Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Arapahoe Basin

13,050′ summit · 2,530′ vert · 1,428 acres · avg 350″/yr

Strong bet — Apr 16–30

Delivered 24″+ in 10 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 18 of 20 · typical 45", most land 34"–66"

Before you book

This bet missed 0 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Arapahoe Basin · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 25 50 75" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 4 busts Coin flip 18" 45" 2022 1" 2016
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 20" 46" 2024 0" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 26" 53" 2007 5" 2006
Dec 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 27" 63" 2021 12" 2023
Jan 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 21" 94" 2017 2" 2013
Jan 16–31 30″+ 2 of 10 Long shot 21" 44" 2014 10" 2022
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 25" 66" 2020 11" 2009
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 25" 56" 2026 11" 2009
Mar 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 25" 101" 2019 10" 2012
Mar 16–31 30″+ 8 of 10 · 1 bust Strong bet 38" 61" 2016 3" 2026
Apr 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 30" 76" 2018 13" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 10 of 10 Strong bet 45" 92" 2009 10" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

The Legend: high, steep, and unpretentious. The East Wall's hike-to lines and Pallavicini's sustained steeps are expert benchmarks, the Beach parking-lot scene is the best après in the state, and the late season runs into June.

No lodging, no village — day-trip it from Keystone or Dillon. Front-row Beach spots go at dawn. Montezuma Bowl mellows the back side for mixed groups. When the I-70 giants close in April, this is where the season continues.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Arapahoe Basin's odds move on the Apr 16–30 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.