Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, often referred to as “A-Basin,” is a popular ski resort located in Summit County, Colorado.
Here’s some information about Arapahoe Basin:
- Location: Arapahoe Basin is situated in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, approximately 68 miles west of Denver. It is located near the Continental Divide and is known for its high elevation.
- Skiing and Snowboarding: Arapahoe Basin is renowned for its diverse and challenging terrain, making it a favorite destination for both skiers and snowboarders. The resort offers a total skiable area of about 1,428 acres, with a summit elevation of 13,050 feet (3,978 meters) and a base elevation of 10,780 feet (3,286 meters). It has a vertical drop of approximately 2,530 feet (771 meters).
- Terrain and Trails: Arapahoe Basin features a wide range of slopes suitable for all skill levels, from beginner to expert. The resort offers over 100 named trails and several bowls, chutes, glades, and groomed runs. It is known for its steep and challenging terrain, especially in the East Wall and Pallavicini areas.
- Extended Season and “The Legend”: Arapahoe Basin is known for its long ski season, often starting in October and lasting into late spring or early summer. It has earned the nickname “The Legend” due to its reputation for offering some of the longest ski seasons in North America.
- Snow Conditions: Arapahoe Basin benefits from its high elevation and favorable snowfall patterns, often receiving abundant natural snowfall. The resort also has extensive snowmaking capabilities, ensuring quality snow conditions throughout the season.
- Amenities and Facilities: Arapahoe Basin offers various amenities and facilities to enhance the skiing experience. These include rental equipment, ski and snowboard lessons for all skill levels, on-mountain dining options, a ski shop, and a base area with parking facilities.
- Hiking and Scenic Beauty: In the summer months, Arapahoe Basin transforms into a hiking destination. The resort offers scenic trails that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, alpine meadows, and wildflowers.
- Community and Events: Arapahoe Basin has a vibrant ski community and hosts several events and competitions throughout the year. These include live music performances, festivals, races, and other activities that attract both locals and visitors.
Please note that specific details and offerings at Arapahoe Basin may have changed since my last knowledge update in September 2021. For the most accurate and up-to-date information about Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, I recommend visiting the resort’s official website or contacting them directly.
Commons Questions We Here About Arapahoe Basin
What Are The Best Snowboard Lessons At Arapahoe Basin? Arapahoe Basin normally provides snowboard instruction for all skill levels, from novice to expert riders. These sessions are a fantastic way to advance your snowboarding abilities or, if you’re a beginner, learn the fundamentals. The teachers at the resort are often skilled and may offer teaching that is customized to your needs. Group lessons, one-on-one lessons, and tailored courses for kids and adults are all possible types of lessons.
How Far Is Arapahoe Basin’s From Denver International Airport (DEN)? Road travel from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Arapahoe Basin takes about 90 miles. It usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the drive, depending on traffic and weather. To get from the airport to the resort, visitors to Arapahoe Basin frequently rent automobiles or take advantage of shuttle services.
Is The Black Mountain Lodge A Fun Place To Hang Out? At Arapahoe Basin, Black Mountain Lodge is a well-liked on-mountain restaurant. It is situated close to the summit of the Black Mountain Express chairlift at mid-mountain. The lodge provides a variety of food and drinks, as well as magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and a friendly ambiance. It’s a nice spot to stop and have a hot beverage or a meal while snowboarding or skiing.
What Are The Cost Of Ski Rentals At Arapahoe Basin? The cost of renting skis and snowboards at Arapahoe Basin varies based on a few different aspects, including the kind of equipment you require (standard, performance, or demo gear) and the length of time you want to borrow it for (full day, half day, etc.). Seasonal variations in rental rates are another possibility.
Additional Information About A Basin Ski Area:
If you ask typical Coloradans what’s changed at Arapahoe Basin in the last few seasons, a mention of the Montezuma Bowl expansion is probably the first thing to leave their mouths. But for the locals who ski the Basin regularly, they might also give a nod to Black Mountain Lodge and some of the exciting new culinary additions.
Introduced in the 2008-2009 season to a sellout crowd, the Black Mountain Lodge Full Moon Snowshoe Dinner Series is one of those offerings. Equipped with snowshoes and headlamps, dinner guests ride the Exhibition Lift from the base to Black Mountain Lodge, Arapahoe Basin’s newest on-mountain restaurant.
Live music begins and, as dusk turns to night, diners settle in for a spread of gourmet cuisine prepared by A-Basin chef Christopher Rybak. When the food is gone and the music quiets, guests snowshoe or hike down the mountain under the light of the full (or nearly full) moon.
“Number one, I like doing nice food,” Rybak says “Number two, I really think that when you provide a special thing for the guest it makes a big difference. What a great experience if they get to ride a chairlift and go to dinner. It’s that wow factor.”
As the chef who opened the Alpenglow Stube, Keystone’s four-diamond, signature restaurant, Rybak knows a thing or two about wow factor.
He began upping the ante at A-Basin with super-yummy barbecue and bison stew at the Black Mountain Lodge, and now visitors can indulge in crepes on the weekends. You also can expect to find the burgers standing tall and the onion rings hot and crispy.
“With everything I try to incorporate value,” Rybak says. “You can walk away saying ‘Maybe I paid $8.95 for a burger, but it was well worth it.’”
Like the burgers, the Full Moon Snowshoe Dinner Series will be totally worth it. Themed dinners include Asian samplings such as dim sum and soba noodles as well as a night of French fare that incorporates fine cheeses and delicate sweets.
In the summer, look for the Alpenglow Dinner and Wildflower Hike, a similar affair that involves a chairlift ride, gourmet cuisine inspired by local ingredients and a post-dinner wildflower hike back to the base area.
Though the installation of a new, high-speed quad means the summer dinners will skip a season, it’s not too late for the spring snowshoe series. All previous dinners sold out, a sign that guests should plan to buy tickets well in advance.