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By Michael Gonzales · Updated October 20, 2026
The official Vail webcams are free and come from two places. Vail Mountain's Live Mountain Cams page shows Sun Up Bowl Overlook, the Back Bowls, the Gore Range, Eagle's Nest and a summit snow stake. The Town of Vail streams the Covered Bridge, Vail Village, Lionshead Village and Vail International Bridge, and links CDOT's I-70 cameras.
That's the short list. Below is what each camera is good for, and how I'd use them on a real trip morning.
Which webcams does Vail have?
| Camera | Run by | What you see | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Up Bowl Overlook | Vail Mountain | The Back Bowls from the top | Visibility and wind up high |
| The Back Bowls | Vail Mountain | Open bowl terrain | Whether fresh snow is sitting or blowing around |
| Gore Range | Vail Mountain | The peaks east of the resort | Is it a bluebird day or a whiteout? |
| Eagle's Nest | Vail Mountain | Top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, above Lionshead | Lionshead-side conditions |
| Snow Stake Summit | Vail Mountain | A measuring stake on the mountain | Overnight snowfall at a glance |
| Covered Bridge | Town of Vail | The bridge over Gore Creek into Vail Village | Street snow and how busy the village is |
| Vail Village | Town of Vail | The village core | Crowds before dinner or an event |
| Lionshead Village | Town of Vail | Lionshead base area | Lines and activity near the gondola |
| Vail International Bridge | Town of Vail | The International Bridge over Gore Creek | A second village view |
| Gore Creek Fish Cam | Town of Vail | Under the water in Gore Creek | Fun, and seasonal (see below) |
| I-70 cameras | CDOT, linked on vail.gov | Interstate through Vail | Road conditions before you drive |
The mountain cams are on vail.com's Live Mountain Cams page. The town cams are on vail.gov's live webcams page. You don't need an account for either.
Which Vail webcam shows the snow on the mountain?
The Snow Stake Summit cam is the quickest answer to "how much fell last night?" A snow stake is a marked post: you read the new snow against the scale instead of waiting for someone to type it into a report. Then check the Back Bowls and Sun Up Bowl Overlook cams.
If the snow looks smooth, it's probably sitting where it fell. If you see bare, wind-scoured patches, the fresh snow has been moved around, and the groomed runs may be the better plan.
The Gore Range cam is the one I open first on a clear morning. If you can see the peaks sharply, you've got a bluebird day. If the frame is flat gray, expect low light on the upper mountain and bring goggles with a low-light lens.
Cams show conditions, not what's open. For open lifts and terrain, use Vail's Lift & Terrain Status page or the My Epic app. Our guide to reading the Vail snow report explains base depth, new snow and grooming numbers.
Is there a live webcam of Vail Village?
Yes. The Town of Vail runs separate cams for the Covered Bridge, Vail Village, Lionshead Village and Vail International Bridge. These are the "Vail webcams bridge" and "downtown Vail" views people search for.
The village cams are more useful than they look. I check them:
- Before dinner, to see whether Bridge Street is packed or quiet.
- On event nights, like a tree lighting or the New Year's Eve fireworks, to judge when to walk over.
- After a storm, to see whether the streets have been cleared.
If you're staying on the Lionshead side, the Lionshead Village cam shows the base area near the Eagle Bahn Gondola.
The town also has an underwater Gore Creek Fish Cam. When we checked on October 19, 2026, the town said it was down for scheduled maintenance until summer, so don't count on it in winter.
Can you check I-70 cameras before driving to Vail?
Yes, and in winter you should. The Town of Vail links CDOT's I-70 cameras from its webcams page, and CDOT's COtrip.org shows closures, chain-law status and more cameras along the whole drive from Denver.
The camera tells you what the road looks like. The rules decide what your car needs. Under Colorado's Passenger Vehicle Traction Law, when it's in effect:
- 4WD or AWD vehicles need tires with at least 3/16-inch tread and a winter, all-weather or mud-and-snow (M+S) rating, or chains or an approved traction device.
- 2WD vehicles need chains or an approved traction device. Tires alone don't qualify, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
- The penalty is a $100 fine plus a $33 surcharge, or $500 plus a $157 surcharge if your car causes a lane closure, per CDOT.
Our guide to getting to Vail covers the drive and the shuttle options.
How should you use the webcams to plan a ski day?
Here's the order I use, and it takes about five minutes:
- Snow Stake Summit cam. Did it snow overnight, and how much?
- Back Bowls and Sun Up Bowl cams. Is the new snow sitting smooth, or wind-blown?
- Gore Range cam. Clear or flat light?
- Lift & Terrain Status. Which lifts and bowls are actually open?
- Lionshead or Covered Bridge cam. How busy is the base?
- I-70 cameras and COtrip. Only if you're driving in that day.
On a powder morning, the bowls can open late while ski patrol works, and the base lifts back up. Our guides to Vail lift lines and getting to the Back Bowls help you plan around that.
When do the Vail webcams matter most?
Opening week is the big one. Vail Mountain plans to open for the 2026-27 season on Friday, November 13, 2026, weather permitting, according to Vail Resorts. Early-season terrain is limited, so the cams show you how much white there actually is. Our page on when Vail opens has the season details.
They also earn their keep on storm days, holiday weeks and the night before you drive in. And if you're packing, a quick look at the summit cam is a better guide than any forecast. Our packing list for Vail covers the rest.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Are the Vail webcams free? Yes. Vail Mountain's cams on vail.com and the Town of Vail's cams on vail.gov are free to view, with no login.
Where is the Vail Covered Bridge webcam? It's on the Town of Vail's website, under Visiting, then Live Webcams, then Covered Bridge. It looks over the bridge across Gore Creek into Vail Village.
Is there a Vail snow stake cam? Yes. Vail Mountain's Live Mountain Cams page includes a Snow Stake Summit camera, which shows new snow against a marked stake.
Is the Vail fish cam working? On October 19, 2026, the Town of Vail said the Gore Creek Fish Cam was down for scheduled maintenance and to check back in summer.
How do I check I-70 conditions near Vail? Use the CDOT I-70 cameras linked on vail.gov and CDOT's COtrip.org, which also shows closures and when the Traction Law is in effect.
Do the webcams show which lifts are open? No. Cams show weather and snow. For open lifts and terrain, check Vail's Lift & Terrain Status page or the My Epic app.
Sources
Vail Mountain: Live Mountain Cams · Vail Mountain: Lift & Terrain Status · Town of Vail: Live Webcams · Town of Vail: Gore Creek Fish Cam · CDOT: Traction and Chain Laws · Colorado State Patrol: Chain Law Information · CDOT COtrip · Vail Resorts: 2026/27 opening dates, Aug 18, 2026. Checked October 19, 2026.