Prices and hours checked November 2026
Photo by Çiğdem Bilgin on Pexels
By Michael Gonzales · Updated November 9, 2026
For a first outing, snowshoe at the Vail Nordic Center on the Vail Golf Club, which has 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails and rentals ($38 for 2026/27). For a guided day, Paragon Guides and Apex Mountain School run tours with gear provided. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and the Nature Discovery Center add short naturalist walks.
The season depends on snow. The Nordic Center's pro shop opens November 9, 2026, but its trails open only when there is enough snow, and Vail Mountain is scheduled to open on November 13. If you want snowshoeing on tap, stay where the gear comes with the room: Antlers at Vail lends snowshoes and sleds free to guests in winter and charges no resort fee. Compare other lodging with Vail hotels on Expedia or condos on Vrbo.
Where can you snowshoe in Vail?
Six options cover most trips, from a groomed loop on the golf course to open terrain on Vail Pass.
| Where | Best for | Latest cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vail Nordic Center | First-timers, rentals, short loops | Snowshoe package $38; day pass $31 adults, $25 ages 13 to 17, $20 ages 6 to 12 (2026/27) |
| Betty Ford Alpine Gardens | A gentle outing close to the village | Guided $25 with snowshoes; self-guided rental $10 (2025/26) |
| Nature Discovery Center | Naturalist walk on the mountain | Tour free (donation suggested); ski pass or scenic ride ticket needed |
| Paragon Guides, Apex Mountain School | Guided half-day or full-day tours | Ask the outfitter |
| Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area | Open terrain for people who know winter travel | $10 a day or $65 a season, ages 16 and up |
| McCoy Park at Beaver Creek | A full day of groomed and rustic trails | $71 adult, $49 child (2025/26) |
Swipe to see more
Can you book a guided snowshoe tour in Vail?
Yes. Paragon Guides runs a half-day group tour and private half-day or full-day tours from November to April, rated beginner to intermediate, with hotel pickup, lunch and snacks, and all gear including snowshoes, overboots and poles. Apex Mountain School runs tours daily, about five hours with two to three hours on snowshoes.
Paragon Guides. Based in Edwards (970-376-7868). A card goes on file to book, and cancelling within 48 hours means paying the full tour price. Ask for current rates; they are not posted online.
Apex Mountain School. Supplies snowshoes and trekking poles and tailors the route to your pace and conditions. Trips are postponed or canceled when conditions are unsafe.
Walking Mountains at the Nature Discovery Center. This nonprofit runs a 90-minute guided snowshoe walk from its yurt at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (Gondola 19) in Lionshead, Wednesday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. It covers half to three-quarters of a mile above 10,000 feet, is for ages 10 and up, and provides snowshoes. Book a date on the ticket page; you need a ski pass or a Vail scenic ride ticket for the gondola.
We checked Viator and Klook for Vail snowshoe tours and found none, so book these directly.
Where can you rent snowshoes in Vail?
At the Vail Nordic Center at 1775 Sunburst Drive, run by the Vail Recreation District. The 2026/27 snowshoe package is $38, and renting a second activity for the same person on the same day is 50% off. A pull sled for children is $30. Antlers at Vail lends snowshoes to its guests for free.
| Vail Nordic Center, 2026/27 | Price |
|---|---|
| Day pass, adult | $31 |
| Day pass, ages 13 to 17 | $25 |
| Day pass, ages 6 to 12 | $20 |
| Day pass, ages 5 and under | Free |
| Snowshoe package | $38 |
| Pull sled for children | $30 |
| Adult non-resident season pass | $205 |
Swipe to see more
Ask the center (970-476-8366) whether snowshoers on the snowshoe trails need a day pass with the rental. The pro shop opens November 9, 2026 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), when season pass sales also start; the trails open when snow allows. The SSCV Nordic Swap on Saturday, November 14 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $5 entry) sells used snowshoes and gear.
What is snowshoeing like at the Vail Nordic Center?
Easy and well supported. When snow covers the Vail Golf Club, it becomes the Nordic Center, with 17 kilometers of groomed skate and classic track, 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails and 13 kilometers of fat bike trails, open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season. The Grill on the Gore in the clubhouse serves soup, chili and hot drinks.
