Vail Ski Resort
Vail Ski Resort is one of the largest and most famous ski mountains in North America, rising above the Bavarian-style pedestrian streets of Vail Village along Interstate 70. With 5,317 acres of terrain, the legendary Back Bowls and the remote-feeling Blue Sky Basin, Vail offers enough variety to keep skiers and snowboarders exploring for days.
Vail Ski Resort in Vail, CO
Vail opened on Dec. 15, 1962, the vision of Pete Seibert and local rancher Earl Eaton. Seibert had trained in the area as a soldier with the 10th Mountain Division at nearby Camp Hale during World War II. Today the mountain climbs from a base of about 8,120 feet to a summit of 11,570 feet, with roughly 32 lifts, 278 marked trails and an average of about 354 inches of snow a year. The front side is packed with groomed cruisers, including the 4-mile Riva Ridge, while the seven Back Bowls spread across 2,785 acres of wide-open powder fields.
Beyond the bowls, Blue Sky Basin opened in January 2000 with 645 acres of gladed tree runs and sweeping views of the Gore Range and the Mount of the Holy Cross. Gondola One rises from Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn Gondola from Lionshead, and both villages are filled with shops, restaurants and apres-ski patios. In summer, the gondolas carry hikers and mountain bikers up the slopes. Compare Vail with nearby Breckenridge Ski Resort, or plan a soak afterward at Glenwood Hot Springs Resort about an hour west.
Photo Gallery
Photo credits: Vail front side – panoramio by dbenbenn (CC BY 3.0); Vail front side by No machine-readable author provided. Dbenbenn assumed (based on copyright claims (CC BY-SA 3.0); MountaintopExpress Vail by DReifGalaxyM31 (CC BY 3.0); Heaven on Earth (4269883991) by Zach Dischner (CC BY 2.0); Powder Day Vail Colorado USA by Flickr user: Brendan Gray London, UK (CC BY-SA 2.0); Mountain Plaza at Vail Village in Vail, CO by Bidgee (CC BY-SA 3.0 au); Gore Creek Drive – Vail, CO by Nick Csakany (CC BY-SA 4.0); Clocktower Gore Range Vail Colorado by Greg Tally – (WT-shared) WineCountryInn at wts wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 3.0); Vail Ski Resort from frontage road on north side of I-70 by David Herrera (CC BY 2.0); Holy Cross From Vail by DReifGalaxyM31 (CC0). Images via Wikimedia Commons.
News & Events
Vail is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 winter season on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, weather permitting, with daily lift hours to be posted on vail.com. The Vail Village ticket office opens from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting on opening day, and Epic Pass products offer the best value over window lift tickets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do at Vail Ski Resort?
- Back Bowls: Ski 2,785 acres of wide-open bowls.
- Blue Sky Basin: Explore gladed runs with Gore Range views.
- Riva Ridge: Cruise one of Vail’s longest groomed runs.
- Vail Village: Shop, dine and enjoy apres-ski in the pedestrian village.
- Summer fun: Ride the gondola to hike and mountain bike.
When does Vail open for the 2026-27 season?
Vail plans to open on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, depending on snow and weather. Check vail.com for lift and terrain updates.
How big is Vail Ski Resort?
Vail covers 5,317 skiable acres with about 32 lifts and 278 trails, a vertical rise of about 3,450 feet and a summit elevation of 11,570 feet.
What are the Vail Back Bowls?
The Back Bowls are seven huge, treeless bowls on the south side of Vail Mountain, covering 2,785 acres. They are best for intermediate and advanced skiers and shine on powder days.
How far is Vail from Denver?
Vail is about 100 miles west of Denver on I-70, usually around a two-hour drive without traffic or winter storms.
Vail Ski Resort is located above Vail Village, with ticket sales at 241 East Meadow Drive, Vail, CO 81657. Call 970-754-8245 or visit vail.com to plan your visit.