Arapahoe Basin Ski Area – Keystone, CO | Guide – Terrain, Village, Stats, Trail Map

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, known locally as A Basin, is among the closest ski areas to Denver and one of the most diverse. There is a good mix of groomers, moguls, steeps, and bowl skiing.

Situated in Summit County nearest Keystone, it’s smaller than neighboring resorts Keystone and Breckenridge, but it delivers a longer season and some of the most challenging terrain in the county. Early and late season, A Basin can’t be beaten.

Terrain

Skiing at A-Basin with the Coopers, Colorado — Skiing at A-Basin with the Coopers. Photo: Mia & Steve Mestdagh

With a summit elevation of 13,050 feet, A Basin offers some of the highest skiable terrains in North America. There are more than one hundred different trails and numerous express lifts to access the mountain, however, only ten percent of the trails are rated as beginner. One signature run, Pallavicini, is among Colorado’s longest and steepest trails.

One of the newer terrain additions to A Basin is the Montezuma Bowl, which opened in the winter of 2007/2008. It doubled the size of the resort and contains over 1000 feet of vertical. The Montezuma Bowl has a few solid groomers, a couple of tree runs, and plenty of opportunities to traverse the open bowl for fresh pow.

If you enjoy hiking to find your fresh lines, head over to the East Wall off the Lenawee Lift. From the top of the mountain, head to the giant rock face and you should see signs to begin your hike. The East Wall is not always open due to lack of snow coverage or avalanche risk, so if you have the opportunity, check it out.

Arapahoe Basin Summit Lift — Summit at A Basin.

Village

There’s no village at A Basin, but there is a giant parking lot known as “The Beach”. It’s full of folks tailgating with beers and BBQs before, during, and after the ski day. It’s easy to find, as it is the main parking lot, all of which are free. This relaxed, laid-back vibe hits you as soon as you pull up and contributes to A Basin’s status as the locals’ mountain.

There are plenty of facilities to be found. The Black Mountain Lodge offers mid-mountain dining and there’s a large lodge at the base. Sixth Alley Bar is the place to be after a long, enjoyable day of skiing the mountain. You can find it at the base inside the lodge. You can grab beers upstairs on The Perch for a splendid view.

In addition to the above restaurants, you can grab and go for breakfast and lunch items at The Legends Cafe by the base. The highest restaurant on the mountain is Il Rifugio at Snowplume, a Euro-bistro.

Arapahoe Basin Lodge — A Basin’s lodge and base area.

Shopping is limited, but there is a gift shop in the lodge with all the necessary winter gear. A Basin does not offer any lodging options through the resort. Nearby towns in Summit County, such as Keystone, Silverthorne, and Frisco, all make great places to rest your head at night.

In the summer A Basin features the Aerial Adventure Park, which has 7 challenge courses, 2 of which are good for younger kids 4-8 years old.

Read about the Top 8 Cool Hotels in Keystone.

A small gathering at A Basin's parking lot, aka "The Beach". The Beach is really popular for tailgating during warmer days.