Vail

Although just over half of Vail's ski area is designated advanced (some of it over-classified) and expert, the best skiing is to be found on Vail's Back Bowls and at the Blue Sky Basin. Also on any keen skier's list should be the infamous bumps trails on the east side of the mountain, including double black diamond trails Highline, Blue Ox and Roger’s Run, all challenging for this level skier. Skiers can also try the locals’ favorite, nicknamed the P.P.L., a combination of the Prima, Pronto and Logchute runs.

There is no place to be on Vail powder day except the Back Bowls—that’s what’s made them famous. More than 6 miles (10 km) of glades skiing offer skiers everything from trees, cliff drops, expansive stretches and more, and when snow conditions are good try the mile-long trail into Minturn—a good spot for lunch.

Backcountry in Blue Sky Basin and White River
Blue Sky Basin has redefined the adventure ski experience with open glades, cornices, trees, and steep pitches, accessed by a high-speed quad. Belle’s Camp, at the top of Blue Sky Basin, is the perfect place for a picnic lunch. From Belle’s Camp, you can see the Ten Mile Range and Mount of the Holy Cross, one of Colorado’s “fourteeners.” First-time visitors may wish to explore Blue Sky Basin with an “adventure guide” from the ski school.

Expert skiers can access backcountry skiing in the White River National Forest through four access gates on the mountain. These gates are the only places where skiers are allowed to access this terrain. If skiers do not use the permitted gates, they have broken the law and if caught will be punished.