Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Opens Tomorrow

Colorado’s long wait is officially over. Winter is here. Arapahoe Basin Ski Area announced that it will open for skiing and riding tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, marking one of the earliest season starts in the country.

Lifts will begin turning at 8:30 a.m., with the Black Mountain Express servicing High Noon, a blue cruiser that’s become synonymous with Colorado’s first turns of the year. From opening day onward, A-Basin plans to run lifts seven days a week for as long as conditions allow.

Here's how the mountain is looking as of 1 day ago.

Thanks to its high base elevation—10,780 feet—and a north-facing slope that holds snow well, A-Basin regularly opens weeks ahead of its neighbors. Sure enough, the snowmaking team has been firing the guns since early this month. While it's no champagne powder, man-made snow is the best way for resorts to make full advantage of dropping temps and early storms. In A Basin's case, it's enough to cover the upper mountain.

This year’s early opening comes as anticipatory stoke is building across the Rockies. While, October’s cold snaps and light snowfalls have teased what could be a strong start to winter A-Basin's jump start on the season confirms that Colorado skiers are in for a sick one.

Lift tickets for opening day are on sale now via the resort’s website. More terrain updates are expected as snowmaking continues and temperatures stay favorable.

Stay tuned to Teton Gravity Research for ongoing coverage as the 2025/26 ski season gets underway across the West.