"Arapahoe Basin ... Where the spirit of freedom and big-mountain challenges create life-altering experiences."

Arapahoe Basin’s old-school motto may push the ski-bum mentality to near-religious extremes, but after you burn your quads in this epic, 900-acre resort you will likely become one of the converted. After all, A-Basin does reign as one of the highest-elevation ski resorts in the Rocky Mountain State, sitting on the Continental Divide at 13,050 feet—breathtaking scenery at a literally breathtaking altitude (peaks like Independence Mountain, Quandary Peak, Bald Mountain, and Peak 10—as well as the resorts of Breckenridge and Keystone—are all visible from the mountain summit). Then factor in an annual snowfall of 350 inches and a near-year-round ski season (A-Basin opens in mid October and typically stays open into June), and you may even become an A-Basin prophet, joining the fleece-clad hordes who crash in their trucks to catch the day’s first powder run long after competing resorts have closed their lifts.

A traditional trail census doesn’t do justice to the virtually limitless skiing in A-Basin’s vast, above-treeline bowls. Six lifts access a variety of advanced terrain, including the East Wall: steep, above-timberline terrain with access to additional acreage in the resort’s expansive, expert-level backcountry with lines like Corner Chute, Willie’s Wide, North Pole, and leap-and-pray spots on Upper East Wall, which drops off the summit of 13,050-foot Arapahoe Basin. Those comforted by the boundary ropes, meanwhile, can stick to Pallavicini, A-Basin’s famed double-black diamond, which

"Arapahoe Basin ... Where the spirit of freedom and big-mountain challenges create life-altering experiences."

Arapahoe Basin’s old-school motto may push the ski-bum mentality to near-religious extremes, but after you burn your quads in this epic, 900-acre resort you will likely become one of the converted. After all, A-Basin does reign as one of the highest-elevation ski resorts in the Rocky Mountain State, sitting on the Continental Divide at 13,050 feet—breathtaking scenery at a literally breathtaking altitude (peaks like Independence Mountain, Quandary Peak, Bald Mountain, and Peak 10—as well as the resorts of Breckenridge and Keystone—are all visible from the mountain summit). Then factor in an annual snowfall of 350 inches and a near-year-round ski season (A-Basin opens in mid October and typically stays open into June), and you may even become an A-Basin prophet, joining the fleece-clad hordes who crash in their trucks to catch the day’s first powder run long after competing resorts have closed their lifts.

A traditional trail census doesn’t do justice to the virtually limitless skiing in A-Basin’s vast, above-treeline bowls. Six lifts access a variety of advanced terrain, including the East Wall: steep, above-timberline terrain with access to additional acreage in the resort’s expansive, expert-level backcountry with lines like Corner Chute, Willie’s Wide, North Pole, and leap-and-pray spots on Upper East Wall, which drops off the summit of 13,050-foot Arapahoe Basin. Those comforted by the boundary ropes, meanwhile, can stick to Pallavicini, A-Basin’s famed double-black diamond, which continues to set the bar as one of the most challenging runs in North America. Other double-black glade runs and chutes run off the Pallavicini Lift, including the Spine, Pali Face, and North Glade—this lift also gets fewer crowds because it services mostly advanced-only terrain.

But A-Basin isn’t just about gut-wrenching, sick-pitch runs; intermediates can still experience the undeniable thrills of above-treeline bowl skiing off Norway and Lenawee Mountain lifts, where skiers can funnel themselves to the mid-mountain lifts or ski all the way down the mountain base via leg-burners like High-Noon and Ramrod. And at the far end of the skill spectrum, beginners can take advantage of inexpensive lift tickets valid at the Molly Hogan Learning Center, or enroll in Guaranteed to Learn, which promises students that they’ll be skiing or riding the mountain by their third lesson. The price includes free rental and a season pass.

Snowboarders of all skill levels will also find A-Basin to be a grom’s heaven. All runs allow boarding, and the expansive High Divide Terrain Park includes the C-Box, Rainbow Rail, and a Flat-Down-Flat Rail, while Treeline Terrain Park—the highest park in North America—boasts a variety of other high-octane features. Also keep an eye out for Huck, Rock ’N Roll, Arapahoe Basin’s terrain park competition, held each May.

More recent features include Montezuma Bowl, 400 acres of formerly out-of-bounds terrain with 36 black, blue, and double-black runs through chutes, glades, open bowls, and cornices. In addition to double-black runs flanking the Zuma Cornice, Montezuma Bowl boasts blue and black runs, as well as easy access (read: ski in, hike out) to backcountry terrain like Lightning Trees and Lower Elephant’s Turn. The Zuma quad travels the 1,100 feet from the basin of Montezuma Bowl to the top of Lenawee Mountain Lift.

Make no mistake, A-Basin’s infrastructure is decidedly dressed down. Black Mountain Lodge (at the top of Exhibition Lift) offers mid-mountain dining in a cafeteria-style environment, albeit with food one step above traditional fare, and the Snow Plume Refuge near top of Norway Lift serves grilled food; all other amenities are located at the resort base. Despite this seeming dearth of 1,001 dining, drinking, and shopping options, apres-ski activities have also put A-Basin on the map, from "The Beach"—a parking-lot faux beach party that cooks along all through the late spring and early summer—to the concert series Shakin’ at the Basin, with free concerts at the base area every Saturday in May. As far as lodging goes, unless you want to join the sleeping-bag-clad ski bums in the parking lot, opt for a bed at Keystone Resort, a mere five miles away, or in any of the towns within a 20-minute radius.

Arapahoe Basin is part of the region’s Bonus Plan, which offers access to Keystone and Breckenridge as well as A-Basin. Lovers of A-Basin ask willing skiers and boarders to give their favorite mountain just one day—just don't make it the last one in your trip, lest you be forced to tack on 24 more hours to ski its slopes for a second day.

Where: On U.S. 6, 68 miles west of Denver.