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    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.

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    Weekly report
    →
    Colorado snow report
    Week of 8 Nov

    Dry week ahead, then snow favours the San Juans

    Season 2026 - 2027
    Opens
    24 Oct 2026
    Closes
    16 May 2027
    Days open
    204
    Annual snow
    350in
    Snow record
    0in
    2026-27 so far
    0% of a typical winter181in
    Explore 3 winters of snowfall→
    The Overview
    MF
    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
    350in
    Annual snow
    Ikon / Mountain Collective
    Pass
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    The Terrain

    147 runs across 1,428 acres skiable

    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.

    Terrain split
    147
    runs
    147 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner10 runs · 7%
    Intermediate29 runs · 20%
    Advanced72 runs · 49%
    Expert35 runs · 24%
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    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 2026 - 2027
    24 Oct 2026
    Opens
    16 May 2027
    Closes
    204
    Days open
    350 in
    Annual snow
    The record

    Historical snowfall at Arapahoe Basin

    Daily snow reports at Arapahoe Basin go back to 2025, 3 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.

    12 in
    Snowiest day
    7 Mar 2026
    0 in
    This winter · 2026-27
    so far
    181 in
    Typical winter
    average of complete seasons
    Explore historical snowfall →
    Winter totals
    in
    Past wintersThis winter
    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

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    Hotels and lodges near Arapahoe Basin, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

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    1 Nov 2026

    Arapahoe Basin Snow Report

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    Week of 8 NovColorado weekly snow report→

    Never miss powder

    Real-time Arapahoe Basin snow reports & forecasts in your pocket.

    Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play
    Snow Report
    Updated 14 Nov 2026
    13,048ft
    summit
    +0in
    new snow · last 24 hours
    Clear10°F / 29°F · W 6mph
    Snowfall
    24 hours
    0in
    48 hours
    0in
    7 days
    0in
    Base depth
    0in
    Season total
    0in
    Typical winter 181in
    See how this winter compares→
    Total lifts9

    Live open status isn’t available right now.

    24 Oct 2026 - 16 May 2027

    Hour by Hour

    Next 17 hours· Updated Nov 12, 2026 at 5:02 AM
    Fri7p8p9p10p11pSat12a1a2a3a4a5a6a7a8a9a10a11a
    Conditions
    Temp°F · feels
    2515
    2414
    2313
    2313
    2213
    2113
    2013
    2012
    2012
    2013
    1912
    2215
    2215
    2618
    2820
    2920
    3022
    Snowfallin
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    Precip chance%
    0%
    0%
    0%
    0%
    0%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    2%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    10%
    Precipin00000000000000000
    Wind / gustmph
    8G13
    9G13
    8G12
    6G10
    4G7
    3G4
    3G4
    4G4
    4G5
    3G5
    2G4
    1G3
    2G3
    4G4
    2G5
    4G9
    4G8

    Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo

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    7-Day Outlook

    12,543 ftUpdated Nov 12, 2026 at 5:02 AMOpen-Meteo

    Days 1–7

    0.0"

    Days 8–14

    3.4"

    Unlock days 8–14

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    Sun, Nov 15

    Overcast
    Temp29° / 10°°F
    Snow0.0"(43%)
    Wind6 mph W

    Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.

    Understanding the Arapahoe Basin snow report

    Arapahoe Basin snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this Colorado resort on the Ikon / Mountain Collective.

    Snow measurements

    Our snow reports measure snowfall in centimeters over multiple time windows — last 24 hours, last 7 days, and the season total. Base depth reflects accumulation at the 3206m base area, while summit depth captures conditions 771m higher at 3977m, where snow typically stays colder and lingers longer. Imperial conversions are shown alongside for convenience.

    Weather conditions

    Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Arapahoe Basin are holding up or starting to soften.

    Data sources

    We pull Arapahoe Basin's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 9 lifts, including 4 quad chairlifts and a 6-person chairlift.

    When to check

    Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.

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