The Vail Valley landed on the international map because of its snow, sure, but the same water that falls as frozen flakes in winter also fuels summer’s fun. With sky-mirroring alpine lakes, raging rapids, lively public pools, peaceful river floats, and mesmerizing cascades, the challenge here is how to sample it all during the fleeting window of warm weather in the high alpine. Many of the valley’s most intrepid adventurers know this well, of course. Eagle County is home to world-champion rafters, elite anglers, die-hard river surfers, and most importantly, a landscape that supports a dizzying array of water-based activities and a bevy of professional outfitters eager and well-equipped to help you safely enjoy them. So whether you’re seeking glassy solitude on Lake Constantine or the Class V rush of your life in Gore Canyon, this guide to the valley’s quintessential liquid adventures will help you seize and savor the summer—before it slips away.