Keystone vs Arapahoe Basin
One calibrated, SNOTEL-backed look at snowfall, forecast accuracy, and access — so you know which to ski.
Keystone
CO · 12,408 ft
Arapahoe Basin
CO · 13,050 ft
Side-by-Side
| Metric | Keystone | Arapahoe Basin |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Colorado I-70 & Aspen CO | Colorado I-70 & Aspen CO |
| Summit elevation | 12,408 ft 9,280 ft base | 13,050 ft 10,780 ft base |
| NWS accuracy grade | A NWS underpredicts | F 100% overpredict |
| Calibrated season snowfall | 35" 26 storms | 11" 47 storms |
| Avg storm-day rate | 0.9"/day | 0.3"/day |
| Best storm | 66/100 Significant | 13/100 Significant |
| Verified storms | 240 SNOTEL-verified | 475 SNOTEL-verified |
| Community reports | 234 TGR posts | 855 TGR posts |
| Nearest airport | DEN | DEN |
| Drive time | 1.5h 75 mi · DEN | 1.33h 68 mi · DEN |
| Access difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Pass | Epic | — |
Snowfall totals and NWS grades come from the same SNOTEL-verified data on each resort's own page. Blank or “pending” cells mean the data is still being verified — we never fill them with estimates.
The Verdict
Keystone has the more reliable NWS forecast — it grades A versus F at Arapahoe Basin, where NWS overpredicts snowfall by about 100%.
Keystone got more snow this season — 35" of calibrated snowfall versus 11" at Arapahoe Basin. Keystone also averaged 0.9"/storm-day.
Both are a similar trip — roughly 1.5h from DEN.
Best for
Keystone — chasing the biggest totals — it out-snowed Arapahoe Basin this season.
Best for
Arapahoe Basin — high-alpine, stays-cold terrain topping out at 13,050 ft.
Local Knowledge
TGR Community IntelKeystone
Arrive early to beat crowds; most visitors unfamiliar with Keystone terrain will ski tracked runs.
Arapahoe Basin
A-Basin excels on storm days with soft conditions and multiple top-to-bottom laps possible.
FAQ
Does Keystone or Arapahoe Basin get more snow?
Keystone got more snow this season — 35" of calibrated snowfall versus 11" at Arapahoe Basin. Keystone also averaged 0.9"/storm-day.
Is Keystone or Arapahoe Basin easier to get to?
Both are a similar trip — roughly 1.5h from DEN.
Which has the more accurate snow forecast, Keystone or Arapahoe Basin?
Keystone has the more reliable NWS forecast — it grades A versus F at Arapahoe Basin, where NWS overpredicts snowfall by about 100%.
Keep Exploring
Don't book the wrong mountain
Calibrated forecasts · Storm alerts · Access planning · Local knowledge — for Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, and 74 other resorts.
Start 7-Day Free Trial — $500/yearNo card required to start · Cancel anytime