North America
Arapahoe Basin Resort Guide
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Resort Guide
Arapahoe Basin, located in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, is renowned for its high elevation, long ski season, and diverse terrain that caters to both advanced and beginner skiers. The resort features over 1,400 acres of skiable terrain, including challenging steeps, open bowls, and scenic glades. Known for its laid-back atmosphere and iconic “Beach” tailgating area at the base, Arapahoe Basin offers a unique mountain experience with modern amenities, on-mountain dining, and a focus on sustainability. Its extended season, often running into June, distinguishes it as a premier destination for spring skiing.
Gallery
Click to expand • 10 total photos
Terrain & lifts
Resort-reported stats for Arapahoe Basin
Lifts
9
Skiable area
1428 ac
Longest run
4 km / 2.5 mi
Runs by difficulty(147 total)
Beginner
10
7% of terrain
Intermediate
30
20% of terrain
Advanced
72
49% of terrain
Expert
35
24% of terrain
Run counts estimated from resort-reported totals and terrain mix.
Terrain by difficulty
- Beginner7%
- Intermediate20%
- Advanced49%
- Expert24%
Lift fleet
- High-speed 61
- High-speed quad1
- Double chair1
- Surface lift4
Resort Info
Season dates
Ski passes
Access tiers change by season — confirm benefits on the pass operator's site.
Top Après Ski
6th Alley Bar & Grill – Renowned for its laid-back vibe and stunning mountain views, this slopeside bar is a favorite among locals and visitors alike for its craft beers, signature bacon bloody marys, and lively après-ski scene.
Season vs Historic
Updated Tue, Sep 22, 12:02 PM UTC
0cm
Season Total
This Season to Date
-100%
vs 5-Year Avg
216cm avg by now
-100%
vs 30-Year Avg
204cm avg by now
216cm
5-Yr Avg by Now
The last completed season totaled ~177.1 cm. That's 18% below the 5-year average (216 cm). Versus the 30-year baseline: 13% below the 30-year average (204 cm).
Arapahoe Basin Season Snowfall
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Arapahoe Basin Snow History
Average annual snowfall is 288cm with an average of 75 snowfall days per season. The recent decade runs 19% above this average (341cm over the last ten tracked seasons). The table below shows monthly averages across 30 seasons of archive data (modeled snowpack at mid-elevation).
| Month | Avg Snowfall | Snowfall Days | Avg Base Depth | Max Base Depth | Biggest Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 26cm | 7 days | 15cm | 26cm | 7cm |
| December | 30cm | 8 days | 31cm | 44cm | 7cm |
| January | 30cm | 9 days | 49cm | 62cm | 7cm |
| February | 32cm | 10 days | 64cm | 78cm | 6cm |
| March | 40cm | 11 days | 74cm | 88cm | 9cm |
| April | 52cm | 11 days | 80cm | 96cm | 12cm |
| May | 36cm | 8 days | 66cm | 91cm | 10cm |
Source: SnowSure archive · Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis at mid-elevation. Depth is modeled, not resort-reported.
SnowSure Score by Month
Season 2025-26
—
No full season on record
43 days scored, from 22 Feb
47
Best Day
22 Feb
0
Excellent+ Days
Scored 50 or above
2
Powder Days
6cm+ fresh snow
Highest-scoring days
February 2026
- 4722 Feb
- 4227 Feb5cm
- 4128 Feb
March 2026
- 437 Mar13cm
- 412 Mar2cm
- 391 Mar
April 2026
- 364 Apr1cm
- 353 Apr1cm
- 302 Apr2cm
February scored highest for Arapahoe Basin in 2025-26. Based on 43 days the resort was verified open. One season of scores describes what happened, not what to expect.
Season at a Glance
Next season(2026-27)
Opens Oct 24, 2026
Through May 16, 2027
Multi-season averages will appear once SnowSure has tracked more than one full season.
Best Months to Visit
February
Peak Season
January
Peak Season
March
Good
December
Good
Note: Based on typical ski season patterns for this region.
Frequently asked questions about Arapahoe Basin
- Where is Arapahoe Basin?
- Arapahoe Basin is a ski resort in the United States.
- How high is Arapahoe Basin?
- Arapahoe Basin runs from a base elevation of 3,286 m (10,781 ft) to a summit of 3,978 m (13,051 ft), giving a vertical drop of 692 m (2,270 ft).
- How big is Arapahoe Basin?
- Arapahoe Basin has 1,428 acres (578 hectares) of skiable terrain, 147 marked runs and 9 lifts.
- Which ski pass covers Arapahoe Basin?
- Arapahoe Basin is on the Ikon Pass. Access terms such as blackout dates and day limits vary by pass tier, so check the pass operator for the current season.
- When is ski season at Arapahoe Basin?
- Arapahoe Basin typically operates from October to May. Exact opening and closing dates shift each year with snowfall — check the resort's current season dates before booking.
- How much snow does Arapahoe Basin get in a typical season?
- Arapahoe Basin averages 350 inches / 890 cm of snowfall in a typical season. Any individual season can run well above or below that.
