Colorado, Usa · Ikon / Mountain Collective
Arapahoe Basin
1,428 acres, 147 runs near Dillon. Colorado's first post-war resort, high-alpine terrain, Ikon Pass.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
25 Oct 2025
Closes
14 June 2026
Days open
232
Annual snow
29ft
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
2,530ft
Vertical
147
Runs
1,428 acres
Skiable
29ft
Annual snow
Ikon / Mountain Collective
Pass
The Terrain
147 runs across 1,428 acres skiable
Arapahoe Basin spreads 147 runs across 1,428 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 49%, with 10 beginner runs to find your feet and 107 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
147
runs
147 runs across 4 grades
Beginner10 runs · 7%
Intermediate29 runs · 20%
Advanced72 runs · 49%
Expert35 runs · 24%
Time it right
When to visit Arapahoe Basin
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.
Season 2025 - 2026
25 Oct 2025
Opens
14 June 2026
Closes
232
Days open
29 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Arapahoe Basin, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Arapahoe Basin, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Banff Sunshine Village - Nine Metres of Snow and a Season That Runs Until May
Banff Sunshine Village sits at 1,660m base and receives 9.27m of snow annually. Inside Banff National Park, it offers a six-month season and terrain split that skews heavily advanced - though the crowds and lift infrastructure tell their own story.
18 July 2026
Live webcams
6 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Arapahoe Basin's live webcams
Check live conditions across Arapahoe Basin with 6 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Arapahoe Basin Snow Stake12,448ft
- Monitor fresh powder accumulation at Colorado's highest ski area with this essential Arapahoe Basin webcam positioned at 3794 meters elevation. This A-Basin live cam focuses directly on the official snow stake, providing precise 24-hour snowfall measurements essential for planning your adventure on The Legend's 1,428 acres of challenging terrain. Perfect for powder hunters tracking conditions at this legendary Arapahoe Basin resort that often operates until July 4th, this live snow cam delivers the crucial data needed to time your visit for optimal skiing on some of North America's most extreme slopes.
- Mountain Goat Plaza Base Area10,856ft
- Experience the bustling heart of A-Basin's operations from this strategically positioned Arapahoe Basin webcam at the Mountain Goat Plaza at 3309 meters elevation. This essential Arapahoe Basin live cam captures the resort's single base area and Black Mountain Express lift loading zone, where skiers and riders prepare for their ascent to the famous mid-mountain terrain. Monitor current conditions and crowd levels through this Arapahoe Basin web cam, perfect for timing your arrival at Colorado's legendary high-altitude destination that consistently delivers some of the state's most reliable snow conditions.
- Arapahoe Basin Summit12,448ft
- Witness breathtaking alpine perspectives from A-Basin's Snow Plume Refuge with this summit Arapahoe Basin webcam at 3794 meters elevation. This remarkable Arapahoe Basin live cam showcases the infamous East Wall - home to some of North America's most challenging expert terrain - giving advanced skiers a preview of the steep chutes and technical lines that define The Legend. Essential for assessing upper mountain conditions, this live snow cam reveals why Arapahoe Basin's reputation for extreme skiing was earned through decades of legendary descents on Colorado's most demanding slopes.
- Black Mountain Lodge Mid-Mountain11,545ft
- Survey mid-mountain conditions from the popular Black Mountain Lodge with this strategic Arapahoe Basin webcam positioned at 3519 meters elevation. This Arapahoe Basin web cam offers stunning views of upper-mountain terrain served by the Lenawee Express, providing crucial visibility across A-Basin's expert-only East Wall territory. Monitor live conditions through this Arapahoe Basin live cam where the resort's reputation for extreme skiing was forged, perfect for expert skiers planning their assault on some of Colorado's most challenging descents.
- Montezuma Bowl12,448ft
- Discover A-Basin's spectacular back country through this south-facing Arapahoe Basin webcam at 3794 meters elevation. This essential Arapahoe Basin live cam reveals conditions in Montezuma Bowl - affectionately known as 'Zuma' to locals - while offering spectacular views toward the 10 Mile Mountain Range. Perfect for checking coverage in this beloved powder playground that helped extend A-Basin's skiable acreage, this Arapahoe Basin web cam shows why this back bowl terrain attracts powder hounds from across Colorado seeking fresh lines long after storms have passed.
- Pali + Molly Lifts10,856ft
- Witness the dramatic contrast of Colorado skiing through this dual-purpose Arapahoe Basin webcam at 3309 meters capturing both the legendary Pallavicini double chair and the beginner-friendly Molly Hogan lift. Watch as experts load the iconic 'Pali' lift to access nearly all of A-Basin's extreme terrain, while newcomers find their snow legs on Molly Hogan. This strategic Arapahoe Basin live cam showcases how this historic resort serves everyone from first-timers to professional athletes, making it a unique destination where all ability levels can experience authentic Colorado skiing at altitude.
Arapahoe Basin snow cams FAQ
How often do Arapahoe Basin snow cams update?
All Arapahoe Basin snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Arapahoe Basin.
Which Arapahoe Basin webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Arapahoe Basin Snow Stake webcam at 3,794m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Arapahoe Basin webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Arapahoe Basin lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Arapahoe Basin snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Arapahoe Basin snow cams?
Check Arapahoe Basin webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Arapahoe Basin lift tickets?
Use our Arapahoe Basin webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Arapahoe Basin webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Arapahoe Basin snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Arapahoe Basin intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.