Vail Mountain

$ 165 for a lift ticket? This better be good!
Tip: Buy the ticket online on their website listed below so you can skip the long lift ticket line. It was insane to me how people stood in the long line when the online purchase line to the left was empty. Buy the ticket, show confirmation, get a lift ticket. DONE!
Tip: A season pass is $ 599. So if you’re gonna be there for a week, you might as well get the season pass
This resort has all kinds of runs. They have. Something for every skill level.
One of those once in a lifetime visits in my opinion because it’s way too expensive. We ate at one of the lodges on top of the mountain and a burrito and sports drink ran me $ 22! I was shocked!
Buy online and skip the line!

This is the mountain I truly learned how to curve on my snowboard. The snow is pure powder. It makes falling not painful and it makes the falls more of a small bump. I am proud to say that because of vail I can now snowboard with ease. If you are debating between what mountains to board when in Colorado, I would say vail is a perfect option. The mountain runs are a good 30 to 45 minutes. The lifts up the main mountains are called gondolas and they are insulated and warm. Once you hit the main slopes in order to get to the top upper slopes you need to take the regular lifts. The regular lifts are cold, as expected. Lift tickets are about 160 $ per a person for a whole day pay. It’s $ 80 per a person for half a day.
The vail village makes this a must. It’s a quaint town with loads of shopping, dinning and ski/​boarding related stuff.
As a boarder, I do have to mention that this mountain is way more skier friendly than boarder friendly. But overall, it’s a great place to board.

The mountain itself is phenomenal. It has some of the best lift-​serviced terrain in the country. However, there are several major problems that make this place a one-​star experience:
1) $ 140 lift tickets
2) Crowds. Literally every day of the week this place is crowded from open to close. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Sunday — doesn’t matter. It is a zoo at all times. Granted, there is enough terrain once you get out back to avoid the people, but almost everything is tracked out and destroyed within a couple hours of opening. Furthermore, it’s not the crowding on the runs themselves that are the problem, but just getting to the mountain, parking, and actually getting on the hill is long, arduous, and at all times… crowded. And god forbid if any snow falls, you’ll be fighting your way through literally tens of thousands of people — regardless of the day of the week it is. It didn’t used to be like this, a few years ago you could snag good mid-​week powder days no problem and it was a blast. Now the sheer number of human beings herding themselves onto the slopes makes it unbearable. Going on a weekend is insanity, literally 45 minute lines on the lifts that service the good stuff — and that doesn’t even take into account getting to the mountain, which is a nightmare due to its location on I-​70. Even if you live in Summit which is about 25 – 30 minutes on a dry day during the summer, it can take upwards of several HOURS to get there and get parked. Truly a nightmare. And if you’re coming from Denver 6+ hours is not out of the question.
3) Parking. Unless you’re a local and know the spots, AND get there at about 6:30 in the morning, you’re paying $ 35 to park your car for the day. That’s $ 175.00 we’re up to now with the lift ticket.
4) Food: $ 19 hamburgers, $ 12.00 bottles of beer. ’nuff said. Let’s say you have a burger, fries and a soda. You’ll be spending at LEAST $ 25 per person. That’s $ 200.00 we’re up to now.
5) The yellow jackets: «Yellow Jacket» is the local term for so-​called Mountain Safety personnel. They are required by their bosses to issue X number of citations per day for «skiing/​riding too fast». If you ride non-​groomers they can be avoided for the most part, but you still have to pass them while traversing the mountain from front to back. They are generally rude and have an authority complex: think overgrown hall-​monitor… Not fun.
6) The company: Vail Resorts is an awful company that treats its employees and the communities it operates in horribly. Out of towners, don’t let their smiley propaganda fool you, everything is NOT happy go lucky and ho-​hum in these communities. Its employees are disposable, dispensable assets that are treated even lower than second-​class citizens. They get no benefits, are paid an unlivable wage, and can be fired at the drop of a hat. They are single-​handedly destroying all of the mom and pop ski areas of the state of Colorado, and I assume they’ll start to do the same in Utah with their aggressive, hostile takeover of Park City. The culture at this company is so toxic that it makes corporations like Citibank and Wells Fargo look like friendly organizations. Absolutely cutthroat and despicable.
Do everyone in Colorado a favor and DO NOT give these people a cent of your money. The small ski areas in Colorado offer a much more enjoyable, affordable and pleasant experience. The terrain is just as good too. Yes, most areas don’t have the wide open bowls of Vail that make it such a huge draw for tourists, but trust me, they’ll be tracked out in a matter of hours. If you’re coming from out of town, go to Loveland, Wolf Creek, Crested Butte, Sunlight, Arapahoe Basin, Copper, Steamboat, ANYTHING but Vail.
This review is written after spending 100+ days at Vail over the last 6 – 7 years.

