Ikon Pass Changes Access to Arapahoe Basin—Here's What Skiers Need To Know

The IKON Pass has made a few key changes that pass holders, especially those in Colorado, might want to pay attention to.

A low-snow year across the American West has folks who purchased ski passes grumbling, with some completely unable to use them, and others souring over their $1200 entry fee to the white strip of death. There’s no doubt ski areas are feeling the pressure to provide a top-notch experience, which is no easy task when Mother Nature isn’t cooperating.

Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) has been open since October 26, 2025.

Originally, the IKON Base pass only allowed unlimited skiing at A-Basin until December 19; however, due to a lack of early-season snow, the ski area decided to sweeten the deal for IKON Base Pass holders in the early season.

Now, IKON Base Pass holders will get an extension on unlimited early-season skiing until January 16, 2026, at Arapahoe Basin. Additionally, early season days skied before January 16, 2026, will not count towards the five days of skiing allotted at A-Basin on the IKON Base Pass until closing day.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

A-Basin also recently updated its snow stake following requests from skiers.

The mountain’s old snow stake was just a handcrafted wooden sign of the mountain’s logo with no measurements. Storms at the mountain often ski like there’s more snow than is being reported, and A-Basin’s president, Alan Henceroth, wanted folks to focus more on the skiing than the numbers. Henceroth finally caved, and for this season, A-Basin debuted a brand-spanking new snow stake, numbers and all.

The IKON Pass goes off sale for the 2025/26 season tomorrow, Thursday, December 11, 2025. If you’ve been waiting to purchase your IKON Pass, now is the time, especially for A-Basin skiers who will get another month of unlimited access (and hopefully Mother Nature agrees and sends some snow!).

Related: How Many Pairs of Skis Do You Need? (Poll)