Basin locals still haul brown-bag lunches to the A-Frame, Black Mountain Lodge or picnic from their trunks in the parking lot.
My favorite lunch spot on the mountain is “The Beach.” Wake up early to snag a spot in the lower lot, or reserve a spot online. The first row allows you to back your car directly to the snow. Beachgoers frequently line the lot with camping stoves and sizzling hot dogs.
There is no on-mountain lodging at A-Basin, but there are plenty of options in the nearby towns of Keystone (the closest), Frisco, or Silverthorne. It’s hard to suggest any specific places to stay since the possibilities are vast, but ski-in / ski-out will not be an option.
Stay at Keystone if your party wants opportunities to ski at another (easier) ski area. The Pad Silverthorne is A-Basin’s featured lodging partner.
In Frisco and Silverthorne, you can stock up on snacks at big-box grocery stores and gear at plenty of shops around town, including REI. Make driving into town easy by downloading directions before getting into the mountains since cell service is spotty, even at A-Basin (but plentiful once you are in Silverthorne).
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is known for its local flair and some events.
April 1st generally features the most vibrant vibe of the season. Unofficially dubbed “Gaper Day,” skiers and riders drink beer, throw stunts under the Pallavicini lift, and flaunt outrageous costumes. Lift operators across the mountain usually bump music at the lift lines and dance with you as you load onto the chair. Warm weather this time of year means you can catch riders in bikinis and board shorts.
When snow sticks around until summer, take the opportunity to head to A-Basin for some unique 4th of July Festivities.
Diners looking for a classy experience should check out A-Basin Moonlight Dinner Series. With a reservation, skiers meet at the mid-mountain lodge for a big feast and a late-night lap.
I love to spend the waning evening light in the springtime playing frisbee golf at Frisco’s scenic course.
Keystone, Frisco, and Silverthorne are the closest towns to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. The towns offer excellent food access, affordable five-star stays, and other nearby ski areas.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with choosing any of these towns as your home base. When you’re booking, take into account whether you want to ski anywhere else. If you wish to ski only at A-Basin, opt for Keystone, the closer of the three.
