Arapahoe Basin welcomes 2026 with a light dusting—1 inch of fresh snow overnight and a brisk air temp of 26°F. Arapahoe Basin ski resort in Colorado, United States offers a range of terrain suitable for all skill levels, with some of the best expert-level skiing in the state.
Wind
Humidity
While the base snowpack sits at 18 inches—about 46% below average—conditions remain skiable on groomed runs, thanks to extensive early-season snowmaking efforts. Snow guns continue to fire nightly as the resort combats a dry start to the winter across Colorado. Despite the modest natural snowfall, the legendary high-alpine terrain of A-Basin is offering solid coverage for early-season shredding, especially on frontside intermediate trails.
Looking ahead, the forecast calls for minimal accumulation—just 0.07 inches of moisture in the next 24 hours and around 0.6 inches through the next three days—so don’t expect a powder day quite yet. Still, the resort is buzzing with excitement as the 2025/26 season ramps up. In big news, A-Basin has announced another extended season into mid-June, and whispers of two new gondolas are stirring interest among locals and visitors alike. And for families, mark your calendars: "Kids Ski Free Week" is on the horizon. With snowmaking in full swing and a promising long-term forecast, the Basin remains a go-to for early turns and high-alpine adventure.
Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) shows how much water the snow holds. This is ideal for year-to-year tracking of real snowfall and water resources. Measurements from Loveland Basin.
Snowpack depth measures how much snow has accumulated in the area. This is a key indicator of powder quality, trail coverage, and how epic your runs are going to be this season at Arapahoe Basin.
Recent air temperature fluctuations at Arapahoe Basin impact snow quality and stability, from powder to slush.
Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort is located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The resort is situated in the Arapaho National Forest and is known for its high alpine terrain and challenging skiing and snowboarding.
Some of the pertinent mountain ranges and mountain aspects of Arapahoe Basin include:
1. The Continental Divide: Arapahoe Basin is located on the eastern side of the Continental Divide, which runs through the Rocky Mountains and separates the watersheds that flow to the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.
2. The Tenmile Range: The resort is surrounded by the stunning Tenmile Range, which includes peaks such as Lenawee Mountain, The Spine, and The Steeple. These mountains provide a picturesque backdrop for skiing and snowboarding at Arapahoe Basin.
3. High Alpine Terrain: Arapahoe Basin is known for its high alpine terrain, with a base elevation of 10,780 feet and a summit elevation of 13,050 feet. This elevation provides for long runs and challenging terrain for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
4. The East Wall: One of the most famous aspects of Arapahoe Basin is the East Wall, which offers some of the most challenging and extreme terrain in Colorado. The East Wall is only accessible by a hike or snowcat ride and provides steep chutes, cliffs, and deep powder for expert skiers and snowboarders.
Overall, Arapahoe Basin Ski Resort offers a unique and challenging skiing experience in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, with a variety of terrain and stunning mountain vistas to enjoy.
The resort's East Wall is a particular highlight, boasting challenging runs with steep chutes and tree runs. A lesser-known fact about the resort is that it was one of the first ski areas in the US to allow snowboarding in 1984. For beginners, the Molly Hogan run is a gentle slope perfect for getting comfortable on skis. After a long day on the slopes, the 6th Alley Bar & Grill is a popular apres ski spot, serving up hearty meals and drinks.
Night Skiing | No |
Lift Count | 7 Lifts |
Hourly Lift Capacity | 10500 per hour |
Base Elevation | 3286 Meters |
Terrain Park | Yes |
Acreage | 900 Acres |
Established | 1946 |
Run Count | 105 Trails |
The ski area received 1" of new snowfall since yesterday.
Weather today, snow likely, mainly after 4pm. cloudy, with a high near 31. breezy, with a west wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. chance of precipitation is 60%. total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Steamboat Springs and the surrounding Routt National Forest are primed for the heaviest snowfall over the next five days, with Dry Lake and Elk River sensors forecasting 13 inches, and nearby Tower projecting 12 inches. These areas feed directly into Steamboat Ski Resort, making it the top pick for powder chasers. Rabbit Ears Pass and Scotch Creek are also expecting ... Read more