One of the longest ski seasons in the West, an authentic local vibe, and a new terrain expansion should land this homegrown Colorado favorite on your bucket list this season. From its throwback A-Frame base lodge to the Bacon Bloody Mary at Black Mountain Lodge, A-Basin is an homage to the very best parts of the sport. And the terrain: Bomb down the steeps of Pallavicini Face, test your mettle on East Wall, or sample the goods in the Steep Gullies—the most extreme terrain at a resort known for its extreme terrain: tight chutes, high vert, high consequence. Be prepared for a 20-minute hike back—just the way the locals like it.
| Average Snowfall | Acres | Lifts | Trails |
| 350″ | 1,428 | 9 | 145 |
Arapahoe Basin is on the Ikon Pass and the Mountain Collective. Ikon Pass holders get seven days with no blackouts. Ikon Base pass holders get five blackout-restricted days. Ikon Session pass holders get up to four blackout-restricted days. Mountain Collective pass holders get 2 days at the resort plus 50 percent off additional lift tickets.
This mountain is home to some of the toughest terrain in the West, and the house-smoked barbecue is pretty darn good, too. Here are the SKI editors top picks at Arapahoe Basin, Colo.
The Steep Gullies are rowdy, narrow, and, well, steep. Be prepared for a wild ride and a hike out at the bottom.
The 6th Alley Bar & Grill in the A-frame base lodge is a classic. Try the bacon Bloody Mary.
The Beavers, 339 acres of former hike-to steeps, opened a few seasons ago, and is some of the most fun terrain at the resort.
Every part of the mountain features intermediate through expert terrain, making A-Basin a great option for groups with mixed abilities to explore.
Arapahoe Basin is Colorado's renegade, a sack-lunch dog-party kind of place. Over the past decade it has nearly tripled in size—first into Montezuma Bowl, and now into The Beavers, forcing the locals to share some of their most coveted backcountry terrain. They might not be stoked, but you will be.
Three Salomon athletes let Instagram decide their fates across the Centennial State.
How one of the youngest Freeride World Tour athletes ever staked his claim on the roster for the second year in a row.
Take advantage of resorts' generosity this holiday season and hit the slopes.
Vail, Beaver Creek, Aspen, and Monarch Mountain join a growing list of Colorado hills already open for business.
Thanks to October storms, three Colorado resorts will open ahead of schedule.
Not to be outdone by the West, the two Eastern Resorts will also start spinning lifts this weekend.
The Colorado ski resort will be the first resort in the nation to be running lifts seven days a week.
There’s more to ski areas in the summer than mountain coasters and ziplines. Try running up one with friends.
Big storms over the last two weeks plus favorable snowmaking weather equals the first opening day of the season.