Best Things to Do in Vail, Colorado, by Season and Month

The best things to do in Vail, Colorado, change with the season. From Vail Mountain's planned November 13 opening through spring, it is skiing, above all the seven Back Bowls. From June to September it is gondola rides, hiking, fly fishing on Gore Creek and a full festival calendar. Year-round, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Colorado Snowsports Museum are free, and the walk between Vail Village and Lionshead costs nothing. For every activity sorted by type, see the things to do in Vail hub and the Vail attractions directory; for what defines the town, see what Vail is known for.

Vail Mountain is the main draw: 5,317 skiable acres, 278 trails and 32 lifts, with the seven Back Bowls covering 2,785 of those acres. The town works in every season, though. Two gondolas run in summer, a free botanical garden sits beside Gore Creek, and a festival calendar fills June through September. Festival dates below are marked by year so you can see what recurs.

Top-rated Vail activities on Viator

Vail and Beaver Creek Performance Ski Rental Including Delivery★ 4.6 (18 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $283.14 per personCheck dates on ViatorHalf Day Walk and Wade Fly Fishing Trip★ 4.7 (21 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $275 per personCheck dates on ViatorSave the Mountain Escape Room Adventure★ 4.8 (4 reviews) · Free cancellationFrom $40 per personCheck dates on Viator

Prices, ratings and review counts are from Viator as of Oct 11, 2026 and can change.

The best things to do in Vail at a glance

This table sorts the activities below by cost, using each operator's most recently published prices, checked on October 2, 2026. Free means no admission, $ is under $100 a person, $$ is $100 to $300 and $$$ is over $300. Prices change by season and date, so treat them as a guide and confirm with the operator before you book.

What is open in Vail right now?

As of October 2, 2026, Vail is between seasons. The gondolas ran their last summer weekend on September 27, and Vail Mountain plans to open for skiing on Friday, November 13, 2026, according to Vail Resorts' August 18 announcement. In between, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, the Colorado Snowsports Museum, the two villages and lower-elevation trails stay open.

Late September to mid-November is Vail's quietest stretch, with fewer things to do but uncrowded villages and trails. The table goes month by month, using 2026 dates where they are set.

Weather decides a lot in the gap months: the town averages about 9 inches of snow in October and 26 in November, so higher trails can be snowy well before the lifts open. Vail in October and Vail in November cover those months in detail, and when Vail opens and closes has the season dates.

What can you do in Vail in winter?

Winter in Vail runs from the planned November 13 opening to mid-April. Skiing is the core: Vail Mountain has 5,317 skiable acres, including 2,785 acres in the seven Back Bowls. Off the slopes, there are two outdoor ice rinks, free guided snowshoe tours at Eagle's Nest and 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails at the Vail Nordic Center.

Skiing the Back Bowls

The seven bowls behind the front side are Sun Up, Sun Down, Tea Cup, China, Siberia, Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia. Sun Up is the iconic first bowl, hiked and skied by the resort's founders. They are not all expert terrain: China Bowl has wide-open intermediate groomed runs, the Poppyfields, as well as steep expert pitches on its west side, and Sun Down Bowl holds some of the more complicated, hidden terrain in the bowls. Inner and Outer Mongolia are the long, remote outing, secluded expert terrain reached by traversing to the Mongolia Platter, with low-angle powder. Two areas sit outside the seven: Blue Sky Basin, an in-bounds backcountry experience of open meadows and groomed glades, and Game Creek Bowl, a stepping stone to the larger bowls with easy groomers and moguls.

Across the whole mountain, 53 percent of the terrain is rated advanced, 29 percent intermediate and 18 percent beginner. Vail Mountain's planned opening for 2026–27 is November 13, weather permitting; when the bowls open in a given season is covered in when the Back Bowls open.

Lift tickets and passes

As of October 2, 2026, vail.com listed an advance-purchase adult one-day lift ticket at $335 and a limited-time, restricted Epic 1-Day Pass at $144. The Epic Pass was $1,145 for adults 31 and older until prices rise on October 7, $909 for teens and young adults (13 to 30) and $585 for children 5 to 12. One-day prices change by date, so treat $335 as a guide; how much it costs to ski in Vail covers the full picture, and the mountain's own page is the Vail Mountain listing.

Ice skating

Two outdoor rinks open around Thanksgiving and run through the ski season, according to vail.com: the Solaris Plaza rink in Vail Village and the Alderhof Ice Rink at Arrabelle at Vail Square in Lionshead. Both rent skates and offer skating-assist devices, and 2026–27 admission prices had not been published on October 2. Dobson Ice Arena, in Lionshead, is the indoor option. It has been closed for a remodel, and the Vail Recreation District says programming resumes there in November 2026, with a reopening concert on November 28. Its last posted public skating rates were $10 for ages 13 and up, $8 for ages 5 to 12 and $6 for ages 4 and under, plus a $5 skate rental, but rates for the reopened arena had not been confirmed. Session times and prices are on the Discover Vail skating page.

