Arapahoe Basin Announces Paid Parking Reservation System for 2024-25, Signals Ikon Access May Change
Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin will require paid parking reservations on weekends, holidays, and other peak days next season.
For the 2024-25 season, Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin will become the latest resort to adopt a paid parking reservation policy during peak times, according to the resort.
From mid-December through early May, the resort will charge $20 per car to park anywhere at the resort on weekends, holidays, and “other” peak days. Guests will need to secure their spots ahead of time using a new reservation system. A limited number of $150 parking season passes will allow guests to park for free throughout the entire season; however, purchasers of this pass will still need to make daily reservations. In the post making this announcement, Arapahoe Basin COO Al Henceroth explained that congestion on the U.S. 6 access highway prompted the move—and that the policy change had nothing to do with the resort’s impending sale to Alterra.
As in previous seasons, the resort will retain preferred carpool parking. Large groups will see their parking reservation fees waived, but the number of required passengers to qualify as a carpool will increase from three to four, and carpoolers will still need to reserve their spot ahead of time.
In the same post detailing the parking changes, Henceroth also clarified that changes to Arapahoe Basin’s Ikon Pass access may occur when the Alterra sale closes. However, he also mentioned that the resort will “continue to” limit Ikon Pass access, lift ticket numbers, and season pass sales.
Finalized information on this new parking system, including how to make reservations and the number of reservations one can hold at a time, will be available this fall. An Arapahoe Basin customer service representative confirmed to us that at this time, there are no plans to waive the parking fees for Arapahoe Basin season pass holders who do not purchase the additional $150 pass.
Our Take
Over the past few years, several ski resorts in Utah and on the West Coast have adopted paid parking reservations for weekends and holidays. Now, Arapahoe Basin stands out as the first major ski resort in Colorado to follow suit. Even as recently as a few years ago, Arapahoe Basin’s lots only filled up on a handful of days; it’s eye-opening to see just how much the demand for the resort has increased over the past two or three years.
By instituting parking fees during peak times, A-Basin aligns itself with larger destinations like Aspen Snowmass, Vail, and Breckenridge, which have implemented similar policies for years. However, unlike these larger resorts, which continue to provide complimentary parking in more distant lots serviced by shuttles, A-Basin distinguishes itself as the first in Colorado to eliminate free parking options for weekends and holidays entirely. This fee is, of course, waived by carpooling, but fitting four people in a car takes a lot more spacial planning than the previously required three (as a reminder, while A-Basin hasn’t required paid reservations in years’ past, carpoolers of 3+ have historically been entitled to preferred parking spots).
While some A-Basin frequenters may appreciate the dependability that comes with reserving a spot, the move will likely disappoint others who have historically enjoyed the resort's hassle-free, “no-strings-attached” arrival experience. Requiring reservations may bring some much-needed traffic relief to the immediately adjacent U.S. 6; however, it’s unlikely to solve the problem of stop-and-go Interstate 70 traffic from Denver, so the traffic relief that visitors will feel may be minimal.
Perhaps the biggest losers from this policy move are those who purchased a full Arapahoe Basin season pass before this Thursday. These Arapahoe Basin Unrestricted Pass holders made this non-refundable purchase without the knowledge that they would have to pay extra for parking during the season’s peak times, and now they face the prospect of an extra $150 charge to sidestep parking fees on weekends. Especially when these pass holders tend to be the most loyal patrons of the resort, the move may feel like a slap in the face.
Ultimately, while the move to a paid parking reservation system is understandable from Arapahoe Basin’s point of view, it’s less than exciting to see another locally-oriented resort adding more paid elements to access the mountain. Combined with the mountain’s planned sale to Alterra—and the unknown but potential Ikon Pass access changes coming later this year—the resort has generated a lot of negative press lately. However, there is one notable silver lining: given that A-Basin's visitor capacity is essentially limited by its parking space, it's highly unlikely that any changes—short of constructing additional lots—will lead to longer lift lines or increased crowding on the slopes.
Considering a ski trip to Arapahoe Basin this year? Check out our full Colorado and Rockies rankings, as well as our comprehensive Arapahoe Basin review. You can also check out our Arapahoe Basin review in video form below.
