Grab your skis or snowboard, your 4th of July finery and head up to Arapahoe Basin. Yes that’s right. Skiing on July 4th at Arapahoe Basin is not a myth! The ski area has extended its closing day to July 4th this year. Optimal conditions still exist on the upper part of the mountain. The Black Mountain Express will take you to the Lenawee lift, which will take you to the upper part of the mountain. The last time A-Basin was open this late into the summer was back in 2011. This year the snow is even better! Lifts will be running 8:30am – 2:30pm and ticket prices are $69. If you have a season pass from anywhere in the world the lift ticket price is $59 and if you have an Epic Pass, you don’t have to pay a thing! Food and drinks will be available in the 6th Alley until 4:00pm. There are so many activities and possibilities for the 4th of July this year. Come up and play!
Today was so fun! I went up to Arapahoe Basin with a good group of friends for some quick laps before heading to work. I had a couple friends in town that had never skied A-basin before, so we wanted to show them around the mountain. The weather wasn’t the greatest but we made due. We started out on Black Mountain Express, or what the locals call BMX. It only gets you about halfway up the mountain, but it still accesses some pretty fun runs. I like it most because it accesses beginner to intermediate terrain, but you’re still able to keep good speed while hitting jumps, bumps and side hits.
After warming up a few short runs, we sent it down to Palli, or less commonly known as Pallavicini. This chair accesses some of the most gnarly, steep, and advanced terrain in Summit County. To many locals it’s regarded as the most fun terrain to ski in the county, but that’s all dependent on your ski skill level. With not much recent snow in the past few days and being with some first timers to the mountain, we decided to take West Wall, which is one of the mellower runs down. It’s one of the few groomed runs accessed by the Palli lift and it does have a great pitch to it though making it great for ripping deep turns. We followed West Wall down to Dercum’s Gulch where it flattens out a little bit leading you to Lenawee Lift. Lenawee is my preferred lift at A-basin, it accesses a wide variety of runs that are above tree line. It can even be skied by most beginner to intermediate level skiers with the amount of blue runs it services.
Upon approaching the top of the mountain, I sent it over to Humbug, one of my favorite runs on the mountain. It has a sweet gully feel to it, almost making it a natural halfpipe. From there I went down to Lenawee Parks, skiing right under the lift. I call those runs under the lift the ‘Hollywood Lines’ because everyone is watching you, it really puts you in the spotlight for your 15 seconds of fame. Lenawee Parks and the neighboring runs are all really fun because of the way the terrain creates natural jumps making for some really good sends. From there we passed the Lenawee Lift and dropped into the TB Glades for some decent tree skiing. I like the trails through here because the trees are spacious enough to really allow you to get into a good flow and rhythm. After the Glades, we hopped onto Wrangler for a nice easy run out to the bottom, were we regrouped for some quick drinks at the 5th Alley Bar, they have one of the best bloody marys in the county.
All in all I’d say it was a great day, despite the weather. I think everyone should experience this mountain, so I try to bring all my friends to A-Basin. It has so many great things to offer, from the amazing views atop Lenawee and Palli Lifts, to the friendly vibe all the employees give off and of course the great skiing! You should definitely check out the legend, Arapahoe Basin, while you’re in town.
Looking for ways to save money this ski season? How about 2 free days of skiing or snowboarding this winter for your kids!? Arapahoe Basin’s ‘Kids Free 2 Ski Program’ is back for the 2018 – 2019 ski season. Kids ages 6-12, can ski or snowboard for FREE any two (2) days of the 2018 – 2019 ski season at A-Basin with NO BLACKOUT DATES. All it takes is a little prep work and you will be on the way to free skiing for your kids in Colorado this winter!
We know, it sounds too good to be true, right? We’re not kidding you though! This deal really is, absolutely and completely free! All you have to do is get signed up in advance of the deadline of December 17, 2018. You can register online, signup at a Front Range ski show or in-person at the mountain. Included with the program is a first-timer ski or snowboard full-day lesson at 50% off if your child is new to the sport. The lesson includes a lift ticket, so really you will have 2 additional free days after the lesson! Lessons are offered between November 17, 2018 and April 28, 2019 and must be booked in advance. Please call Guest Services at 888.272.7246 to book your lesson.
When you pickup your pass at the ticket office on the day you want to ski or ride, you will need to bring a proof of age for your child, such as a school ID, report card or birth certificate. Have a child age 5 or under? He or she skis FREE every day; just come to the ticket window for your FREE 5 & under lift ticket! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity for free kids skiing at Arapahoe Basin this ski season! Sign up today!