Snowshoe tours and trails

The Nature Discovery Center at Eagle's Nest, part of Walking Mountains Science Center, runs free guided snowshoe tours of about 1.5 hours for ages 10 and up. Registration is required, and the gondola ride up needs a valid lift ticket or pass in winter. For self-guided snowshoeing, the Vail Nordic Center has 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails and rents snowshoes. The center's 2026–27 winter schedule had not been posted on October 2; the last published one ran December 20 to April 5, Wednesday to Saturday.

Nordic skiing

The Vail Nordic Center is based in the Vail Golf Club clubhouse and run by the Vail Recreation District, with certified instructors and rentals. Its pro shop opens November 9, 2026, and the track opens once there is enough snow. Last winter's page listed 17 kilometers of groomed skate and classic track, 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails and 13 kilometers of fat bike trails, and 2026–27 pricing was still marked "coming soon" on October 2. Grill on the Gore, in the same clubhouse, serves a soup and chili buffet in winter.

Snowmobile tours

Vail Backcountry Tours says it is the only snowmobile touring company in Vail. Tours start about five minutes from Vail Village and stop at a private yurt for a hot drink and a snack. Its listed prices are $280 for a two-hour tour on a single machine ($420 for two people sharing) and $380 for a three-hour tour ($520 shared), with boots, suits, helmets and a guide included. Passengers can be as young as 5, and riding alone requires a valid driver's permit. The prices carry no season on the operator's site and no 2026–27 dates have been published, so confirm before winter.

For a full winter list, see the best things to do in Vail in winter.

What can you do in Vail in summer and fall?

Vail's summer season runs from mid-June to late September. In 2026, Gondola One opened June 12 and the Eagle Bahn June 19, running daily through September 7 and on weekends to September 27. Summer days center on gondola rides, Epic Discovery at Eagle's Nest, the free Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, fly fishing on Gore Creek and hiking.

Ride a gondola without skis

The Eagle Bahn Gondola rises from Lionshead and Gondola One from Vail Village. Both run in summer and through the ski season, but not in the weeks between. The 2026 summer schedule is daily from June 12 (Gondola One) and June 19 (Eagle Bahn) through September 7, then Friday to Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with September 27 the last day of the season. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer and can pause service. For gondola-only tickets, one child 12 or under rides free with each adult ride ticket. Summer 2027 dates had not been announced on October 2.

Epic Discovery at Eagle's Nest

At the top of the Eagle Bahn, the Vail Epic Discovery area has the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster (3,400 feet of track), a 35-foot climbing wall, a bungee trampoline and 550-foot tubing lanes, and Gore Creek Mini Golf sits at the base of the gondola. Younger children have Marmot Mini Kids Tubing and the 10-foot-high Little Eagle Kids Zipline. Epic Discovery is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from June through Labor Day weekend, then Friday to Sunday in September; September 27 is the last day of the 2026 season. A gondola ticket or Adventure Pass is required to get up, activities have age, height and weight limits, and fully enclosed footwear is required. The Adventure Ridge guide goes through the individual attractions.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens sit at 8,200 feet in Ford Park, with five acres of alpine gardens and, by the garden's own count, more than 3,000 alpine species. The outdoor gardens are open daily from dawn to dusk and admission is free, with a suggested donation of $20. Inside, the Education Center has interactive exhibits and the temperature-controlled Alpine House holds more than 200 species of bulbs and other plants. Parking in the Vail Village structure is $2 an hour with the first hour free and free after 3 p.m., according to the garden's visit page. The Vail Nature Center is a short walk east along Gore Creek, but Walking Mountains kept it closed for the whole 2026 summer season for Town of Vail site work and has not posted a reopening date.

Fly fishing on Gore Creek

Gore Creek runs through the heart of town, and its Gold Medal section draws fly anglers. Access points include the Vail Nature Center, Ford Park, Antlers Lodge, Donovan Park and the Grand Hyatt. Waders are a good idea because the creek is narrow and lined with brush. Anglers need a Colorado fishing license depending on their age, and a guide is the simplest way to start; Discover Vail's fishing page lists local outfitters. On The Water Fly Fishing lists half-day wade trips at $375 for one angler ($450 for two), full-day wade trips at $575 for one and half-day float trips at $550 per boat for up to two anglers, and Viator lists a half-day walk-and-wade trip in Vail.

Jeep tours into the high country

Vail 4x4 Tours runs guided Jeep tours from May 21 to October 31, 2026, with pickup at Vail hotels, residences and the Vail Transportation Center. The Top of the Rockies tour takes about 4.5 hours, climbs to a 12,000-foot summit and passes fossil beds, and costs $199 for adults and $149 for children 12 and under. The 10th Mountain tour, about 4 hours to Camp Hale, now a national monument, is $159 for adults and $119 for children, and the Kid's Discovery tour is also $159 and $119. Drinks and snacks are included, and tours cannot be cancelled within a week of the date.

