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Thanks to snowmaking efforts that began on Oct. 3, Arapahoe Basin now plans to open for skiing and snowboarding on Friday, Oct. 21.
The Black Mountain Express lift will start spinning at 9 a.m., providing access to the intermediate High Noon trail. Early season pricing (through Dec. 16) for single day lift tickets will be $76 for adults, $64 for youth (ages 15-18), and $38 for kids (ages 6-14).
Arapahoe Basin chief operating officer Alan Henceroth said, “We’ve been fortunate to have optimal conditions for our snowmaking team to get a base on the High Noon trail, and offer our guests skiing and snowboarding in October.”
The resort hopes to open more terrain off the Black Mountain lift, but it’s all up to Mother Nature. “We’ll take it day-to-day, but it could be a little while before we open a few more runs,” A-Basin communications director Leigh Hierholzer said.
A-Basin looks to reclaim its title as first to open in the country after it missed out last season, when Killington in Vermont spun lifts for the first time on Oct. 17.
The Mountain
The 68-year-old legend offers some of the highest skiable terrain in North America. Half of the mountain is above timberline with open bowl skiing and snowboarding through spring and into early summer. One of its signature runs, Pallavicini, is one of Colorado’s longest and steepest trails.
Statistics
Vertical rise: 2,270 feet
Base elevation: 10,780 feet
Summit elevation: 13,050 feet
Average annual snowfall: 350 inches
Number of trails: 109
Longest run: 1.5 miles
Skiable acres: 960
Snowmaking acres: 125
