How big is Vail?
Vail has 195 trails served by 31 lifts — 4th for trails of the 15 resorts we track in the USA. On lifts it ranks 5th of the 15.
Vail resort guide
Colorado, USA
America's largest single-mountain ski resort
Vail at a glance
195
Trails
31
Lifts
11,575ft
Top
8,120ft
Base
3,455ft
Vertical
EGE
Nearest airport, 29 mi
18% beginner29% intermediate53% advanced
Vail is America's largest single-mountain ski resort, offering legendary Back Bowls, extensive terrain, and world-class facilities.
Your questions about Vail, answered
How high is Vail?
The lifts run from 8,120ft at the base to 11,575ft at the top, a vertical of 3,455ft. Of the 15 resorts we track in the USA, that is the 4th highest, with the 8th biggest vertical.
A base above 5,906ft is high by Alpine standards, so the runs back to the village hold their snow better than at lower resorts.
Is Vail good for beginners or experts?
The trails at Vail split 18% beginner, 29% intermediate and 53% advanced, against an average of 19% beginner and 42% advanced across the resorts we track in the USA.
On those numbers it suits confident skiers and riders looking for steep terrain.
For backcountry and off-piste, our guide documents 4 zones at Vail, with the lift to take and the avalanche risk for each.
When is the ski season at Vail?
Over the last ten winters Vail has typically held skiable snow at mid-mountain from around December 5 to May 29, about 177 days.
March is the best all-round month on the record, with an average base of 37in, 20in of new snow and 3.3 bluebird days.
Month-by-month snow history →What is the nearest airport to Vail?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Eagle County Regional (EGE), 29 mi away in a straight line. Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) (ASE) is 39 mi, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan (BJC) is 70 mi, Denver (DEN) is 91 mi. Road distances are longer, often much longer in the mountains, and the nearest airport is not always the one with the most flights.
How much is a lift ticket at Vail?
A 6-day adult Vail lift ticket costs $2,244 for 2026/27, or $374 a day. For value it ranks 7th of the 15 resorts we price in the USA.
Full lift ticket prices and history →Airports near Vail
Airports with scheduled flights, nearest first. Distances are straight-line; by road they are longer, and in the mountains often much longer.
- Eagle County RegionalEGE29 mi
- Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field)ASE39 mi
- Rocky Mountain MetropolitanBJC70 mi
- DenverDEN91 mi · major airport
Travel time to Vail
Pick the airport you fly from for an estimate of the journey to the resort.
- Fly to Eagle County Regional (EGE)Quickest
- Flight
- 4h 10m · 1,741 mi
- Ground transfer
- 1h · 39 mi
- Total
- ≈ 5h 10m
- Fly to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) (ASE)
- Flight
- 4h 10m · 1,745 mi
- Ground transfer
- 1h 20m · 53 mi
- Total
- ≈ 5h 30m
- Fly to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan (BJC)
- Flight
- 3h 55m · 1,644 mi
- Ground transfer
- 2h 20m · 94 mi
- Total
- ≈ 6h 15m
Estimates from straight-line distances, not timetables: flights at typical cruising speed plus taxi and climb, ground transfers at an average 40 mph. They leave out check-in and baggage time, and mountain roads in snow can take much longer. Check with airlines and transfer companies before booking.
Vail lift ticket 2026/27
$2,2446-day adult Vail lift ticket · ≈€1,958
$374 per day · 0.7 km of trails per € · #7 of 15 for value in the USA
Dynamic pricing — book early for lower prices
21value scorePremium price
Vail trail map 2024/25
2024/25 seasonThe official Vail trail map, published by Vail Mountain. This map covers the front side; the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin are a separate sheet. It shows every run, lift and sector across 195 trails served by 31 lifts, from 8,120ft at the base to 11,575ft at the summit.
Vail Mountain publishes the Vail map on their own site rather than as a file we can show here. The links below go straight to it.
Always check the resort's live trail status before setting off. Runs shown on a map are not necessarily open, and backcountry terrain is never patrolled unless the map says so.
Why go to Vail
- Largest single-mountain ski resort in America
- Legendary Back Bowls terrain
- Extensive groomed runs
- World-class facilities
- Excellent snow conditions
- Vibrant village atmosphere
Things to know
- Can be very expensive
- Can get crowded during peak season
- High altitude may affect some visitors
- Limited beginner terrain
- Long lift lines on weekends
Skiing and snowboarding Vail by ability level
Beginners
Vail offers some beginner terrain, but it's limited. The resort is better suited for intermediate and advanced skiers. Beginners should stick to the front side groomed runs and consider taking lessons.
Intermediates
Vail is excellent for intermediate skiers! The resort offers extensive groomed runs, perfect for cruising. Explore the front side and venture into the Back Bowls on good weather days.
Advanced
Vail is a paradise for advanced skiers! The legendary Back Bowls offer some of the best expert terrain in America, with steep chutes, powder stashes, and challenging off-piste opportunities.
Our take on Vail
Food & dining
Après-ski
Price level
Luxury
Facilities
Official resort website: vail.com
More on Vail
- Vail snow reportLive conditions, snow depth and the 7-day forecast by elevation
- Vail snow historyTen seasons of snowfall, snow depth, powder days and when the season ends
- Vail lift ticket pricesDay and multi-day ticket prices, how they have changed, and value for money
- Vail backcountry & off-piste guideWhere the powder is, which lift to take and the avalanche risk
- Ski resorts in the USALive snow reports and a map of resorts, cities and airports in the USA
Ski resorts near Vail
Distances are straight-line, not by road.