If all of this spring snow wasn’t enough and you need another reason to head up to the mountains this weekend, how about an Earth Day celebration at Arapahoe Basin?
This Saturday, April 21, head to Arapahoe Basin, preferably via a car pool with as many people as you can for their Earth Day Event. Arapahoe Basin, Darn Tough, Clif Bar and Denver Beer Company are pulling together to support this Earth Day event that benefits POW, (Protect Our Winters). Guests are encouraged to car pool – those who show up with 3 or more people in the car will receive Darn Tough Socks, Clif bars and raffle tickets for the raffle at 3:00 p.m. in Mountain Goat Plaza. There will also be special discount lift tickets available to those participating in the Earth Day event, so just tell the ticket office you are there to save the world!
Head out to the mountain and get registered for the Scavenger Hunt, which runs from 9 am – 2 pm. Teams of two cost $20 and you can add more to your team for just $5 a head. You’ll fill out a passport and earn a prize if and when it’s complete! Proceeds go to benefit POW.
At 2pm, listen to local athlete and professional skier, Cody Cirillo talk about Climate Change. Cody resides in Breckenridge, CO and is a member of POW. He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Health. Find out what we can do to help save our snow and protect the future of the snow sports industry.
Finally at 3 pm, find out if you have the winning ticket at the Apres-Party in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The popular 90’s tribute band, ‘Gin Doctors’ from Denver will be jamming on for your nostalgic pleasure from 12 – 3 pm, with food and drink specials available too.
Need a place to stay the night or the weekend? SummitCove Lodging has some unbelievable lodging deals in Keystone, with condos starting at $49 a night. Even better, take the free Summit Stage bus from River Run Village up to the basin and make a difference this Earth Day!
Although Keystone’s lifts stop turning on April 8, Arapahoe Basin stays open for a few more months, typically into early June, depending on the snow. A-Basin is just 7 miles up the hill from Keystone and there is even a free shuttle, the Swan Mountain Flyer, from the Summit Stage that will take you up there! Why not extend your ski season and head to Arapahoe Basin for some more turns and fun events?
Arapahoe Basin Spring Events
Wednesday, April 11 29th Annual Enduro & Apres Party A fundraiser and ski-a-thon that benefits ‘Building Hope’, a division of the FIRC that provides mental health and suicide prevention assistance in our mountain community.
Friday, April 13 6th Alley Bar & Grill Supper Club – Italian Night From 6:30 – 8:30, enjoy an italian dinner of baby arugula salad, chicken marsala and tiramisu for just $22 plus tax and gratuity at the 6th Alley Bar & Grill. Call 888-ARAPAHOE (272-7246) to make a reservation.
Saturday, April 21 Earth Day Celebration Sponsored by Denver Beer Company Darn Tough, Clif Bar, POW and the Denver Beer Company team up to sponsor a fun day of carpooling and sustainability. The first few hundred people to show up with 3 or more people in their car will win a prize package and raffle tickets. Sign up for the Scavenger Hunt for just $20 for a team of 2, $5 for each extra person, proceeds benefit POW (Protect Our Winters). At 2 pm, local athlete Cody Cirillo will give a talk about Climate Change. The apres party is from 12 – 3 with live music by the Gin Doctors and the final raffle at 3pm.
Friday, April 27 Moonlight Dinner Series – Randonee – A Polynesian Luau This dinner is sold out. Hawaiian shirts and hawaiian dancers – head up the mountain on skis or snow shoes and head down in the moonlight. Enjoy polynesian luau fare including a roast pig, along with entertainment and live music at this unique on-mountain event.
Saturday, April 28 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with Black Dog – A Led Zeppelin Cover Band Free live music from Black Dog, who has an extensive catalog of Zeppelin songs, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Friday, May 4 6th Alley Bar & Grill Supper Club – Beer Makers Dinner featuring Elevation Beer Co. This dinner is sold out. Head to A-Basin’s 6th Avenue Bar & Grill for a 5-course meal, with each course paired with a 5 – 7 ounce pour from Elevation Brewery. Cost is $68 plus tax and gratuity.
Saturday, May 5 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with King Cardinal Free live music from Americana – Folk – Country band, King Cardinal, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Saturday, May 12 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with HomeSlice Free live music from HomeSlice, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Saturday, May 12 3rd Annual Swimwear Day & Spring Rail Jam Dress in your favorite swimwear and get a raffle ticket for prizes and a chance to win a Never Summer snowboard! The Spring Rail Jam will also be taking place in the Treeline Terrain Park. Show up to compete and earn a chance to win prizes and bragging rights!
