Crowd calendar · 2026-27 season
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
Dillon, ColoradoIkon· Open Oct 24 – May 16
Snow in the forecast: Wed, Oct 14 (6.1"), Wed, Oct 21 (5.9"). Powder days fill up fast, especially on weekends.
Tap a day to see why, then plan a trip around it.
QuietModerateBusyPacked 3"+ snow forecast
October 2026
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November 2026
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December 2026
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January 2027
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February 2027
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March 2027
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April 2027
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May 2027
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Busy stretches to avoid
- Thanksgiving weekendNov 25 – Nov 29
- A-Basin 80th anniversary birthday weekendDec 5 – Dec 6
- School holidaysDec 20 – Dec 25
- Metro Denver winter break (most districts; some run to Jan 4-5)Dec 21 – Jan 1
- Christmas–New Year peakDec 26 – Jan 1
- Ikon Base and Session blackoutDec 26 – Dec 30
- School holidaysJan 2 – Jan 3
- MLK weekendJan 16 – Jan 18
- Ikon Base and Session blackoutJan 16 – Jan 17
- Presidents' Day weekendFeb 13 – Feb 15
- Ikon Base and Session blackoutFeb 13 – Feb 14
- Presidents' week school breakFeb 16 – Feb 19
- Metro Denver spring break (Boulder Valley, Cherry Creek, Douglas County, St. Vrain)Mar 15 – Mar 19
- Metro Denver spring break (Jeffco, Adams 12, Littleton, Adams 14)Mar 22 – Mar 26
- Easter weekendMar 26 – Mar 29
- Denver Public Schools spring breakMar 29 – Apr 2
Beating the crowds
- Tuesday to Thursday is quietest almost everywhere, and often cheaper.
- The resort's site says no parking reservations are needed at this time. Check the site again before a busy weekend, since that can change.
- Midweek Packs and the Midweek Pass cover Monday to Friday with no weekday blackouts, so weekdays are the least crowded days of the season.
- Wednesdays have $80 lift tickets and free skiing for 80-year-olds, so expect more people that day. Tuesdays and Thursdays are a quieter choice.
- Avoid Dec 5 and Dec 6, the 80th birthday weekend. Lift tickets must be bought online in advance and quantities can be limited, so buy ahead and check the Lift and Terrain Status page before driving up.
Ski Arapahoe Basin Ski Area for less
Get every cost per person with sources, the cheapest place to stay, quiet dates and a day-by-day plan. Takes about a minute.
Plan a cheap trip herePlaces to stay nearby
The cheapest beds are usually a town or two down the road. Split a whole house with your group.
This is a forecast from patterns: weekdays, national holidays, school breaks, pass blackout dates and events. Resorts don't publish lift-line data, so treat it as a guide. Snow forecast from Open-Meteo.
A-Basin Tickets and Passes 2026/27 · arapahoebasin.comIkon Base Pass 26/27 · ikonpass.comCompare 26/27 Ikon Pass Access · ikonpass.comA-Basin 26/27 Pass Benefits and FAQs · arapahoebasin.comA-Basin Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Overview - OnTheSnow · onthesnow.comArapahoe Basin Lift Tickets 2026/27 - SnowStash · snowstash.com