Vail, Colorado.
A mountain town like nowhere else.
World-class skiing in winter. Wildflower trails in summer. A pedestrian village that feels like the Alps. Our guide to the best of Vail, written by people who actually live here.
A Town Built
For the Mountains.
And Vice Versa.
Vail was founded in 1962 by a former 10th Mountain Division ski trooper who'd trained nearby in WWII and never forgot the terrain. Pete Seibert built a ski area where there was no road, no town, and no power lines, just a sheep pasture and a back side full of bowls that would become legendary.
Sixty-plus years later, Vail Mountain is the largest single-mountain ski area in the United States, with 5,317 skiable acres and seven backcountry-feeling bowls on the back side. The village below was modeled on the alpine towns of Bavaria and Switzerland, entirely pedestrian, with covered bridges, cobbled walkways, and a creek running through the middle of it.
What makes Vail different from other mountain towns isn't just the skiing. It's that everything works together. The village is walkable. The bus is free. The mountain rises directly out of town. You don't need a car here. You need good boots and a sense of wonder.
Vail vs. Beaver Creek
Ten miles down the road from Vail is Beaver Creek, a sister resort with its own village, gentler crowds, and arguably better intermediate terrain. Most visitors stay in Vail and day-trip to Beaver Creek. We can shuttle you between them in 20 minutes.
When to Come
Late January through early March: peak powder, peak crowds, peak prices. Early December and April: still great skiing, far fewer people, better deals. June through September: wildflowers, hiking, summer concerts. October: empty trails and golden aspens. Mud season (May and early November) is when locals leave town.
Getting Around
The free in-town bus runs every 10 minutes from East Vail to West Vail and stops everywhere along the way. The Vail Transportation Center is the hub. You'll rarely wait more than a few minutes. If you need to get to Beaver Creek, Edwards, or beyond, that's what we're for.
December
through April.
The mountain runs the show.
June through September.
The mountain town
most people miss.
Hiking
Booth Falls (4.6 mi round-trip, waterfall payoff) is the classic. Pitkin Lake Trail is harder and quieter. For an easy walk, the Gore Creek Trail along the village floor is gorgeous in any season. Drive 30 minutes to Hanging Lake (permits required) for one of Colorado's most photographed spots.
Mountain Biking
The Eagle Bahn Gondola runs in summer to Adventure Ridge, where lift-served downhill mountain biking starts. Cross-country riders have hundreds of miles of singletrack on the valley floor and surrounding national forest.
Off-Road: Side-by-Sides & Dirt Bikes
Vail Extreme Rentals runs a summer shop across from the Eagle County Airport, the right base for side-by-sides and dirt bikes, with miles of dirt roads and high-country trails out the door. Most riders go straight off the lot, no trailering. Best in the valley for it.
Whitewater Rafting
The Eagle and Colorado Rivers run high through June. Outfitters in Vail and Glenwood Springs run half-day and full-day trips, from gentle floats to Class IV. June and early July are the peak runoff window.
Golf
Vail Golf Club, Eagle Vail Golf Club, and Beaver Creek's two courses (Beaver Creek Golf Club and Red Sky Ranch) all run summer through fall. Mountain golf is its own game, the ball flies further at altitude.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
Late June through early August. World-class classical orchestras (New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra) perform at the outdoor Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. Bring a blanket, bring a bottle of wine. One of the great summer experiences in the Rockies.
Vail Dance Festival
Late July through early August. Major ballet and modern dance companies perform at the Ford Amphitheater. Often features world premieres. Tickets sell out for the bigger names.
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
The highest botanical garden in North America, free to enter, in the middle of Vail Village. Stunning in July when the high-alpine wildflowers peak. Easy stroll, family-friendly, often overlooked by visitors.
Vail Farmers' Market
Every Sunday from mid-June through mid-October, Meadow Drive in Vail Village fills with 130+ vendors, produce, crafts, food trucks, live music. The market closes the street. Locals' favorite Sunday morning.
Six Restaurants
We'd Send Family To.
Activities
That Work for
Every Age.
Adventure Ridge
Atop the Eagle Bahn Gondola in winter and summer. Tubing, ski-biking, kids' snowmobiles, mountain coaster, ropes courses, zip line. A full half-day on the mountain without skis. Walk-up tickets work for most activities.
Gondola Rides
You don't need a ski pass to ride the gondola. In summer it's a 10-minute scenic ride to 10,350 feet with a restaurant at the top. In winter, foot-passenger tickets are sold for non-skiers visiting the on-mountain restaurants.
Colorado Snowsports Museum
In Vail Village, free admission. The history of Colorado skiing, the 10th Mountain Division, vintage gear, and Olympic medal cases. Kids who like history will spend an hour. Adults longer.
Pirate Ship Park
In Vail Village. A wooden pirate-ship playground for younger kids, with the gondola overhead and Gore Creek next door. Free, easy, and lets parents have a coffee while kids burn energy.
Fly Fishing
Gore Creek runs through Vail Village, gold-medal trout water. Half-day guided trips work for kids 8 and up. Outfitters in Vail and Edwards run beginner-friendly clinics.
Horseback Riding
4 Eagle Ranch in nearby Wolcott runs guided trail rides through the summer for ages 8+. Half-day and dinner rides. Real working ranch, not a tourist trap.
Worth a
Half-Tank
of Gas.
No Car Needed
in Vail.
For Everywhere Else, Call Us.
Vail is one of the few mountain towns where you genuinely don't need a car. The free in-town bus runs every 10 minutes from 6am to 2am, hitting every major neighborhood from East Vail to West Vail and stopping at the Vail Transportation Center, every parking structure, and along the village edges.
Within Vail Village and Lionshead Village themselves, everything is pedestrian. You can walk from one side of Vail Village to the other in 10 minutes, end-to-end. The covered bridges, the creek, the alpine architecture, it's all designed for walking, not driving.
Where the bus doesn't go: The airport. Beaver Creek. Edwards. The Eagle County Airport. Day trips to Aspen or Glenwood Springs. Snowcat dinners up the mountain. Late-night returns from Avon or Beaver Creek when the bus has stopped running.
That's where we come in. We handle airport transfers (DIA and Eagle County), inter-resort shuttles, day-trip transportation, and after-dinner returns. Same family, same flat rates, same flight tracking and direct booking.
Vail Transit (Free)
Every 10 minutes. East Vail, Vail Village, Lionshead, West Vail. Free for everyone, no pass needed. Schedules at vail.gov.
ECO Transit (Regional)
Connects Vail to Avon, Edwards, Eagle, and Gypsum (Eagle County Airport) for $4–$9 each way. Less frequent than in-town transit. Useful for budget travel between valley towns.
Vail Powder Cars
Family-owned since 2015. Airport transfers, inter-resort transportation, day trips, late-night returns. Suburbans for groups up to 6, Sprinter vans up to 14. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 availability, drivers who know the valley.
Walking
Vail Village to Lionshead is a 15-minute walk along Gore Creek. Beautiful any time of year. Don't drive between them, walk.
Plan Your Vail Trip
Airport transfer, day trip, or anywhere in the valley. Have a question or need a custom quote? Send us a message and Kyla will get back to you personally.
Or call us: (970) 471-9792
Book the Ride