Saturday, May 19 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with The Beloved Invaders Free live music from The Beloved Invaders, an instrumental surf band, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Saturday, May 26 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with Whitewater Ramble Free live music from the Rocky Mountain Dance Grass Americana favorite, Whitewater Ramble, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza. The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Sunday, May 27 17th Annual Festival of the Brewpubs with Mojomama Beer tasting, gourmet cuisine and live music, all in between turns on the mountain! What could be better? Beer sampling from 14 breweries from 12 – 4 pm, with live music from R&B / Funk Colorado based band, Mojomama from 1 – 4 pm.
The Summit Stage bus will run from Keystone to A-Basin Saturdays and Sundays through Sunday, May 28th, 2018. The free bus will leave River Run, in Keystone, at :55 after the hour until 4:55 p.m.. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10 p.m. to go back to Keystone. The Summit Stage runs from all towns in Summit County and is a great way to save gas, save money and it is completely FREE!
Spring Rail Jam #2 Also taking place will be the free Spring Rail Jam #2 at Treeline Terrain Park, happening from 9 am – 2 pm. Compete to win prizes!
Saturday, June 2 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with artist TBA Free live music from The Burroughs, self described as ‘sweaty soul music’, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza.
Sunday, June 3 Shakin’ at the Basin Spring Concert Series with Tunisia Free live music from high energy entertainment group, Tunisia, playing from 1 – 4 pm in the Mountain Goat Plaza.
Arapahoe Basin is now officially open for the 2017 / 2018 ski season here in Colorado! Recent big, early season snowfall and cool fall temperatures helped the resort make opening day a reality. Typically the resort is one of the first to open in Colorado, with this year being no exception and opening about a week earlier than they did on 2016’s opening day, October 21. Loveland Ski Area has commented that it shouldn’t be far behind and is already making snow, pushing to get open as soon as possible. Keystone Resort is also now less than a month away from their scheduled opening day on Friday, November 10. Epic Passes are currently on sale, with a variety of options that include skiing and both Arapahoe Basin and Keystone Ski Resorts. Excited skiers and snowboards were waiting in line well before today’s 9am start time, with some even camping out nearby the evening before to try and get the coveted ‘first chair’ of the season! Many visitors dress up in fun costumes or bright neon ski clothing or even Halloween costumes for opening day. The energy level is high and opening day is nothing short of a fun time.
Get excited for Keystone’s opening day and take advantage of SummitCove Vacation Lodging’s opening weekend lodging sale, offering 50% off lodging at select properties. Opening Day is tons of fun with first tracks and lots of freebies like free coffee, doughnut holes and prizes!
Today Keystone and Summit County woke up to chilly temperatures and a wonderful dusting of snow on our surrounding mountain peaks! The first snow of the season is always exciting and gets everyone thinking about ski season. We are counting down the days until we will be skiing and riding for the 2017 / 2018 ski season at Keystone Resort. Opening day at Keystone is scheduled for Friday, November 10, 2017. It is a lot of fun to attend opening day, there is so much excitement in the air and there are tons of freebies and fun, like free coffee and doughnut holes and prize giveaways! It always feels great to get back out on the snow. Book a ski condo for opening weekend at Keystone and save up to 50% on your ski lodging with SummitCove.
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Arapahoe Basin will surely be open sooner, typically opening sometime in mid-October, depending on the weather. A-Basin and Loveland Ski Resort are located within just a few miles of Keystone and the two resorts always have a friendly race as to who will be the first to open and are often the first of our Colorado resorts to open for skiing and riding!
Speaking of snow, now is the perfect time to start planning your Keystone winter ski vacation. Book a winter ski condo for Thanksgiving or over the holidays with SummitCove. Take your family on the perfect vacation and make holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy all of the kid-friendly and free activities that Keystone offers with Keystone Kidtopia, a daily festival that’s just for kids. Book your winter stay today and save 10% when you use the promo code ‘WINTERNOW’ when checking out on www.www.summitcove.com. We have over 300 rental properties available at Keystone Resort, ranging from budget-friendly slopeside studios, perfect for a ski couple, all the way up to 6-bedroom private homes for a family mountain getaway. Some of the top buildings for families in Keystone include The Springs Condos at River Run, Red Hawk Lodge, Tennis Townhomes, Expedition Station and Settler’s Creek Townhomes.
Great news for all you skiers and snowboarders looking to get your ski season started, Arapahoe Basin has set their opening day for their riders to open tomorrow October 21st, 2016! This season will mark the 70th anniversary for A-Basin being open. Black Mountain Express Lift will be the first chair going up, starting at 9:00 a.m. so be there and in line to get first chair!
