Ski Resort Featuring Colossal Mountain

This popular ski destination features a mountain that stands over 13,000 feet tall. There are more than 100 trails and seven chairlifts so there is always plenty of space to enjoy an afternoon of downhill skiing. The resort has been open since 1946 when it was visited by 1200 skiers and is known throughout the world as one of Colorado's premiere ski destinations. The Basin receives more than 350 inches of snow each year.

The Montezuma Bowl was an expansion that increased the resort's ski terrain by 80%. The bowl area is 400-acres in size and includes blue, black, and double black slope options. This adds up to 36 additional ski runs. This was a $3 million upgrades and the resort made every effort to adhere to the highest environmental standards when building. The runs include chutes, cornices, glades, and bowls. Most of the runs receive nightly grooming and skiing is allowed in hike-back terrain for those who want an adventurous trip. Ride times on the lifts are nine minutes and take riders 1,100 feet high. The lifts can transport nearly 2,000 skiers per hour.

If you are planning a trip from a few hours or more away to the resort, there are plenty of accommodations in the area. Summit County features both budget and four-star hotels and the Arapahoe Basin website often features hot deals for accommodations in the area. While many in Colorado may be unwilling to pay for overnight accommodations to ski, those traveling from outside of the Mile High City will be pleased with the number of lodging options from which to choose. There is no doubt after a long day of skiing you will be too tired to make the trek home. Set up camp in one of the area's hotels.

After a long day of skiing, you will have worked up a mile high appetite. There are four dining options on the grounds of the resort and you can enjoy all varieties of food from a quick morning pastry to a delicious Kobe beef burger. The Black Mountain Lodge is located mid-mountain adjacent to the top of Exhibition Lift. They feature delicious fare in an elegant setting. The Sixth Alley Bar is a popular hangout for skiers in the evenings and it is a great place to grab a beer with your ski companions. The Coffee Corner is located next to Sixth Alley in the A-Frame and offers cozy, warm beverages that are just right to get you up and moving before hitting the slopes. The Legends Cafy, also located in the A-Frame provides pub style fare, most of which is fried. Dining options also include the Snow Plume Refuge which boasts amazing views of the Continental Divide. The Mountain Full Moon Snowshoe Dinner Series, is a special dining event held at the resort for those who consider themselves foodies and skiers. If you want to combine culinary excellence with skiing, you can attend this three night event and enjoy meals prepared by Chef Christopher Rybak, as well as live entertainment at the Black Mountain Lodge.