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Vail, Colorado
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Things to do in Vail

By Sarah

Hikes and rides

  • Booth Falls Trail

    A steep East Vail trail to a 60-foot waterfall, about 3.75 miles with 1,395 feet of gain. There is no parking at the trailhead or in the neighborhood, Booth Creek Park or the school lot, and cars get towed, so ride the free East Vail bus or get dropped off. Only service dogs ride town buses. Leashes are required in the Eagles Nest Wilderness. Booth Lake is farther on, 4.5 miles one way with 3,036 feet of gain.

    Best for:
    A hard morning hike without a car
    When:
    Trailhead parking closed from May 31, 2026 through the fall. The tourism bureau asks hikers to consider other trails during early season wildlife sensitivity, through June 6.
    Where:
    Booth Falls Road, East Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Gore Creek Trail to Gore Lake

    Follows Gore Creek for 4 miles, then forks. The left fork climbs steeply to Gore Lake at mile 6 and 11,390 feet, about 2,679 feet of gain. Parking is limited and first come, so take the bus to the Main Gore/Bighorn stop. This is Eagles Nest Wilderness: dogs on leash, regulations posted at the trailhead.

    Best for:
    Fit hikers after a long alpine day
    Where:
    Bighorn Road, East Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Meadow Mountain Trail

    An old logging road climbing 4.8 miles and 2,006 feet through meadows above Dowd Junction, popular year-round and open to dogs. Riders can return on Whiskey Creek and Everkrisp for a 10.1-mile loop.

    Best for:
    Mountain bikers who want a long climb and a technical descent
    Where:
    Above Dowd Junction
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • North Trail

    Twelve miles of trail in four sections through aspen on the north side of the valley, with views of Vail Mountain, the Gore Range and Mount of the Holy Cross. Dogs must be on a physical leash.

    Best for:
    Hikers and riders who want to start close to town
    When:
    The Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone section is closed April 15 to June 20.
    Where:
    Trailheads off North Frontage Road, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Vail Pass Bike Path

    A paved path that climbs 8 3/4 miles from East Vail to the 10,662-foot summit, then continues toward Copper Mountain. Vail to Copper is about 14.2 miles one way and 1,500 feet of gain, and the tourism bureau rates it difficult. Many riders shuttle to the top instead. The Gore Valley Trail adds 12 miles through town.

    Best for:
    Road riders and anyone who wants a long paved downhill
    When:
    Summer. CDOT planned no extended holds for 2026, though short pauses are possible during I-70 work.
    Where:
    Starts at Gore Creek Campground, East Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Vail Mountain lift-served biking

    Take your bike up a gondola or climb under your own power. Grand Traverse to Mid Vail is one of the routes the tourism bureau suggests. Check the mountain bike trail map and ride your level.

    Best for:
    Riders who would rather spend the day descending
    When:
    May to October for area riding. Check current gondola dates.
    Where:
    Vail Mountain
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Ski and snow

  • Vail Mountain

    The resort lists 5,317 acres, 32 lifts and 278 trails, from a base of 8,120 feet to a top of 11,570 feet, with 354 inches of average snowfall. It bills itself as the largest ski resort in Colorado.

    Best for:
    Skiers who want a very big mountain
    When:
    Opening Day is tentatively set for November 13, 2026.
    Where:
    Vail Village and Lionshead bases, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • The Back Bowls

    Seven bowls with 2,785 skiable acres and 47 trails: Sun Up, Sun Down, Tea Cup, China, Siberia, and Inner and Outer Mongolia. Terrain runs from groomed intermediate runs to steep, technical lines. Siberia faces south and conditions there can change quickly through the day.

    Best for:
    Strong skiers on a powder day
    When:
    December to April, snow permitting.
    Where:
    Vail Mountain
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Vail Nordic Center

    In winter the golf club turns into a cross-country center with groomed classic and skate track, rentals and lessons. Beginners can start on the Teaching Loop.

    Best for:
    First-time cross-country skiers
    When:
    Mid-November through March or until the snow melts, conditions permitting.
    Where:
    Vail Golf Club, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

In and around town

  • Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

    Free gardens in Ford Park at 8,200 feet, billed by the gardens as the highest elevation botanical garden in North America. Open daily from dawn to dusk, with an Education Center on weekdays. Kids have Betty's Market to play in.

