Arapahoe Basin

The nation's highest, and one of Colorado's oldest ski areas also remains one of its most down-to-earth. Lift ticket prices for the original rope tow in 1946 cost $1.25 per day. Even now, ticket prices remain reasonable.

Skiing in Colorado's fresh, dry powder
Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
28194 US Hwy 6, Dillon, CO 80435

Hugging the Continental Divide at 13,050 feet, this winter playground is a place where you can park for free right at the base and be on a lift in minutes. Arapahoe Basin has a reputation for extreme terrain, short lift lines and The Beach, a parking lot/popular hangout spot.

A-Basin's altitude allows it to stay open later than many resorts (sometimes well into June), and the spring is known for a sun-and-fun atmosphere. For non-skiers, the resort offers a mountain-top adventure that gets you up the mountain so you can hike back down to the base area amid stunning views.

A handful of restaurants ensure you're replenishing all those spent calories. There's no lodging here; for a bed, head just down the pass to Keystone.

During the summer, the ski area opens with scenic chairlift rides, via ferrata, aerial park, farm-to-table dinners, hiking and biking trails, disc golf and more.