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Vail Nordic Center

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 Vail, 81657

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About

When snow covers Vail Golf Club, the course becomes the Vail Nordic Center: 17 kilometers of skate and classic track groomed every morning, 10 kilometers of separate snowshoe trails and 13 kilometers of fat bike trails, all on the valley floor off Sunburst Drive. It is run by the Vail Recreation District from the Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse.

It suits anyone who wants a winter day out without a lift ticket: first-time cross-country skiers, families towing small children in a sled, fitness skiers fitting in a few laps and non-skiers who would rather snowshoe.

Trails and grooming

The track is groomed daily at 8 a.m. for both skating and classic skiing, and if six inches of new snow falls by midday, the 5K loop gets a second pass. The trails run over the golf course, which is why beginners can find their feet here. Opening day depends on early-season snow.

Lessons

PSIA-certified instructors run daily beginner group lessons in classic technique and private lessons in classic or skate. Clinics through the season cover skate and classic technique, women-only sessions and an introduction to alpine touring. A short lesson makes a first day much easier, and space is limited, so call ahead.

Rentals and the shop

You can arrive with nothing. Rentals cover classic, skate, alpine touring and backcountry skis, snowshoes, fat bikes with helmets and pull sleds for children, and a second rental on the same day is half price. The pro shop carries Fischer, Salomon and Rossignol skis and boots and handles waxing and binding mounts, and there is a Nordic lodge area for changing and warming up.

Before you go

Trail passes, lessons and rentals are priced separately, and children five and under ski free. The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. Parking at the clubhouse is free, and the free Town of Vail bus stops at the Clubhouse stop. Prices and dates are in the FAQ below.

At the Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse

Grill on the Gore, the clubhouse restaurant, serves a bottomless soup and chili lunch buffet in winter with hot drinks and a full bar, an easy warm-up stop between laps.

From late spring the same ground is Vail Golf Club, the Recreation District's public 18-hole course.

The clubhouse also hosts winter weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events in its Gore Range Room, which seats up to 160, and a golf or Nordic outing can be added to an event.

Sources: Vail Nordic Center, Vail Golf Club, clubhouse events, Grill on the Gore. Checked September 23, 2026.

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Company Name
Vail Nordic Center
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Location
1775 Sunburst Dr
Vail, 81657

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About Vail Nordic Center

Quick answer: Vail Nordic Center is a business at 1775 Sunburst Dr, Vail, CO 81657. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fat biking on the Vail Golf Club course: 17 km of groomed track, rentals, lessons and a clubhouse lunch.

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When snow covers Vail Golf Club, the course becomes the Vail Nordic Center: 17 kilometers of skate and classic track groomed every morning, 10 kilometers of separate snowshoe trails and 13 kilometers of fat bike trails, all on the valley floor off Sunburst Drive. It is run by the Vail Recreation District from the Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse.

It suits anyone who wants a winter day out without a lift ticket: first-time cross-country skiers, families towing small children in a sled, fitness skiers fitting in a few laps and non-skiers who would rather snowshoe.

Trails and grooming

The track is groomed daily at 8 a.m. for both skating and classic skiing, and if six inches of new snow falls by midday, the 5K loop gets a second pass. The trails run over the golf course, which is why beginners can find their feet here. Opening day depends on early-season snow.

Lessons

PSIA-certified instructors run daily beginner group lessons in classic technique and private lessons in classic or skate. Clinics through the season cover skate and classic technique, women-only sessions and an introduction to alpine touring. A short lesson makes a first day much easier, and space is limited, so call ahead.

Rentals and the shop

You can arrive with nothing. Rentals cover classic, skate, alpine touring and backcountry skis, snowshoes, fat bikes with helmets and pull sleds for children, and a second rental on the same day is half price. The pro shop carries Fischer, Salomon and Rossignol skis and boots and handles waxing and binding mounts, and there is a Nordic lodge area for changing and warming up.

Before you go

Trail passes, lessons and rentals are priced separately, and children five and under ski free. The center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. Parking at the clubhouse is free, and the free Town of Vail bus stops at the Clubhouse stop. Prices and dates are in the FAQ below.

At the Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse

Grill on the Gore, the clubhouse restaurant, serves a bottomless soup and chili lunch buffet in winter with hot drinks and a full bar, an easy warm-up stop between laps.

From late spring the same ground is Vail Golf Club, the Recreation District's public 18-hole course.

The clubhouse also hosts winter weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events in its Gore Range Room, which seats up to 160, and a golf or Nordic outing can be added to an event.

Sources: Vail Nordic Center, Vail Golf Club, clubhouse events, Grill on the Gore. Checked September 23, 2026.

