
Arapahoe Basin
1,428 acres, 147 runs near Dillon. Colorado's first post-war resort, high-alpine terrain, Ikon Pass.
Arapahoe Basin's summit reaches 13,050 feet, dropping 2,530 vertical feet to a base at 10,518 feet across 147 runs spread over 1,428 acres near Dillon, Colorado. Terrain splits 49 per cent advanced, 24 per cent expert, 20 per cent intermediate and 7 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 350 inches. The resort carries Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective affiliation. Eight lifts, including four quad chairs and one six-person chair, serve the mountain alongside one double chair, two surface lifts and one t-bar.
Arapahoe Basin, affectionately known as The Legend, holds the distinction of being the first ski area to open in Colorado after the Second World War, and its genuinely high-alpine, largely above-treeline terrain has built a devoted following among serious skiers. The resort markets Colorado's longest season, often stretching from late October into June.
10th Mountain Division veterans Larry Jump and Sandy Schauffler, hired to survey Colorado's winter sports potential, founded A-Basin, with Jump investing his life savings of 25,000 US dollars. Local forestry professor Max Dercum and his wife Edna, who also owned Colorado's oldest guest ranch, the Ski Tip Ranch, joined the effort alongside Thor Groswold and Dick Durrance, purchasing an 80-acre parcel for 3,000 US dollars and opening the resort in December 1946 with a single mid-mountain rope tow after just five months of preparation.
A-Basin was sold in 1972 to Joe Jankovsky, then to Ralston Purina in 1978, before Vail Resorts purchased the resort in 1996. Department of Justice antitrust action forced Vail to divest a year later, and Dundee Resort Development of Canada, now known as DREAM, acquired A-Basin in 1997. Adult daily tickets run from 79 to 139 US dollars depending on weekday or weekend timing.
Arapahoe Basin sits on the Continental Divide near Dillon and covers 1,428 acres (578 hectares) of high alpine terrain. The base is at 10,520 ft (3,206 m) and the summit tops out at 13,050 ft (3,977 m), a vertical drop of 2,530 ft (771 m) across 147 runs. The split leans steep, with 49% advanced, 24% expert, 20% intermediate and just 7% beginner, so green circle choice is thin. Average snowfall is around 350 inches a year, with the Lenawee Express carrying skiers to the top of the main peak.
The East Wall is the signature steep zone, a billboard of double black chutes off Lenawee Mountain, bisected by the long East Wall Traverse that reaches a lot of difficult terrain. Pallavicini is a group of steep, mogul-covered double black runs, with gated access to Steep Gullies, narrow, rocky, expert-only chutes that were backcountry before joining the ski area in 2017-18. Montezuma Bowl on the back side, served by the Zuma lift, offers everything from groomed intermediate runs to advanced cornice runs. A-Basin rewards confident advanced and expert skiers and solid intermediates who want open alpine terrain rather than tree-lined groomers. Newer skiers will find bigger beginner areas elsewhere in Summit County.
The 2025-26 season at Arapahoe Basin ran from 25 October 2025 to 14 June 2026, an exceptionally long roughly thirty-three-week season, among the longest in Colorado, supported by average annual snowfall of around 350 inches. This marketed longest season reflects the resort's considerable elevation and reliable early and late-season conditions.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to A-Basin's advanced-and-expert-weighted terrain. As an Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective resort, A-Basin draws substantial visitation from pass holders alongside dedicated local skiers seeking its genuinely high-alpine character and famously late spring skiing season.
The resort's above-treeline terrain and Montezuma Bowl expansion continue to draw experienced skiers throughout the season, particularly during the extended spring period when few other Colorado resorts remain open. School holiday periods bring some family visitation, though the resort's advanced-weighted terrain skews its visitor base toward more experienced skiers.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Dundee Resort Development's 1997 acquisition, A-Basin has continued building on nearly eight decades of history since its December 1946 founding as Colorado's first post-war ski area. The Legend's long season and high-alpine terrain remain central to its identity each year.
Arapahoe Basin sits near Dillon, Colorado, along the Continental Divide, with a base elevation of 10,518 feet and a summit at 13,050 feet across a 2,530-foot vertical drop over 1,428 acres. This considerable elevation places A-Basin among the highest-elevation ski areas in North America.
Dillon and the broader Summit County region offer substantial lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort. Denver, Colorado's largest city, lies within a reasonable drive as well, making A-Basin a popular day-trip destination for Front Range skiers.
