Arapahoe Basin has never tried very hard to be anything other than itself, which is exactly why people love it. Straddling the Continental Divide with a base at 10,780ft (3,286m) and a summit above 13,000ft, A-Basin is one of the highest ski areas in North America, and its nickname, The Legend, is well earned. This winter it turns 80.
Arapahoe Basin at a glance
- Location: Continental Divide, Summit County, around 68 miles from Denver
- Terrain: Around 1,400 acres, mostly advanced and expert
- Best for: Strong skiers, early and late-season skiing
- Lift passes: Ikon Pass, including unlimited days on the Ikon Base Pass
- 2026/27 season: Opening as soon as conditions allow, often late October
- Nearest airport: Denver International, around two hours
What’s New for 2026/27
A-Basin first opened in 1946, and the anniversary season has been planned with a proper sense of fun. The birthday weekend runs from 4 to 6 December 2026, with free ski and snowboard demo villages, a live DJ and an 80th Anniversary Moonlight Dinner at Black Mountain Lodge. You can skin, snowshoe or ride the lift up for it. The evening also brings the premiere of an anniversary film and the burial of a time capsule.
The best deal of the winter may be the most charming one. Skiers and riders who are 80 years old ski free every Wednesday all season, and during the birthday weekend. Everyone else gets limited-edition $80 lift tickets on Wednesdays and over the birthday weekend, with $50 tickets in the early and late season. There is also an 80 Day Scan Challenge, with 80 prizes for people who scan an A-Basin or Ikon Pass during the first 80 days of the season.
The Ikon Pass Upgrade
The biggest change for visitors is access. For 2026/27 the Ikon Base Pass includes unlimited skiing at A-Basin for the first time, replacing the previous five-day limit, and Ikon holders get 50 per cent off all-inclusive lessons for friends and family. For anyone building a multi-resort Colorado trip, that makes A-Basin very easy to add. Our Ikon Pass 2026/27 guide has the full picture.
The Skiing
Around 1,400 acres, with the majority of it rated advanced or expert. The front side is steep, the Pallavicini lift serves some of the most famous chutes in Colorado, and the Beavers and Steep Gullies add hike-to and gated terrain for strong skiers. The Lenawee Express six-pack means you spend less time on lifts and more time on the good stuff. It isn’t only for experts, though: there is a gentle learning area at the base, and beginner lesson packages start at under $100.
The simplest way in is the Legendary Learning Package, which bundles lift access, rental equipment and lessons into a single booking, so there is nothing to sort out on the day except turning up. Check the latest dates and prices on the A-Basin website.
Altitude is A-Basin’s great asset. It is usually one of the first ski areas in the US to open, often in late October or early November, and in a good year it keeps going into June. Opening day for 2026/27 has not been fixed yet and depends on the weather.
Après, A-Basin Style
Much of the social life happens on The Beach, the row of parking spaces nearest the lifts where locals set up barbecues and camping chairs. It is one of the great ski traditions of Colorado. Higher up, the Steilhang Hut serves Colorado-made German sausages, beer and pastries just below the top of Lenawee.
Getting There
A-Basin is on US Highway 6, around 68 miles from Denver, so allow roughly one and a half to two hours from the city, longer on busy weekends. Keystone is ten minutes down the road, and Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are close by, which makes it easy to combine with a Summit County stay.
For more information visit arapahoebasin.com.
Arapahoe Basin: Your Questions Answered
Is Arapahoe Basin on the Ikon Base Pass?
Yes. From 2026/27, the Ikon Base Pass includes unlimited skiing at Arapahoe Basin, replacing the previous five-day limit.
When does Arapahoe Basin close?
A-Basin has one of the longest seasons in North America, and in a good snow year it often stays open into June.
Is Arapahoe Basin good for beginners?
A-Basin is best known for steep terrain, but it has a learning area at the base and beginner lesson packages that bundle lift access, rental and lessons.
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Colorado ski road trip
A Basin was the last stop on our Colorado road trip: one final powder day before the flight home.