Vail Mountain Announces Terrain Closures as Season Winds Down

Michael FultonMichael Fulton

TL;DR

Vail Mountain has closed China Bowl and Teacup Bowl as it approaches the final week of the ski season. Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls remain open, with further closures possible based on daily conditions.

Level Up Your Ski Day — Download SnowStash on the App Store

Vail Mountain Reduces Open Terrain for Season's End

As Vail Mountain approaches its final week of operation for the ski season, the resort has announced the closure of China Bowl and Teacup Bowl. This decision, made by the mountain's operations team, comes in response to warm weather conditions and changing guest patterns typical of late-season skiing. Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls currently remain open, offering skiers and riders continued access to some of Vail's expansive terrain.

A closed sign in front of China Bowl at Vail Mountain Resort.
A closed sign in front of China Bowl at Vail Mountain Resort. Credit: Vail

Rachel Levitsky, a Vail Mountain spokesperson, explained that the closures were a result of the warm conditions and noted that additional terrain might be closed on a day-to-day basis as the season concludes. The resort's operations team is closely monitoring conditions to make informed decisions about which areas can safely remain open for skiers and riders.

For those planning to visit Vail Mountain in its final days of operation, it's advisable to check the resort's website or speak with guest services for the most up-to-date information on open lifts and terrain. The mountain is committed to providing the best possible skiing experience while prioritising safety as the season comes to a close.

The front side trail map at Vail.
The front side trail map at Vail. Credit: Vail Mountain Resort

At nearby Beaver Creek Resort, which is also preparing for its closing weekend, specific lifts and restaurants are expected to remain open to serve guests. Visitors to both Vail and Beaver Creek can still enjoy a range of activities and dining options as the resorts wind down their winter operations.

Vail Resorts, which operates both Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek, typically offers a variety of end-of-season events and promotions. These often include live music, special dining events, and family-friendly activities to celebrate the conclusion of another successful ski season. Skiers and riders looking to make the most of the remaining snow should plan their visits soon, keeping in mind that conditions can change rapidly during this time of year.

About the author

Michael Fulton

Michael Fulton

Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

50+ resorts visited15 years skiing

Keep reading

More from the SnowStash desk

Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

Sundance Mountain Resort Is Getting a New High-Speed Quad and More Back Mountain Terrain This Winter

Sundance Mountain Resort's back mountain is finally getting a proper lift. The Electric Horseman Express opens for 2026-27, unlocking a new bowl next to Bishop's Bowl and three expert gladed chutes across roughly 105 fresh acres - on top of the Storyteller ridge run that debuted in preview form last season. It's Sundance's biggest expansion since 1985, and it turns a three-lift slog into a single six-minute ride to Bearclaw Summit.

19 Aug 2026
Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season

Nassfeld Invests €13 Million in New 6-Seater Chairlift for 2026/27 Season

Nassfeld is putting €13 million into a new 6-seater chairlift, the Tressdorfer Almbahn, connecting Sonnleitn with the Tressdorfer Alm from December 2026. It replaces three ageing drag lifts and will run through summer too, from June 2027, moving up to 2,500 people an hour on the roughly three-minute ride. It's the latest step in Carinthia's largest ski resort building out a genuine year-round offering, following last year's Gartnerkofelbahn gondola.

17 Aug 2026
Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

Italy's Stelvio Glacier has pulled the plug on summer skiing from August 15. It was the last lift-served ski option left standing in continental Europe, and now there's none. Operator SIFAS pointed to persistent heat, storms, and a snowpack that simply wasn't refreezing overnight anymore. The cable car keeps running. Whether skiing comes back later this summer depends on the weather turning - and right now, nobody's promising anything.

15 Aug 2026
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area

Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.

15 Aug 2026
Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

Fairmont Niseko: New Luxury Resort Revives Stalled La Plume Site for Early 2028 Opening

Fairmont is bringing its second Japanese property to Niseko, and this one's got history. The 165-room resort will rise on the site of the stalled La Plume project, which collapsed into bankruptcy in 2025 before J-Will Partners bought the site for redevelopment. Set between Mount Yotei and Mount Annupuri, it's slated for an early 2028 opening - putting it in play for the 2027/28 season. Expect two restaurants, a spa, onsen bathing, and a kids' club, a short drive from Niseko Village and Hirafu.

12 Aug 2026
Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On

Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On

Saas-Fee is closing its glacier to summer skiing from Monday, August 10 - the second major Swiss resort to shut in under two weeks after Zermatt suspended operations on August 1. Persistent heat and warm nights that won't let the glacier refreeze are behind the call, per Saastal Bergbahnen. That leaves Italy's Stelvio as the only glacier ski area open in the Alps. Reopening could come as early as August 17, though nothing's confirmed - and racing teams are already looking south instead.

8 Aug 2026
Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift

Silvretta Montafon Plans New 10-Person Gondola to Replace Ageing Hochjoch Lift

Silvretta Montafon wants to retire one of its most distinctive lifts. The plan: a single 10-person gondola running direct from Schruns to 1,870 metres, replacing both the two-stage Hochjoch cable car and the 1985 Kropfen chairlift in one move. Capacity jumps from 620 to 3,000 people an hour, and the mid-station transfer disappears entirely. The public hearing lands August 27, 2026 - construction hasn't been confirmed yet, though lift databases are pointing to 2027.

5 Aug 2026
Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years

Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years

Dolomiti Superski's general assembly has unanimously re-elected Andy Varallo for a third consecutive term, running through 2029. Alongside the leadership renewal comes a bigger shift: a Smartpass that puts your ski pass on your smartphone, more AI in guest services, and an expanded Dolomiti Supersummer program. The 46-year-old Alta Badia cable car entrepreneur says the region's marketing is moving beyond skiing alone, toward positioning the Dolomites as a year-round destination.

4 Aug 2026