Mountain Review: Arapahoe Basin (2019-2022)
MOUNTAIN SCORE
CATEGORY BREAKDOWN
See our criteria
9
Snow:
8
Resiliency:
6
Size:
7
Terrain Diversity:
9
Challenge:
4
Lifts:
8
Crowd Flow:
6
Facilities:
8
Navigation:
8
Mountain Aesthetic:
GOOD TO KNOW
On-site Lodging: No
Apres-ski: Moderate
Pass Affiliation: Ikon, Mountain Collective
Recommended Ability Level:
+ Pros
Snow quality
Extremely demanding expert terrain
Lower crowds than other Colorado resorts
Season regularly extends into June
– Cons
Hiking required for some trails
No on-site lodging
Slow lifts in some areas
Altitude that can be overwhelming for some
MOUNTAIN STATS
Lifts: 9
Trails: 147
Beginner: 7%
Intermediate: 20%
Advanced/Expert: 73%
Mountain Review
With no on-site lodging and fewer crowds than other resorts, Arapahoe Basin is often overlooked by the untrained Colorado ski scene observer. Mountain infrastructure isn’t as developed and acreage isn’t as extensive as its best-known competitors, but A-Basin—as it’s often referred to for short—competes with the best in snow quality and leads in extreme terrain.
At A-Basin, you’ll often find some of the best snow conditions in Colorado. While other resorts see comparable snow accumulation, A-Basin sees less traffic and offers hundreds of acres of easily accessible terrain off each lift, resulting in less skied-off runs. In addition, A-Basin’s high elevation helps preserve the snow throughout the season. To ensure resilience and allow for opening dates as early as mid-October, the resort employs snowmaking on a few lower-elevation trails.
Despite its modest footprint, A-Basin offers a wide variety of terrain. The Black Mountain Express services below-treeline terrain for all abilities. The Lenawee and Montezuma areas provide acres of groomed above-treeline terrain, and the newly added Beavers area offers an abundance of glades for advanced visitors. For experts, the Pallavicini lift provides lappable access to long, demanding glade and mogul runs. But with only 10 green trails, this mountain is not ideal for beginners. Just about all competing mountains offer more green terrain.
A-Basin also offers two terrain parks—the highest ones in the country. The parks include a quarter pipe as well as a good mix of rails, boxes, and jumps.
A notable portion of A-Basin’s expert terrain, including the most of its truly extreme runs, lacks direct lift service. Some runs involve hikes to get in, while others require hikes to get out. But all pair with thrilling, untracked powder terrain. You’ll find some of the most difficult in-bounds terrain in Colorado here. The recently added Steep Gullies, some of which offer an early cutback to lift service, should be skied with substantial forethought. These runs neighbor unmarked cliffs and rocks that present extremely hazardous situations if you end up in the wrong spot.
If you know what you’re doing (be sure to enlist a resort frequenter if you don’t), it’s possible to actually ski down to a road and hitchhike back from some of this terrain. Locals tend to be nice about helping out, but you might have to wait awhile.
Even if you’re an experienced skier or hiker, you may find yourself unexpectedly struggling on A-Basin’s terrain due to the altitude. The resort’s hikable terrain tops out above 13,000 feet, a few thousand feet higher than the highest terrain at many competing mountains. Be sure to exhibit extra caution before attempting anything risky.
Ease-of-navigation is a must for a resort like A-Basin with multiple hike-back runs. Luckily, getting around this moderately-sized resort isn’t a problem, with gates before any non-lift serviced terrain and clearly labeled signage on every trail.
A-Basin’s biggest downside is its lift infrastructure. Lifts are placed in logical areas, and they do a good job of handling crowds most of the time. But the majority are slow, fixed-grip lifts. The pain is felt worst on the Zuma and Beavers lifts, where skiers must endure lift rides of up to 10 minutes to get out of the non-ski-out areas. Mid-mountain lifts are heavily exposed, which can make the experience especially miserable on days with bad weather.
Thankfully, conveniently placed lodges at major junction points provide relief from the outdoors. These facilities offer some of the most authentic meal options of any resort at fairly reasonable prices, although outside food is undoubtedly welcome.
Those looking for the best of nature and isolation will appreciate A-Basin’s mountain aesthetic. Minimal nearby development and iconic snow-capped peaks contribute to a special ambience here. And for those who just want to sunbathe on a nice day, A-Basin offers “The Beach”, a set of reserved parking spots at the front of the resort where you can set up a tailgate.
A major plus of A-Basin is that it often stays open as late as June or July—significantly longer than other Colorado resorts. You’ll sometimes even see powder dumps that late in the season. If you’re looking to get in some good late spring skiing in Colorado, A-Basin is the place to go.
After years on the Epic Pass, A-Basin cut ties with Vail Resorts and switched to the Ikon Pass this season. A-Basin cited excess facility crowding as a factor in their decision here. This new setup makes it more difficult to split days between A-Basin and some nearby mountains, but it has significantly cut down crowds, making the overall experience more enjoyable.
Lodging
A-Basin has no on-site lodging. The nearest options are in the town of Keystone, which used to be more convenient when Keystone and A-Basin were both on the same pass. The nearby towns of Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne also offer lodging. It may also make sense to come to A-Basin as a day trip from the nearby Copper ski area, which is also on the Ikon Pass, or Denver.
Apres-ski
Although there’s no village here, A-Basin does offer apres in its base area. The only real mountain-provided option is the 6th Alley Bar & Grill, which has a nice patio as well as a good selection of beer and wine—and killer bacon Bloody Marys. You can also make reservations to set up your own tailgate at the Beach, but spots fill up fast during the especially desirable spring season.
Verdict
A-Basin is best for those willing to overlook a lack of on-site lodging, slow lifts, and a bit of hiking for a local feel and difficult-to-beat combination of snow quality and terrain diversity. In addition, you won’t find another Colorado mountain with a better late season experience. With lift tickets priced lower than competitors—especially in pre-season sales—A-Basin offers an incredible value for what it delivers.
NOTE: Mountain Score criteria for this resort were adjusted on October 12, 2021 and April 11, 2021.
