A summer scenic gondola ride at Vail costs $67 for an adult (ages 13 to 64), $46 for a child aged 5 to 12, and $56 for seniors (65 and over) and for active or retired military, with fees included. Those are the prices Vail's booking page showed for Friday, September 25, 2026. In winter the gondolas are part of the lift system, so skiers and riders board with a lift ticket or pass.
Summer 2026 scenic ride prices
The scenic ticket covers the ride up and back. It does not include activities at the top. Vail's booking page quotes prices by date, so treat the figures below as the late-September 2026 price and check your own day before you plan around it.
| Ticket | Price for Sept. 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adult (ages 13 to 64) | $67 |
| Child (ages 5 to 12) | $46 |
| Senior (ages 65 and over) | $56 |
| Military (active or retired) | $56 |
| Full summer scenic lift ride pass (all ages) | $204 |
| Lunch add-on | $25 buys a $30 voucher for food and drink at the top |
Free rides and discounts
- Free child with an adult. Children 12 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult scenic ticket, one child ticket per adult ticket. Vail's booking page has a separate "Scenic Gondola with Free Child" option for it.
- Concert tickets. Show a ticket for any performance at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater at a Vail Mountain ticket office for 20% off a scenic ride. It cannot be combined with other discounts.
- Season pass holders. Epic Pass holders get free summer lift and gondola access at the Vail-owned resorts where their pass works. Epic 1 to 7 Day Passes do not include it. The Epic Pass listing explains what each product covers.
- Buy online, redeem in person. Online tickets can be redeemed at the Lionshead or Vail Village ticket office.
When the gondolas run in summer 2026
| Gondola | Operating dates | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gondola One (#1), Vail Village | Daily, June 12 to September 7 | 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Eagle Bahn (#19), Lionshead | Daily, June 19 to September 7 | 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Both gondolas | Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 11 to 27 | 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
September 27 is the last summer operating day Vail lists.
Winter: lift ticket, pass or a scenic ride
If you are skiing or riding, you do not buy a gondola ticket separately. Walking Mountains Science Center, which runs the Nature Discovery Center beside the top of Eagle Bahn, says visitors need a valid ski pass in winter, or a Scenic Ride Ticket, to ride up. Current lift ticket prices are in Vail lift ticket prices, and how to get cheap Vail lift tickets covers the ways to pay less.
Non-skiers have a separate winter scenic ride on either Eagle Bahn or Gondola One, with views of the Gore Range and the Mount of the Holy Cross. A "Lift & Lunch" add-on offers $25 for a $30 food and beverage voucher at Mid Vail and Eagle's Nest Marketplace. Prices and availability for the 2026/27 winter appear on Vail's winter scenic gondola page once the activity goes on sale.
Gondola One or Eagle Bahn
Both rides use the same summer ticket, so the choice comes down to where you start. Gondola One leaves from Vail Village, a 7-minute walk from the Vail Village garage. Eagle Bahn (Gondola 19) leaves from Lionshead Village, a 5-minute walk from the Lionshead garage. If you are driving up, where to park at Vail covers current garage rates.
What you do at the top depends on the gondola. The Nature Discovery Center, a yurt at the top of Eagle Bahn, has free admission and exhibits on local wildlife such as ravens, weasels, lynx and black bears. In fall 2026 it is open Friday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 11 to 27, and it is closed when the gondola is not running. Vail runs its summer activities at the mountain under the Epic Discovery program, and what is open depends on the date. For lunch at the top, see where to eat on Vail Mountain.
Dogs and hikers
Dogs cannot ride the gondola up. If you hike to the top of the mountain, the ride down is free for both people and pets, and dogs are allowed on Vail's designated hiking trails. Routes are in where to hike in Vail and dog-friendly activities in Vail.
Before you book
Book from Vail's summer scenic gondola page, which shows the live price for your date. If the ride is one option among several, things to do in Vail if you do not ski sets it beside the alternatives.