US Highway 6 provides direct access to the resort over Loveland Pass. Winter driving conditions on this high-mountain route can include significant snow and ice, and travellers should carry appropriate equipment given the pass's considerable elevation. There is no direct public transport service to the resort, though regional shuttle options connect from Summit County.
Denver International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into Colorado, with A-Basin's proximity to Denver supporting strong day-trip and weekend visitation from the metropolitan area.
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Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Oct 24, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Arapahoe Basin typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Our lift ticket pricing was last updated on Oct 8, 2026.
Day passes start from US$30, with peak rates up to US$199.
Full Day Lift Ticket (Adult 23+) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. A Basin's online checkout shows a dynamic 'advance-purchase' discount (29-35% off) that only applies when buying online ahead of time; per house convention we use the full/list price (the struck-through price), not the discounted one, since that's the real price if you don't book early. List price confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar: $99 (Dec 4, 2026 non-holiday) to $199 (Dec 26, 2026 holiday).
Buy passFull Day Lift Ticket (Young Adult 13-22) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar: $75 (Dec 4, 2026 non-holiday) to $150 (Dec 26, 2026 holiday).
Buy passFull Day Lift Ticket (Child 5-12) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar: $60 (Dec 4, 2026 non-holiday) to $120 (Dec 26, 2026 holiday).
Buy passFull Day Lift Ticket (Senior 70+) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar: $75 (Dec 4, 2026 non-holiday) to $150 (Dec 26, 2026 holiday).
Buy passFoot Passenger scenic chairlift ride (Black Mountain Express) at Arapahoe Basin for 2026/27 - for guests not skiing or riding, access to mid-mountain views and Black Mountain Lodge. Confirmed starting price from the resort's own page; open to all ages.
Buy passFull Day Lift Tickets, Any 2 of 3 Days (Adult 23+) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar for a Feb 3, 2027 non-holiday sample start date: $229 total.
Buy passFull Day Lift Tickets, Any 3 of 4 Days (Adult 23+) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar for a Feb 3, 2027 non-holiday sample start date: $428 total.
Buy passFull Day Lift Tickets, Any 4 of 6 Days (Adult 23+) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season. Using the full/list price (not the advance-purchase discounted price), confirmed on the resort's own booking calendar for a Feb 3, 2027 non-holiday sample start date: $637 total.
Buy passAny Day Pack (Adult, 3-Day tier) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season - ski or ride any 3, 4, or 5 days during the season with no blackout dates, days do not need to be consecutive, non-transferable. Confirmed starting flat price (3-day tier) from the resort's own season pass store; price varies by number of days and for ages 18 & under.
Buy passMidweek Pack (Adult) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season - ski or ride any 3, 4, or 5 days Monday-Friday during the season. Confirmed starting flat price from the resort's own season pass store; price varies by age and number of days. A separate, non-Midweek-restricted 'Any Day Pack' is also available (3-day tier $269).
Buy passUphill Access Pass (Add-On, with any A-Basin or Ikon Pass) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season - provides uphill access when open (no lift access); pass must be displayed on the provided armband. Confirmed discounted add-on price from the resort's own season pass store as of Oct 2026; the standalone Uphill Pass (without an A-Basin/Ikon pass) was listed as 'Coming Soon' (not yet priced) at the time of this screenshot. Note: an earlier capture had this at $129 standalone - that figure may still apply once the standalone pass goes on sale; this add-on price supersedes it as the confirmed current figure.
Buy passAdaptive Season Pass (Adult) at Arapahoe Basin for 2026/27 - unlimited, unrestricted access for certain passholders with permanent disabilities requiring adaptive devices/techniques; documentation required. Confirmed flat price from the resort's own season pass store (corrected from an earlier $329 capture to the current confirmed $419); price varies by age (discounts for 22 & under).
Buy passMilitary Season Pass (Adult) at Arapahoe Basin for 2026/27 - discounted unlimited, unrestricted access for active & retired military. Confirmed flat price from the resort's own season pass store.
Buy passMidweek Pass (Adult) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season - unlimited, unrestricted Monday-Friday access, plus unlimited access including weekends from opening day to Dec 14 and May 9 to closing day. Confirmed flat price from the resort's own season pass store; discounts available for 22 & under and 70 & up.
Buy passFull Season Pass (Adult) at Arapahoe Basin for the 2026/27 season - unlimited, unrestricted access to Colorado's longest ski and ride season (typically October-June). Confirmed flat price from the resort's own season pass store; discounts available for 22 & under and 70 & up. Separately, the Ikon Pass (not an A-Basin-specific product) is also sold via the resort's site as another season-long access option.
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