Vail Ski Resort

Vail ranks as one of the world’s great ski resorts. If you have skied everywhere else but not skied Vail, frankly, you should grab the next flight to Denver and experience the largest single ski mountain in North America.

Our Rating:

Advanced		****
Intermediate		*****
Beginner		***

Vail often comes top of the rankings of U.S. ski resorts and for a variety of reasons. Years of investment in ski facilities have provided an unrivalled range of lifts and runs. Constant attention to the slopes throughout the season keeps them in pristine condition and when you move off the slopes Vail has that essential sense of style—mock Austrian-Tyrolean in parts, certainly—but style nevertheless. To sum up, Vail has fabulous skiing, glitz, a lively crowd, and good nightlife. But sometimes it is crowded, suffers lift lines that are long by American standards, and prices both in the resort and on the mountain are relatively high.

Vail at a glance

On the mountain

Ski area

The front side of Vail Mountain offers a trails for every ability level, but Vail’s seven legendary Back Bowls are what set Vail apart from the rest. more...

Lift system

Vail has a world-class lift system with many high-speed quads, but weekend visitors sometimes clog up the base area lifts.
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Ski schools & guiding

The Vail Ski & Snowboard School is consistently rated one of the top 10 ski schools in North America, with small class sizes and priority lift access. more...

Advanced

Half of Vail's ski area is designated advanced and expert, but the best skiing is to be found on Vail's famous Back Bowls and at the Blue Sky Basin. more...

Intermediate

In Vail, intermediates can ski much of the same terrain as advanced skiers, even the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin, providing they choose the easier trails and gradients.
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Beginner

At Vail, beginners get to start at the top—at the top of the mountain that is. more...

Boarding & freestyle

Vail's Golden Peak Superpipe and Terrain Park features an award-winning Superpipe and more than 40 rails. more...

Mountain restaurants

The 15 restaurants on Vail Mountain include flagship Two Elk Lodge straddling the Front Side and the Back Bowls and exclusive Game Creek, accessible by snowcat or the Eagle Bahn gondola.
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