When people think skiing in Colorado, Vail is often the first town that comes to mind. World-famous Vail skiing on 5,289 acres of Legendary terrain (including the wide-open trails of the Back Bowls and naturally gladed terrain of Blue Sky Basin) have put the town on the map for travelers around the world and have challenged skiers for decades.
Located in the Colorado Rockies just 100 miles west of Denver, Vail’s delightful pedestrian villages were created by and for skiers, and have grown to embrace families and outdoors enthusiasts with a taste for five-star lodging, dining, shopping and activities year-round.
Vail is conveniently located on I-70 with easy access from Denver International Airport and Eagle County Airport. The White River National Forest and Gore Range mountains surround the valley. The car-free streets link the villages in a safe environment and are lined with premier lodging, world-class restaurants, unique shops and unique nightlife.
While in the winter skiing and snowboarding are the top activity, visitors can choose from snowmobiling, snowshoeing, snow tubing and sleigh rides and more for adventure beyond the slopes. In summer and fall, the town and surrounding mountains explode with energy and adventure with adventure courses, ziplines, a mountain coaster and much more, the options are endless at Epic Discovery. Around town, there's top-notch waterfall hikes, challenging and family-friendly mountain-bike and road-cycling routes, spas and culinary delights, rafting and golf courses. Fall also brings a feast to the eyes as the aspen leaves change to a myriad of golds against a cornflower-blue sky.
Former president Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty made a home here, with a legacy that includes the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, a magical outdoor venue that hosts music and dance festivals each summer, and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Recreation abounds with the Vail Recreation District programs and the Vail Nature Center, all complemented by the Art in Public Places masterpieces that dot the Vail landscape.
Vail is also home to a number of exciting annual events throughout the year, including the GoPro Mountain Games, the Vail Dance Festival, Bravo! Music Festival, free Hot Summer Nights concert series, Snow Daze, Burton U.S. Open and Taste of Vail and more. Explore Vail’s complete event lineup.
The town lies about 25 miles from Camp Hale, which spawned the famous 10th Mountain Division of mountain-trained soldiers during World War II. The Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum and Hall of Fame honors the memory of those soldiers, who played a pivotal role in the war. Several 10th Mountain Division soldiers later became the founders and visionaries of Vail and are a large party of Vail’s history.