Awesome mountain! My first time boarding in CO and it was amazing! Got the 4 Day Epic pass so I could visit Beaver Creek as well. Everyone was so friendly and helpful in Vail. Even the guests were nice. They had so many different runs and Kleenex! 15 boxes in the restroom, Kleenex in the lodges, lifts and even someone to pass out Kleenex when you entered the restaurants. Very thoughtful and helpful. The snow was incredible. Three days of fresh snow! It’s a great little town with lots of restaurant options and shops for all budgets. Don’t miss out. It’s right next to the interstate with parking and public transport. Pack your bags and go!

too much shade.
it was colder than i wanted it to be — not everyone will say hi.
1 star

As their slogan says, «Like nothing on Earth»
This is a CO ski destination NOT to miss.
If you come during a powder day, don’t be afraid to ask locals for ideas. Over 5000 acres to ski, there is always fresh powder.

Vail Mountain. I absolutely love snowboarding in Colorado cause of the scenery. The roads are a sight to see and the mountains are filled with snow. The snow is always fresh and the mountains are gorgeous. The runs are long and it’s always has fresh powder. However, that’s not to say I haven’t encountered icy parts where it feels like I’m hitting cement when I fall. Yes, I know. Pros still fall.
The lift tickets keep going up every year but it’s expected. The main perk of the lift ticket is it could be used at all the local mountains. You could board Vail one day, Keystone the next and Breckenridge the day after. We always buy a multi-​day pass and really milk it.
Vail Village is very charming and has this Christmas-​esque about it. The architecture is gorgeous and there’s plenty to do while you’re there. The people are usually friendly. I’ve encountered some douchie and pretentious skiers but it doesn’t discourage me from coming back. However, those encounters are usually on the slopes. I’ll go from Beverly Hills to Compton on their a$$ in 0 – 100 real fast on them if they acted that way towards me in the village. Oh yeahh!!! Amaaaanduuuuh!?!
Overall, I always have a good trip whenever I’m in Vail. I do prefer Keystone over Vail because the snow is usually softer, slopes wider and people are nicer. However, Vail Village is a lot more charming and fun to walk through after a day of boarding.

So I was skiing in the trees the other day and came out of them onto the main trail (one of their 100+ in some area). I came out below the yellow sign that says «slow down,» which is when they ask you to literally slow to make it safe for others.
A «yellow jacket» employee flagged me down and started to talk to me. Tom stared off asking me questions like I was a criminal getting pulled over by the police. I had stated I knew what the sign meant, but didn’t even see that I was below it until I turned around and saw it 200 yards behind me.
He asked for my ID so he could write me up. I gave it to him and then he said «next time you get this, your pass will be pulled for two weeks.» I didn’t even realize I was below the sign and then he goes, your attitude should be nice, as I give this to my manager. A verbal warning the first time wouldn’t have had the same effect, without making me now loath the yellow jackets.
1) I’m not going to ask this guy out for coffee after giving me a ticket.
2) He was a grown man telling me that my attitude should be nice.
3) It’s called «politeness to police call,» Vail. Teach your employees how to interact with others in a service industry.
Tom and I aren’t going to be friends.

My favorite mountain in the country. I’ve got 3 words for you: Blue Sky Basin.
On a day of powder you can hit the cliffs to the left (skiers right) of the lift, then take a chance through the dense tree runs. The back bowls are incredible as well.
The lines can get packed because lets face it, this is Vail. Usually if you get to the back side its not too bad.
TICKET TIP: Purchase from the kids ski school, no long lines!
Downsides are price and long lines, but this years trip had powder so it was well worth it.

Vail: Like NO Place on EARTH! #Vail2015
From Blue Sky Basin and skiing the back bowls to world class events, ski-​country doesn’t get any better than this. FIS World Alpine Ski Championships start tomorrow and skiing everyday through April.
Viva Vail!

Vail mountain has the best of it all: long groomed runs mixed with sections of powdered moguls, ideal snow quality (thick yet soft… none of the Sierra cement) and lots of it. There are fast lifts, gorgeous mountain backdrops, and of course a village at the base with great food and amenities. I felt beyond lucky to come here.
Skiing is an expensive sport, I know, but what an amazing one! It’s an exhilarating feeling to carve your own tracks into an enormous mountain and it’s a sport that’s bonded my family since the edgie wedgie days. On this trip, we had great, clear weather the first two days, light snow in the afternoon on the third, and fresh powder for our fourth and final day. We couldn’t have asked for more.
We met skiers from all over the world here — from South America to Australia. Vail’s slogan says it all: it’s «like no place on Earth.»

