TL;DR
Arapahoe Basin has closed for the 2025-26 season after 204 days - wrapping up on May 17 following three extensions driven by late-season storms in April and May. It's the resort's earliest closing date in over a decade, but given how tough the season was across Colorado and the West, 204 days is worth acknowledging. The season opened October 26 and ran well beyond its original May 3 closing date.
Arapahoe Basin has closed for the season after 204 days - its earliest closing date in over a decade, but still a result worth acknowledging given the conditions Colorado faced this winter.
The resort wrapped up on May 17, having extended its season three times off the back of late storms in April and May. The original closing date was set at May 3 - itself already a compromise after a difficult start to the season - and at one point in early April, even that date was looking uncertain. That would have been a first in the resort's history.
Opening day was October 26, and the 204-day run that followed tells a more complicated story than the headline number suggests. Snow totals were low, temperatures ran warm, and coverage was thin at times across Colorado and the broader western US. A-Basin worked with what it had.
A season that required some perspective
This wasn't a banner snow year by any measure. The resort and its peers across Colorado spent much of the season managing difficult conditions, and A-Basin was no exception. Still, skiers and riders did get access to Zuma Bowl - the resort's south-facing backside terrain covering 400 acres of intermediate groomers, spaced trees, and rocky cliffs - which is not a given in a lean season.
Two new events also made their debut this year. The Uphill Turkey Trot ran on Thanksgiving Day, and the A-Basin Enduro Open saw 35 two-person teams compete in a round of golf on snow. The resort's usual Enduro format - teams skiing as many laps as possible - had to be modified after unsafe conditions on Pali ruled out the original setup.
"This season was special in its own way," said Shayna Silverman, Communications Manager at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. "This season was about the chairlift chats and the days spent together on the mountain. It reminded us that no matter what, it is always a good day if you're spending it at A-Basin."
Who's still open in the US
With A-Basin now closed, five ski resorts remain operational in the United States. Killington in Vermont, Mammoth Mountain in California, and Timberline Lodge in Oregon have yet to announce closing dates. Palisades Tahoe in California is scheduled to close on May 24, and Boyne Mountain in Michigan is aiming to ski through Memorial Day weekend.
What's next for A-Basin
The mountain reopens for summer operations on July 2, with the Aerial Adventure Park, Via Ferrata, mountain biking, and hiking on offer. A Summer Pass is available for $209 at early bird pricing. For anyone already thinking about next ski season, A-Basin is accessible via the Ikon Pass, with the 2026-27 season pass currently on sale.
About Arapahoe Basin
Arapahoe Basin has been operating since 1946 and sits at a base elevation of 10,520 feet, reaching a summit of 13,050 feet with a lift-served vertical drop of 1,936 feet and 2,530 feet of total vertical. The resort covers 1,428 skiable acres across 147 trails and is served by 9 lifts, with no night skiing on offer.
The terrain skews heavily toward advanced and expert skiers - 73% of trails fall into that category, with 23% intermediate and just 4% beginner. A-Basin is accessible via the Ikon Pass, and there is no night skiing. The resort does not offer night skiing.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
