Arapahoe Basin has unveiled the first big change in its first full season as an Ikon property – unlimited visits for Ikon passholders next winter.
Ikon base users will be limited to five days. For the rest of this ski season A-Basin remains a partner on the Ikon Pass with limited days for all passholders.
The full 2025-26 Ikon Pass starts at $1,329 when it goes on sale March 13. That’s up more than 6% from last year and 26% more than the 2025-2026 Epic Pass.
“We’re still working to find that perfect balance, to manage the peaks and grow the valleys of our season,” A-Basin COO Al Henceroth said in a statement. “In the same vein as joining the Ikon Pass six years ago, this decision will help us bring folks up during our shoulder season, on different days of the week, and ideally balance our most popular times and our less-popular times.”
Skiers and riders knew change was inevitable at “the legend” when it sold to Ikon owner Alterra Mountain Company, of Denver, this past November. Many told Krystal 93 they support almost anything, if new revenue is shared with employees. One told us he might trade A-Basin for Loveland, the last I-70 ski area not on the Ikon or Epic Pass.
But everyone, skiers and management, hopes history doesn’t repeat itself. For nearly 20 years A-Basin was an Epic Pass partner with unlimited access. When it left the Epic in 2018, Henceroth said the mountain was getting too busy and the skier experience was suffering.
Henceroth told the Colorado Sun he wanted to lose 100,000 skiers in a year, and he did. The slopes were emptier, and the skiers happier, but he admitted they might be losing too much business.
Since then, A-Basin has been adding terrain and tweaking policies in the name of skier experience. Paid parking is now mandatory on Saturdays, Sundays and some holidays.
According to new numbers from the Basin, it’s working:
- 0 days that contributed to unsafe highway conditions on Loveland Pass
- 0 people turned away from A-Basin due to parking and highway problems
- 3 riders per vehicle on Saturdays and Sundays. Up from 1.8 in 2022/23.
- 42.2% of all weekend skiers and riders use carpool, EV, Summit Stage, or Snowstang