Vail

Front-side groomers, the Back Bowls and a Tyrolean village.

Colorado’s biggest ski area, with more than 5,000 acres split between long groomed front-side runs and the open Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Car-free Vail Village and Lionshead add rinks, après and fine dining. Best for strong intermediates and experts with a healthy budget.

The mountain

Vertical drop

3,450 ft

Summit

11,570 ft

Skiable terrain

5,317 acres

Trails

278

Lifts

32

Average snowfall

354″ a year

Longest run

4 mi

Terrain mix

• Beginner 18%
• Intermediate 29%
• Advanced 53%

What’s here besides skiing

• Terrain park
• Ice skating
• Cross-country
• Snowshoeing
• Snowmobiling
• Spa
• Nightlife
• Kids programs

Holidays and events

2026–27 dates where they’re posted. “Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• New Year’sDec 31, 6:15 pm (annual)Usually

  New Year’s Eve torchlight parade and fireworks

  Ski school instructors carry flares down Golden Peak, then fireworks you can see from both villages.

• Opening dayNov 13

  Opening day

  Vail’s announced first day of the 2026-27 season.

• MusicNov 28, 6 pm

  Dobson Arena reopening concert

  Trampled by Turtles and Old Crow Medicine Show christen the rebuilt Dobson Arena in Lionshead.

• FestivalMar 31–Apr 3

  Taste of Vail

  Four days of wine dinners, tastings and seminars with local and visiting chefs.

Where to stay

• slopesideLion Square Lodge

  Long-running condo lodge right on the slope in Lionshead, a short walk from the gondola.

  Slopeside, Lionshead
• base villageThe Arrabelle at Vail Square

  European-style hotel rooms and condos on Lionshead’s main square, with its own ice rink out front and a rooftop pool.

  Lionshead, by the Eagle Bahn Gondola
• hotelThe Sebastian Vail

  Polished boutique hotel in Vail Village, a short walk to Gondola One.

  Vail Village
• hotelEvergreen Lodge

  One of the better-value hotels in town, between Vail Village and Lionshead.

  Short walk or free bus
• hotelHighline Vail

  A DoubleTree in West Vail with simpler rooms and lower rates than the villages.

  5 min drive or bus
• condoAntlers at Vail

  Family-friendly condos with kitchens on Gore Creek in Lionshead.

  Lionshead, short walk to lifts

Rates are typical winter lows before taxes and fees, and change constantly. Book on the property’s own site.

Things to do

• Solaris Plaza and Arrabelle ice rinks · In the villages

  Two outdoor rinks with rentals: Solaris in Vail Village and the Arrabelle rink in Lionshead. Best in the late afternoon and evening.

• Vail Nordic Center · 5 min drive or bus

  Groomed cross-country and snowshoe trails on the Vail golf course, with rentals and lessons.

• Colorado Snowsports Museum · Vail Village

  Ski history in Vail Village, including the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained nearby.

• Nova Guides at Camp Hale · ~35 min drive

  Guided snowmobile tours in the high valley where the 10th Mountain Division trained.

• DECA+BOL · Vail Village

  Bowling lanes, a bar and dinner in Vail Village. Also runs rentals for the Solaris rink.

• Sonnenalp spa · Vail Village

  Family-run Bavarian-style hotel in Vail Village with a full spa.

Après and nightlife

• Pepi’s Bar & Restaurant

  Old-school Austrian bar at the foot of Bridge Street. The deck fills as soon as the lifts close.

• The Red Lion

  Big, loud Vail Village classic with live music and a sunny deck.

• Garfinkel’s

  Lionshead deck bar right by the gondola, busy as soon as the lifts close.

• Mountain Standard

  Wood-fired food and cocktails on Gore Creek for a calmer après.

These themes are our summary of recent skier reviews, not quotes.

Getting there

• Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) · about 35 min drive
• Denver · about 2 hr
• Colorado Springs · about 2.75 hr

Directions in Google Maps