May is Vail's between-seasons month. The lifts are closed (Vail Mountain's last day was April 8 in 2026 and was scheduled for April 20 in 2025), the summer gondolas have not started, and the village is the draw: restaurants reopening week by week, Tuesday whitewater races on Gore Creek, the Vail Comedy Festival on Memorial Day weekend, and hot springs a drive west. NOAA's normals for the Vail weather station put May at a 60°F average high, a 31°F average low and about 5 inches of snow in town, so pack for both.
Restaurants reopen through the month
Many Vail restaurants close for part or all of the off-season, so what is open in early May differs from late May. Discover Vail's Spring Restaurant Guide, updated Thursdays, showed 51 of 94 listed restaurants open on May 7, 2026 and 81 of 96 on May 28. The table follows some well-known names across those two editions; reopening dates change from year to year, and Discover Vail's what's-open page links the current restaurant list.
| Restaurant | May 7, 2026 guide | May 28, 2026 guide |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet Basil | Reopens May 8 | Open |
| Big Bear Bistro | Open daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Open |
| Vendetta's | Open daily | Open |
| Grill on the Gore | Reopens May 15 | Open |
| Mountain Standard | Reopens May 21 | Open |
| The Red Lion | Reopens May 21 | Open |
| Garfinkel's | Reopens May 23 | Open |
| Deca + Bol | Reopens May 31 | Reopens May 31 |
| Tavern on the Square | Reopens June 4 | Reopens June 4 |
Races on Gore Creek and Memorial Day comedy
The Vail Whitewater Race Series, run by the Vail Recreation District, held five Tuesday races from April 28 to May 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. on Gore Creek in Vail Village. Most races start at the Covered Bridge and finish at International Bridge. Kayak, stand-up paddleboard and two-person raft teams compete, and the series is for paddlers 16 and older with the skills to run class III whitewater. It depends on creek flows: in 2026, a low-snowpack year, the start moved a week earlier, and the district confirmed the May 26 race the day before because flows were high enough.
The Vail Comedy Festival takes over Vail Village on Memorial Day weekend. The 2026 festival ran May 22 to 24 with more than 20 events and sold out; the next one is May 29 to 31, 2027. Pass-holder events are a short walk from the covered bridge. The Memorial Day weekend guide covers the rest of that weekend.
Trails in May: bighorn sheep and parking
May is the wrong month for the Booth Falls and Booth Lake trail. Discover Vail's page for the Booth Lake Trail asks visitors to choose other trails through June 6 because of early-season wildlife sensitivity. The Town of Vail, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Forest Service have explained the reason: bighorn sheep lambs are easily separated from their mothers by hikers and off-leash dogs. Their suggested alternatives are the lower Bighorn and Gore trails, when they are not muddy, since hiking muddy trails damages them. Early-season hikers can also meet snow patches on higher trails.
There is no parking at the Booth Lake trailhead from May 31, and none anywhere in the surrounding neighborhood, park or school; violators are towed. The closure is a pilot program to reduce overcrowding in the Eagles Nest Wilderness. The free East Vail bus from the Vail Transportation Center stops at Booth Falls, and the trailhead is a quarter mile up Booth Falls Road. Dogs must be leashed on the Booth Lake trail, which enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness. For other routes, see where to hike in Vail.
The Vail Nature Center is closed for the summer 2026 season for Town of Vail site improvements.
Lifts, gondolas and Epic Discovery wait until June
In 2026 Gondola One began scenic rides on June 12 and the Eagle Bahn Gondola on June 19, with Epic Discovery activities opening June 19, so the mountaintop is generally not an option in May. The Epic Discovery listing and the Adventure Ridge guide cover that area for summer.
Hot springs down the valley
Glenwood Springs, west of Vail on I-70, has two well-known soaking options. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is open year-round, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and bills its main pool as the world's largest hot springs pool; it posts maintenance closures on a separate hours page. Iron Mountain Hot Springs has 35 pools and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. except for scheduled maintenance closures, with reservations and pricing on its site. The drive passes through Glenwood Canyon, so check the COtrip road-conditions site before you set out.
Lodging and packing
Discover Vail says lodging deals appear in the shoulder seasons and recommends booking directly with hotels; start with the best hotels in Vail. Wintry weather is possible even in May, so bring a warm layer and a rain shell along with spring clothes; how to dress for Vail has the details. Coming in April instead? See things to do in Vail in April, or compare all the seasons in the best time to visit Vail.