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Business Hours

Open daily · 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Amenities at Vail Nordic Center

  • Groomed Nordic track
  • Snowshoe trails
  • Fat-bike trails
  • Rentals
  • Lessons and clinics
  • Pro shop
  • Waxing and binding service
  • Rossignol demo center
  • Nordic lodge and warm-up area
  • Restaurant
  • Free parking
  • Pull sleds

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Vail Nordic Center open for the 2026/27 season, is it open now?
Not yet. The pro shop opens on Monday, November 9, 2026, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for pre-season gear-up, sales and rentals prep. The Nordic track opens later, when early snow allows, the Recreation District publishes no fixed date, and its trail-conditions table lists every trail as closed until then. Group lessons follow from about early December, as snow conditions allow. The center is a winter-only facility: in summer the same course and clubhouse are the Vail Golf Club.
How much is a trail pass?
At the last published rates, a day pass is $29 for adults, $24 for ages 13 to 17, $12 for ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Season passes at the same last-published rates: $145 for Vail Recreation District residents (proof of residency required), $199 non-resident, $99 for students ages 13 to 17, $75 for ages 6 to 12, and free for 5 and under; they are sold online and at the pro shop. The Recreation District labels its 2026/27 pricing "coming soon," so confirm the figures before you go.
What does it cost to rent equipment?
At last published rates: $39 for a classic ski package, $44 for skate, $95 for alpine touring, $37 for snowshoes, $42 for a half-day fat bike with helmet, and $30 for a junior ski package (ages 12 and under) or a child pull sled. Backcountry skis also rent. If you rent for one activity and want to try a second the same day, the second rental is 50% off for the same person. The shop is an official Rossignol demo center and also handles waxing and binding mounts.
Where is the Vail Nordic Center, and where do I park?
At the Vail Golf & Nordic Clubhouse, 1775 Sunburst Drive, Vail, CO 81657, on the Vail Golf Club course about two miles east of Vail Village. Parking at the clubhouse is free, and the free Town of Vail bus stops at the Clubhouse stop on its Golf Course route, so a car is optional. Nordic phone: (970) 476-8366 (not the golf shop's number, a different desk answers in summer).
How many kilometres of trails are there, and when are they groomed?
17 kilometres of groomed skate and classic track, 10 kilometres of separate snowshoe trails, and 13 kilometres of fat-bike trails, all on the golf course. The ski track is groomed daily at 8 a.m.; if six inches of new snow falls by midday, the 5K loop gets a second pass. Named courses include the Stable Flats, Brick Hill and Ptarmigan 5Ks and the Designator and Ben Here 10Ks. One rule matters: there is no walking or biking on the ski tracks, walkers and bikers use the separate hiking/biking trail, marked with blue and yellow signs.
Do they offer lessons?
Yes, with PSIA-certified instructors; but lessons start later than the trails: they are estimated to begin in early December, as snow conditions allow. Beginner group lessons (75 minutes, classic technique) run daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., $79 for adults and $69 for ages 13 to 17. Private lessons (60 minutes, classic or skate) run daily at 9:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., $129 for ages 13 and up and $99 for children 12 and under; each extra skier in a private lesson is charged at 50% of the rate. Trail passes and rentals are extra on both. Through the season there are also Next Level technique clinics ($59), women's-only clinics ($109, rentals included) and introduction-to-alpine-touring clinics ($109, rentals and pass included), with 2026/27 clinic dates still to be announced. Call (970) 476-8366 to book, as space is limited.
Can I fat bike or snowshoe?
Yes. There are 13 kilometres of fat-bike trails and 10 kilometres of separate snowshoe trails, with rentals on site for both. Fat biking here is a winter snow activity on its own trail system, bikes stay off the groomed ski tracks.
Is it good for families?
Yes. Children 5 and under ski free, junior ski packages (ages 12 and under) rent for $30, and pull sleds rent for $30 so small children can be towed behind a skiing adult. The trails run over a golf course, so beginners and children are learning on valley-floor terrain rather than mountain slopes, and the clubhouse has a Nordic lodge area for changing and warming up.
Is there food?
Yes. Grill on the Gore, inside the same clubhouse, serves a bottomless soup and chili buffet in winter for $17 ($10 for children 12 and under), with three rotating soups, hot drinks and a full bar, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the winter season. It takes no reservations. Like the trails, it is seasonal: it closes between the golf and Nordic seasons and reopens with the Nordic Center on a snowfall-dependent date.
Is it the same place as Vail Golf Club?
Yes, same course, same clubhouse at 1775 Sunburst Drive, same operator (the Vail Recreation District). When snow covers the course it is the Nordic Center; from late spring it is the public 18-hole golf course again, and the Nordic Center does not operate in summer. The building also hosts winter weddings, rehearsal dinners and corporate events in its Gore Range Room (seats up to 160), and a Nordic outing can be added to an event. The two facilities keep separate phone numbers: (970) 476-8366 for Nordic, (970) 479-2260 for golf.

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