Horseback riding

Vail Stables, about a mile northeast of Vail Village off Spraddle Creek Road near I-70 exit 176, runs guided trail rides from May through early October; its 2026 season ends October 4. Family rides start at $130 for one hour (Rocky Point Trail, ages 5 and up), $165 for 1.5 hours (Bear Hollow) and $220 for two hours (Dark Timber). Adults-only rides for ages 18 and up are $185 and $250, and a private half-day ride is $720. Riders must be at least 5 and weigh no more than 225 pounds (240 if over 6 feet), and cancellations need 48 hours' notice.

Golf

The Vail Recreation District's Vail Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-71 course of 6,739 yards from the longest tees, built in 1962 by Vail pioneer Ben Krueger, with tree-lined fairways, beaver ponds and Gore Range views. The 2026 season runs through October 11. Guest rates from September 21 to October 11 are $84 to walk and $109 with a cart; in peak season, June 19 to September 20, they were $138 and $164. Tee times are booked through the Vail Recreation District, and in winter the course becomes the Vail Nordic Center.

Concerts at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, known as the Amp, sits in Ford Park beside the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and holds about 2,600 people, with a covered pavilion of 1,326 seats and a first-come lawn. Its summer 2026 season has ended, and 2027 dates had not been announced on October 2; the Amp's website lists each season's shows. Ticket prices vary by show, and the Amp's Hot Summer Nights concerts are free.

Hiking

The Vail area has more than 100 miles of hiking trails. Booth Falls, the valley's best-known waterfall hike, has no trailhead or neighborhood parking in 2026 (cars are towed), so hikers take the free East Vail blue line bus from the Vail Transportation Center, which runs about every 30 minutes; the Booth Lake Trail listing has the trail details, and the trail passes the 60-foot falls and ends at Booth Lake at 11,480 feet; the hiking guide covers access and difficulty for the popular trails, and where to see moose near Vail covers wildlife safety on them. The Nature Discovery Center also runs free guided nature hikes in summer, about an hour for the easy option and 1.5 hours for the moderate one, reached by a scenic gondola ride.

Bighorn Park

Bighorn Park, in East Vail, is free all year and has a pond families can walk around, a playground with slides and mini ropes courses, covered picnic tables and an off-leash dog area, one of only two in the Town of Vail's parks.

What can you do in Vail in any season?

Some things work year-round. The Town of Vail's free in-town bus links Golden Peak, Vail Village and Lionshead, and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens stay open from dawn to dusk. The Colorado Snowsports Museum is the other free standby.

Colorado Snowsports Museum

The Colorado Snowsports Museum, on the third level of the Vail Village parking structure beside the Covered Bridge, is the state's official snow sports museum, with a Hall of Fame, 10th Mountain Division exhibits, a ski-evolution timeline and Olympic champions. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is free with a $10 donation appreciated. A one-hour Historic Vail Village walking tour runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. for $10; reserve by phone at 970-476-1876. The parking structure is free after 3 p.m.

What festivals and events happen in Vail each year?

Vail's event calendar peaks from June to September: the GoPro Mountain Games in early June, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival from late June to early August, the Vail Dance Festival in late July and early August, the Vail Jazz Festival over Labor Day weekend and Vail Oktoberfest across two September weekends. Taste of Vail is held in April.

These events recur each year at a similar time. Dates in parentheses are the 2026 editions, and the official Vail events calendar lists each year's dates. Dates, venues and tickets for upcoming events are on our Vail events calendar.

The Vail Farmers' Market and Art Show fills East Meadow Drive in Vail Village on Sundays from mid-June to early October (in 2026, June 14 to October 4), 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A smaller Meadow Market runs on Thursday evenings, 4 to 7 p.m., at the International Bridge from mid-June to mid-September. Dates for 2027 had not been announced on October 2. The Vail Farmers Market listing has more.

Where do you eat and relax in Vail's villages?

Vail has two pedestrian base villages, Vail Village and Lionshead, a 10 to 15 minute walk apart along Gore Creek or a short ride on the free in-town bus. Sweet Basil has served Vail Village since 1977, and the Arrabelle, the Lodge at Vail and the Four Seasons all run full-service spas.

Lionshead Village is pedestrian-friendly with no cars in the village, and Vail Village has cobblestone streets, galleries and boutiques.

Sweet Basil, at 193 Gore Creek Drive, has cooked New American food in Vail Village since 1977, serving lunch Wednesday to Sunday and dinner nightly. Alpenrose, at 100 E. Meadow Drive, serves home-style Alpine dishes such as goulash, Kässpätzle and apple strudel. Tables are harder to get on busy weekends, so reserve ahead. The Vail restaurant directory and the longer restaurant guide cover the rest.

For a spa day, the RockResorts Spa at The Arrabelle in Lionshead has 11 treatment rooms and a nail salon, the RockResorts Spa at the Lodge at Vail has 11 treatment rooms, and the Four Seasons spa has 13. The Sonnenalp Spa lists 50-minute massages from $215 and a $50 weekday day pass on its winter 2026 menu, and treatment guests can use its pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and fitness center. The wellness and spa directory lists more. For rainy days and non-skiing options, see what to do in Vail if you do not ski.