Ride Like a Local: Best Freeride Lines at A-Basin

Arapahoe Basin is primarily a locals' mountain, often overlooked by the vacationing crowds because of its small size. But what it lacks in area, it makes up for in terrain. Without the congestion that other Front Range resorts receive, you can take fast laps all day and leave time for exploring the sidecountry, which A-Basin has quite a bit of. Add that to the easy-access backcountry at Loveland Pass next door, and you have an incredible playground for advanced skiers and riders.

What’s even better is that A-Basin has one of the longest average seasons in Colorado, thanks to reliable snowpack and a primarily north-facing aspect. Powder days are common from November through May, so your chances of fresh tracks are always high. If you seek the bigger lines, come in late March or later, when the snowpack is more likely to be stable. These freeride lines promise something good in any conditions, however, because they include a bit of everything: low-angle bowls with natural terrain features, backwoods powder caches, and of course, the steeps.