Winter is officially underway. Arapahoe Basin in Colorado opened its lifts on the morning of October 28, making it the first major ski area in North America to start the 2026-27 season. The timing is fitting: this year also marks A-Basin's 80th anniversary.
It is a modest start, as opening days usually are. Only one lift, the Black Mountain Express, is running, spinning from 11 a.m. and serving a single intermediate run called High Noon. Expect more terrain to come online as snowmaking and natural snow allow. The resort is leaning into the occasion anyway, with live music in the base area all day, giveaways in the lift lines, and both on-mountain food spots open: the 6th Alley Bar & Grill from 9 a.m. and Black Mountain Lodge from the afternoon.
The practical details matter as much as the party. Pass holders with an Ikon Pass or Ikon Base Pass get unlimited access to A-Basin for the whole season, which makes the resort one of the more valuable early-season stops on that pass. If you are buying day tickets or a season pass, the window is open. Parking is refreshingly simple for now: no reservation needed on opening day. Reservations only become necessary on weekends, and not until January 2, running through May 2, 2027.
Why should a skier care? A-Basin's early opening is the reliable signal that the Rocky Mountain season has begun, and it often holds the title of first or second resort open in the country, trading the honour with nearby Loveland. Because its high base elevation lets it stay open deep into spring, it also bookends the season, sometimes spinning lifts into June. For anyone holding an Ikon pass, early-season laps here are a low-cost way to shake off summer legs before the big resorts unleash their full terrain in November and December. Just keep expectations in check: one run and one lift means lift lines can feel long and the skiing is limited. Check the resort's blog before you go for the latest on additional terrain openings.