Holiday hours are shorter: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving (November 26), December 24 and December 31; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 25; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 1. Last season the center closed its trails on March 10, 2026, when conditions became unsafe, so a late-March plan can fall through. The Vail Recreation District's Shamrock Shuffle Snowshoe & Run is set for March 20, 2027.
Does Betty Ford Alpine Gardens offer snowshoeing?
Yes, snow permitting. In 2025/26 the Gardens ran a naturalist-led tour on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., January 5 to March 27, for $25 including snowshoes, with advance registration. A self-guided route ran weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with $10 snowshoe and pole rental and no sign-up.
Adult and youth sizes (ages 5 and up) were available. The 2027 dates were not posted when we checked, so look for them on the Gardens' site before you plan around them.
Can you snowshoe on Vail Pass?
Yes, if you are comfortable in open, higher-elevation winter terrain. The Forest Service's Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area covers 55,000 acres of White River National Forest with more than 119 miles of motorized and non-motorized trails. A pass is required for ages 16 and up: $10 a day or $65 for the season, not covered by Interagency passes.
Fees run from the Saturday after Thanksgiving to mid-April, snow permitting. Check the map for non-motorized zones, expect no restrooms or water at the lots, and arrive early because parking fills fast.
What about McCoy Park and Booth Lake?
McCoy Park is a lift-accessed area between Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch with 19 kilometers of groomed and rustic trails. In 2025/26 track access cost $71 for adults and $49 for children at the Beaver Creek Nordic Sports Center, which rents snowshoes; check beavercreek.com for this season. See how far Beaver Creek is from Vail.
The Booth Lake trail climbs past the 60-foot Booth Falls. There is no parking at the trailhead or in the neighborhood and violators are towed, so park in a village garage and take the East Vail bus to the Booth Falls stop. Beyond a groomed network, this is backcountry travel: check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecast and carry a beacon, probe and shovel.
What should you wear to snowshoe in Vail?
Lighter layers than for downhill skiing, with waterproof, wind-resistant outer layers, warm boots, sunglasses and sunscreen for the high-altitude sun, plus water and snacks. Walking Mountains asks for snow pants, a warm hat, gloves and sturdy winter boots, not ski or Ugg-style boots. See how to dress for Vail.
Check when it snows in Vail before booking a fixed-date tour. For other winter ideas, see what to do in Vail if you don't ski, and for summer trails, where to hike in Vail.
Plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place in Vail for a first-time snowshoer? The Vail Nordic Center on the Vail Golf Club. It has 10 kilometers of snowshoe trails, on-site rentals and a clubhouse to warm up in.
How much does it cost to rent snowshoes in Vail? The Vail Nordic Center's 2026/27 snowshoe package is $38, with 50% off a second rental the same day. Antlers at Vail lends snowshoes free to its guests.
Are there guided snowshoe tours in Vail? Yes. Paragon Guides offers group and private tours with hotel pickup, lunch and gear from November to April. Apex Mountain School runs daily tours. Walking Mountains leads free 90-minute walks at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola.
When is snowshoe season in Vail? It depends on snow. The Nordic Center's pro shop opens November 9, 2026, and its trails open when snow allows; guided programs such as Betty Ford Alpine Gardens' ran January to March last season, and Paragon runs November to April.
Do I need a pass to snowshoe at Vail Pass? Yes, for ages 16 and up: $10 a day or $65 a season. Interagency passes don't cover it.
Does Betty Ford Alpine Gardens offer snowshoe tours? In 2025/26 it ran naturalist-led tours on Wednesdays and Thursdays for $25 including snowshoes, plus a self-guided route with $10 rental. Check the Gardens' site for 2027 dates.
Can kids go snowshoeing in Vail? Yes. The Nordic Center has youth day passes and rents pull sleds for small children, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens has youth snowshoes for ages 5 and up, and the Walking Mountains tour is for ages 10 and up.
Sources
- Vail Recreation District: Vail Nordic Center (2026/27 prices, hours, pro shop opening, swap)
- Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: Snowshoe tours (2025/26 program)
- Walking Mountains Science Center: Nature Discovery Center guided snowshoe tour
- USDA Forest Service: Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area
- Paragon Guides: Snowshoeing
- Apex Mountain School: Snowshoeing in Vail
- The Antlers at Vail: Amenities (snowshoe loans, no resort fee)
Checked November 2, 2026. Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and McCoy Park figures are from 2025/26 because 2026/27 details were not yet posted.