I was really hoping that Vail was overrated and we wouldn’t fall in love with this mountain, but alas, that was not the case. We came here mid-​December for the hubby’s big 3 – 0 and had a blast! They hadn’t had any fresh pow since Thanksgiving for our first day on the slopes, but I was impressed with how good of a job they’d maintained the mountain. It didn’t feel like crusty old snow like it can at some other places.
Thankfully, our second day was blessed with 6 fresh inches of snow and wahoo was that a blast! I’m glad we had the first day to explore the mountain and get our bearings because we were really able to let loose and have fun on the mountain.
We had so much fun here, I really don’t even care that the burgers on the mountain cost $ 14. Well, maybe I do care a little bit because that doesn’t even include fries. That and their coffee is horrible, but oh well — at this point, I’m really just nitpicking. This place is awesome!

You just can’t get better skiing anywhere. There is so much terrain for all levels. I loved all the tree skiing, especially in China Bowl.
Prices are high unfortunately, and make it a playground for the rich.

Vail has everything. All the different kinds of terrain you could want, from smooth groom at Lionshead, to Moguls, to steeps, to the back country bowls. The village has all the shopping and dining you want. A great place to vacation.

I absolutely agree with Vail’s slogan, it’s «like nothing on earth». It’s one of the prettiest places & landscapes and it’s a great place to learn how to ski for beginners.
I was nervous about how well I would be able to handle the hills in Vail but my fears were put to rest immediately since the all day lessons are taught by top notch instructors. They place you in a group based on your ability and start you in the training area then gradually take you to more difficult hills as you improve.
I took three days of lessons and stayed with the same instructor who took us all over the mountains. I went from being able to barely ski to being able to ski the blue squares by the end of the second day!
The lessons are totally worth the extra money. You can get a discount on your lift tickets and lesson packages if you book online in advance. Get to the equipment rental place the night before or early the day of your lesson since the lines can get really long.
Vail isn’t just for the experts; it’s also a place for beginners who want to learn how to ski, improve their skiing and conquer their fears of skiing.
My goal is to come here each year since it’s the best and most beautiful place to ski on earth!

Wow wow wow
My ski gang of 15 and I have just returned from 9 days skiing in the Colorado Rockies. After a lot of research, we settled on Vail as the transfer from Denver was a reasonable 2 hours and the slopes looked extensive with the promise of huge bowl of powder skiing
We lucked out this year with the snow. Speaking to locals, Vail has had a couple of lean years, snow-​wise but we had 2 feet of fresh snow when we were there. This led to amazing thigh high powder adventures but it also limited us to only one sunny day and temperatures of minus 15 with wind causing horizontal snow blasts
The runs are extensive and single lifts will give you decent length descents. The front side of the mountains give the most variety for a mixed ability group. There are really fun green/​blue run mixes from all areas but our favourites were just above the Lionshead, the Wildwood bowl and the runs leading down from the Buffalo’s/Henry’s hut area. That’s not to say that there aren’t challenges for expert skiers and Highline and Riva Ridge will test more adventurous skiers
A word of warning — unlike European resorts, you’ll find that the grooming patterns change from day to day. You may arrive at your favourite run from the day before to find it huge mass of giant moguls. So, look at the list of groomed runs carefully beofre setting off if bumps scare you! One of the best things about Vail are the many information guides — they wear red suits with an ”i on the back and they’re an invaluable source of information about navigation and day to day conditions
However, it’s when you get to Vail’s Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin that you get to its strength. Be aware that strong winds can close access to these areas though and when skiers and boarders are limited to the front face, lifts can get busy. You need to be at least an intermediate skier to get the most of their big open bowls though there’s always a blue run down to the lift. The stronger skier you are, the more you’ll probably get out of skiing in Vail — they pride themselves on being a more extreme ski resort, hence policies like allowing slopes to mogul up more than other resorts
Our group enjoyed some amazing powder and tree skiing. Wonderful flully floaty powder. In fact, we didn’t encounter any ice at all during our 9 days on the slopes. The most extreme conditions we enjoyed were in the Mongolias, eliciting one of our group to scream,‘It’s skitastic’ as she zoomed down the slope
They try hard to offer freshly made food in the mountain lodges. We probably spent most time in Two Elks because it offered the most seating though the best food was at the Wildwood on the mountain and at the base of Lionhead off the mountain
There is a good bus system linking the base areas in Vail Village with a good choice of restaurants and shops. With a few exceptions, Vail is an expensive resort and the one downside is a slight snobby attitude about the resort in that they don’t make it easy to access the other Colorado resorts, especially when the Epic ski pass includes days at othe resorts for free. There is a bus to Beaver Creek but you have to pay. There are no public buses to any of the other resorts.
However, this isn’t enough to dampen my new found love for Vail and this is in my top 3 favourite ski resorts ever

