Number of skiable acres on Vail Mountain: 5,289. That’s an area more than a third the size of the island of Manhattan. With that much terrain to explore, it can take years to really know your way around the mountain, and right when you think you’ve devised the best strategy for how to attack Vail on a powder day, you shadow a stranger you just met on the chair who shows you a whole new—and better—way to do it. Those who don’t understand Vail love to grouse about the minuses—it doesn’t have enough steep terrain, it’s overcrowded on the weekends, it’s too expensive. But skiers who get Vail focus on all the pluses: stellar runs, lifts, bowls, terrain, and powder. Vail may rank fourth in skiable acres among American resorts (after Powder Mountain, Park City, and Big Sky), but from where we sit—soaring over Lover’s Leap on Chair 37—Vail’s our first love, forever number one. Here’s how we crush it: a local’s guide to skiing Vail, from the front side to Blue Sky, starting (and ending: yay, après!) in each of the mountain’s three base areas.
How to Use Vail Village as Your Mountain Basecamp
From where to park to must-hit ski runs, we map out everything you need to hack Vail Village like a pro.
Everything You Need to Know about Vail Mountain’s Terrain Parks
From pint-sized rails to monster halfpipes.
How to Get a Taste of the Backcountry on Vail Mountain
Two powder-filled itineraries to sample on Vail Mountain.
How to Start (And Finish) Your Ski Day from Lionshead Village
We map out 12 perfect hours using Lionshead Village as your Vail Mountain basecamp.
Everything You Need to Know about Golden Peak
Vail's smallest base area is its quickest jumping off point to the powdery oasis of Blue Sky Basin.
4 Must-Try On-Mountain Dining Options
From Vail's most scenic fleet of DIY grills to the mountain's most upscale lunch.
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