A-Basin has historically known for being one of the first ski areas to open here in Colorado. Did you know that the earliest A-Basin has ever opened was October 9th in the 2009-2010 season? The latest they have stayed open in the past has been till August 10th in the 1995-1996 season. That means skiers and snowboarders had 245 days of riding days that winter!
Discounted tickets are available here for you to purchase online in advance. There is currently construction taking place at the lodge, but A-Basin will still have food options available making it more comfortable for you to ski longer. The Basin is also remodeling and enlarging their retail shop. If you need to purchase gloves, hats, goggles, etc. they will have shop set up in the kids center until they finish up. If you are newer to the sport of skiing or snowboarding, lessons will begin opening day at the Basin and continue throughout the season. Need rentals? A-Basin has you covered. Their rental shop will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Ski rental options will include items from skis, snowboards and boots. If you are a guest of SummitCove Lodging, you can get 25% off rentals booking with Mountain View Sports, located in the Mountain View Plaza in Keystone.
If you are in need of lodging, Arapahoe Basin Ski Lodge is conveniently located near Keystone, Colorado. SummitCove has a variety of lodging options for you to book for the weekend so you can enjoy the opening day snow! If you are looking for reliable transportation to A-Basin after booking a room with us in Keystone, the Summit Stage bus can safely transport you to and from A-Basin. This service is free and you can view the bus schedule online.
Have a safe and fun filled weekend of winter time fun and we’ll ‘ski’ you there!
If you are looking for a fun event over this Memorial Day weekend, head up to Arapahoe Basin on Sunday, May 24th for their Annual ‘Festival of the Brewpubs.’ Whether you choose to ski or not, the day is full of fun with live music, tasty beer, great food and a fun crowd!
Festival of the Brewpubs 2013 at Arapahoe Basin photo credit: theskichannel.com
11 Colorado breweries will be on hand for the event, including 4 hailing right here from Summit County- Broken Compass, Pug Ryan’s, Dillon Dam and Breckenridge Brewery. Other attending breweries include AC Golden, Avery Brewing Co., Ska Brewing, Twisted Pine, Left Hand Brewery, Great Divide Brewing Co. and Wynkoop Brewing Co.
$30 gets you a commemorative mug that includes unlimited beer sampling from 12 – 4 pm. A portion of the proceeds from the event goes to benefit C-RAD, Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment and the Avalanche Rescue Dogs of Colorado. Food tasting tickets are $1 each and food items ranges from 4 – 9 tickets. Enjoy festival turkey legs, brats, pretzels, Rocky Mountain Oysters and more goodies!
The music at the event is free and features tunes from local band, Funky Johnson. To check out some of their music, visit their website: www.funkyjohnson.com.
Don’t drink and drive, ride the free Summit Stage bus or designate a sober driver! Tomorrow is the last day The Summit Stage bus will be running from Keystone to A-Basin for the 14 – 15 ski season. The free bus leaves River Run in Keystone at :55 after the hour, until 4:55pm. The last bus will leave A-Basin at 5:10pm to go back to Keystone. For more information the Summit Stage bus to Arapahoe Basin, please visit SummitStage.com.
Stay the night in nearby Keystone and receive discounted accommodations from SummitCove Lodging. Stay 2 nights over the holiday weekend and your 3rd night is free.
Keystone’s ski season may be over, but the snow is falling and Arapahoe Basin is having a fantastic spring with over 2 feet of new snow in the past few weeks! With a closing date pushed back to June 6, A-Basin has a lot of skiing left and plenty of events to accompany.
Throughout May, A-Basin hosts a myriad of bands for their Shakin’ at the Basin May Concert Series. Every Saturday, a new band will be playing at the base from 1 to 4 pm. These concerts are always free and are a great way to spend a Saturday, skiing or riding and enjoying live music in the Colorado sunshine!
May 2 – Whitewater Ramble May 9 – Euforquestra May 16 – Funkiphino May 23 – Wash Park May 30 – High Five
Among these concerts, Arapahoe Basin is hosting its 14th Annual Festival of the Brewpubs on Sunday, May 24th. This festival will feature music from Funky Johnson and brews from 12 different Summit County and Colorado brewers. For just $25 you can sample 12 different brewers from 12 to 4 pm and you will be able to take home a commemorative mug. This is also the last day the Summit Stage free bus will run from Keystone, giving you the chance to sample as much beer as you would like and take the shuttle back down to your property here in Keystone! May 24th will also feature a free Rail Jam in the Treeline Terrain Park.
May is shaping up to be a great month at Arapahoe Basin! Check out our rates at SummitCove.com for lodging close by in Keystone!