It’s true what they say about Vail. There’s no comparison. I’ve been lucky enough to ski at Vail my whole life, and it’s tough to go anywhere else after experiencing the mountain. The slopes are gigantic, and contain all the terrain you could possibly imagine — practice areas, steeps, moguls, terrain parks, double-​blacks, glades, the giant back bowls, and the adventure skiing of Blue Sky Basin. There’s something for everyone. and the conditions always seem perfect.
If you’re intermediate or better and want to make the most of your day, it helps to know the mountain and where the crowds go on busy days. For example, you’ll find that Chair 2 gets crowded by mid-​morning, Chair 4 from mid-​morning to afternoon, and Chair 11 later in the day. The best strategy is probably to get out early and beat the crowds across the mountain and over to the back bowls and Blue Sky. All Vail’s employees are ultra-​friendly and begging to answer questions, as well. Also, download the Epic Mix app before you go so you can track your progress throughout and at the end of the day.
Vail is expensive. Lift tickets are more than 100 dollars per day, and even parking will cost you a hefty sum (there is a free shuttle system, however). Plan ahead.
The villages, modeled after European ski towns, have tons of restaurants, shopping, and more. I prefer the smaller, calmer Lionshead area to the sprawling Vail Village (especially to ski out of in the AM). There’s also a great ski school for the young’ins.

Vail is a great apres ski experience. As far as the mountain itself, not the best in comparison to other mountains in the area (see my review for Breck).
Definitely worth a visit for the experience. I had dreamt (sp?) of going for many years, and I finally went — somehow I was a bit underwhelmed with the riding experience. Vail seems to be a mountain for skiers, rather than riders — it can be pretty flat, so tough on us snowboarders.
Would I go again? — Sure, if I was forced to. There are better mountains for riders in the area.

Yes the price of a day lift ticket is anywhere from $ 105-​$ 130 and that parking is another $ 25/​day. Save on the ticket by getting the EpicMix season pass so you can use for Tahoe resorts too… or borrow your friend’s. Or you save a couple bucks for buying online 7 days in advance. For the parking, drive past the resort down a couple exits to the Holiday Inn right off the freeway and park there. There’s a free shuttle that goes to and from the resort (stops both at Lions Village and the Main Village) every half hour until 8:30 pm or so.
Trail maps:
Best runs if you are intermediate or advanced are on the back bowls. Get to one of the top to Two Elk, Wildwood, or Buffalo’s lodge. You don’ t need a gondola to get you there, those lines can take forever so just plan our your lifts and catwalks to get up. There are a number of tree areas where you can ski/​snowboard through, however some are so dense (particularly in the Sun Down bowl) where it just looks like winter wonderland.
One of the backside bowls:
View from the backside:
Note: if it’s too windy/​stormy, they will close the backside. So if you are stuck in the front, the runs off Northwood Express (goes up towards Buffalo Lodge) are pretty good and tree-​filled too.
Can’t wait until next season!

With this year’s ski season rapidly approaching, and my upcoming winter trip to Utah finally booked, I thought it’d be worthwhile to reflect on my past few excellent years at Vail with some tips:
1 — If you do nothing else for the rest of your life, SKI THE BACK BOWLS (maps here:
). Don’t ever leave… Seriously! Vail’s whole claim «like nothing on earth» comes to life once you’ve skied here. Blue Sky Basin is pretty badass too if you’re looking for untouched powder, tree skiing, and plenty of rocks/​cliffs to jump off. These areas are what distinguish Vail from almost every other ski resort in the U.S. (European skiing above the tree line is very similar in experience to Vail’s back bowls). Both areas are also much quieter than the front side, which has a tendency to always crowd up by the lodge area… this brings me to #2…
2 — If you must ski the front side of Vail, get as high up as you can, and take small runs down (ie. from the summit to Mid-​Vail). Rinse and repeat, and you’ll stay away from the sometimes overwhelming base-​area crowds.
3 — If you’re not staying in Vail or Lionshead Villages, hang out there for a round after the ski day. Vail is known for their apres ski scene, and you’ll see why once you get out of your skis and boots after your last run. There are a plethora of restaurants and bars, many with live music and drink specials. Certainly, you can probably get cheaper food/​drink if you’re willing to drive out of the village, but the scene and people alone make everything worth it.
4 — Regardless of where you’re staying, utilize the free in-​town shuttle buses. Vail Village is typically more expensive than Lionshead, so we end up staying in Lionshead (same proximity to the slopes, walking distance to both Born Free and Eagle Bahn gondolas). You’re already spending $ 120+ a day on skiing and even more on food and drink, so if you’re looking to shave cost without really sacrificing much, this is the way to do so.