When Taylor Swift and her then-beau (Scottish deejay Calvin Harris) spent a Christmas slopeside in Strawberry Park in 2016, it wasn’t paparazzi shots of the couple skiing that nearly broke the internet. It was two images from the star’s Instagram feed: one of the couple building a top-hatted snowman in the woods, another of the pair (anonymous under helmets and goggles and facemasks) astride an ATV on a snow-packed backcountry road, far from the chairlifts and groomed runs of Vail and Beaver Creek. Locals and perennial visitors understand that experiencing winter here involves much more than zooming down the groomed runs of our signature resorts. Trade your ski boots for ice skates or mukluks and your adventures may not earn the fleeting envy of 113 million Instagram followers like Swift, but hopefully you’ll gain something more profound: an indelible memory of the magic of winter in our valley. 

In This Feature:

Everything You Need to Know about Ski Biking and Snow Tubing on Vail Mountain

Two new on-mountain adventures to add to your winter must-try list.

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth

Your Guide to Snowshoeing and Telemark Skiing in the Vail Valley

Home to 19 miles of trails and sitting at 9,840 feet above sea level, Beaver Creek's Nordic Center is your basecamp for snowshoeing and tele-skiing adventure.

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth

Vail's Bucket List Snowmobile Tour

Looking for a whole new way to feel the wind in your hair? Opt for a snowmobile tour with Vail Backcountry Tours.

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth

Two Paw-Powered Snowy Adventures

Where to get your Iditarod on in the Vail Valley

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth

A Guide to the Valley's Ice Skating Rinks

A roundup of indoor and outdoor ice rinks from Vail Village to Beaver Creek.

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth

Two Uphill Itineraries to Add to Your Winter Bucket List

Cripple Creek Backcountry hosts a full moon skin on Vail Mountain—plus, an on-mountain interval workout led by a historic Everest climber.

02/11/2019 By Kirsten Dobroth