    Best for:
    A slow hour in the village
    When:
    Gardens are open year-round. The tourism bureau lists May to September.
    Where:
    522 S Frontage Road E, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Colorado Snowsports Museum

    A free museum on the third level of the Vail Village Parking Structure, with exhibits on skiing, snowboarding and the 10th Mountain Division. It also offers a one-hour walking tour of the village.

    Best for:
    Bad weather and history fans
    When:
    Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a fall closure through November 3, 2026.
    Where:
    231 S Frontage Road E, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

    The outdoor summer stage next to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, with a covered pavilion of 1,326 seats and a grass lawn that is first come, first served. It hosts the Vail Dance Festival, Bravo! Vail and summer concerts.

    Best for:
    A summer evening of music on the grass
    When:
    Summer. The venue closes in winter.
    Where:
    530 S Frontage Road E, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Epic Discovery and Forest Flyer

    A mountaintop activity area at Eagle's Nest, reached by the Eagle Bahn Gondola. The Forest Flyer coaster runs 3,400 feet of track in individual sleds, and there is also a climbing wall, tubing lanes and a kids' zipline. A gondola ticket or Adventure Pass is required, and age, height and weight limits apply.

    Best for:
    Families with energy to burn
    When:
    Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily June through Labor Day, then Friday to Sunday in September. Check current dates.
    Where:
    Eagle's Nest, Vail Mountain
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Gore Creek fly fishing

    The creek runs through town. Its Gold Medal section starts where Red Sandstone Creek comes in and ends at the Eagle River. It is narrow and brushy, so waders help. You need a Colorado license, and catch and release and tackle rules vary by stretch, so read the current regulations first.

    Best for:
    Patient anglers who like a small creek
    When:
    March to November.
    Where:
    Gore Creek, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Festivals

  • Bravo! Vail Music Festival

    Summer home to four orchestras, with the 2027 series listing Sinfonica de Mineria, the Dallas Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. The 40th anniversary season has more than 60 concerts, half of them free. Full details are due December 1, 2026.

    Best for:
    Classical fans and summer picnickers
    When:
    Begins June 25, 2027.
    Where:
    Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, 530 S Frontage Road E, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Vail Dance Festival

    Founded in 1989, formerly the Vail International Dance Festival. The 2026 season had 11 performances and more than 30 events across Vail, Beaver Creek and Avon. Lawn seats at the amphitheater are first come, first served.

    Best for:
    Dance fans and anyone curious
    When:
    July 31 to August 10 in 2026. 2027 dates were not posted at last check.
    Where:
    Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, 530 S Frontage Road E, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • GoPro Mountain Games

    The Vail Valley Foundation's adventure sports weekend, with biking, running, climbing, kayaking, rafting, dog events and live music.

    Best for:
    Athletes, spectators and dog people
    When:
    June 10 to 13, 2027.
    Where:
    Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Vail Jazz Festival

    A Labor Day weekend festival in a tent in the gardens of Manor Vail Lodge, with a Sunday morning gospel session.

    Best for:
    Jazz fans closing out the summer
    When:
    September 3 to 5, 2027.
    Where:
    Manor Vail Lodge, 595 Vail Valley Drive, Vail
    More info

    Checked November 2026

Day trips

  • Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument

    About 20 miles southeast of Vail, this is where the 10th Mountain Division trained for World War II. The Forest Service lists a self-guided driving tour and says the site has no restrooms.

    Best for:
    History fans with a free afternoon and a car
    Where:
    Highway 24, about 17 miles south of I-70
    More info

    Checked November 2026

  • Hanging Lake

    A permit is mandatory. Timed-entry permits are required year-round for every visitor, with hourly slots from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a 3-hour hiking window. Arrive within 30 minutes of your time or you will not get in. Vehicles over 25 feet are not allowed.

    Best for:
    Hikers who plan ahead
    When:
    Year-round, by permit only.
    Where:
    Glenwood Canyon
    More info

    Checked November 2026

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