The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Vail's summit reaches 11,570 feet, dropping 3,450 vertical feet to a base at 8,120 feet across 195 runs spread over 5,317 acres in Vail, Colorado, making it one of the largest single ski resorts in the United States. Terrain splits 37 per cent intermediate, 32 per cent advanced, 18 per cent beginner and 13 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 300 inches. The resort carries Epic Pass affiliation. Thirty-one lifts, including ten quad chairs and one gondola, serve the mountain alongside seven six-person chairs, four double chairs, four triple chairs and five surface lifts.
Vail holds a distinguished place as the founding resort of what became the world's largest ski resort operator, and its considerable scale, including the famous Back Bowls, makes it one of the most significant single-mountain ski destinations in North America. The purpose-built alpine-style village at its base remains a defining feature.
Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, both veterans of the US Army's 10th Mountain Division who trained nearby at Camp Hale during the Second World War, discovered the potential of what became Vail Mountain in 1957, and Seibert went on to found Vail Associates. The resort opened in 1962 with a single gondola and modest lift infrastructure, designed around a purpose-built Bavarian-style village unlike any other American ski town of its era.
Vail Associates grew considerably over subsequent decades, eventually becoming Vail Resorts, which has since acquired dozens of resorts across North America and built the Epic Pass into the industry's dominant multi-resort pass. Adult daily tickets run from 219 to 289 US dollars.
3,448ft
Vertical
195
Runs
5,317 acres
Skiable
29ft
Annual snow
Epic
Pass
The Terrain
195 runs across 5,317 acres skiable
Vail is one of the largest single-mountain ski areas in the United States, covering 5,317 acres (2,152 hectares) across 195 runs above the town of Vail, Colorado. Lifts run from 8,120 ft (2,475 m) to 11,570 ft (3,526 m), a vertical of 3,450 ft (1,051 m). Advanced terrain dominates at 48 per cent, with 29 per cent intermediate, 19 per cent beginner and 4 per cent expert. Around 354 inches of snow falls each season. The mountain is laid out in three zones, the Front Side, the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin, linked by a large network of chairs and gondolas.
The seven Back Bowls (Sun Up, Sun Down, Tea Cup, China, Siberia, Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia) hold close to 3,000 acres of wide, treeless skiing along the southern flank. Blue Sky Basin sits furthest back, a wilder zone of largely ungroomed runs with natural features. Game Creek Bowl is a favourite with intermediates, and the Front Side holds groomers like Riva Ridge, a run of about 4 miles, and Born Free, a long blue and green cruiser from Lionshead. Vail suits intermediates and advanced skiers wanting variety and scale, and beginners have dedicated slopes at Golden Peak and above Lionshead.
Terrain split
195
runs
195 runs across 4 grades
Beginner37 runs · 19%
Intermediate57 runs · 29%
Advanced94 runs · 48%
Expert8 runs · 4%
Time it right
When to visit Vail
The 2025-26 season at Vail ran from 21 November 2025 to 3 May 2026, a roughly twenty-four-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 300 inches. This extended season reflects Vail's considerable scale and reliable early and late-season conditions across its varied terrain.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Vail's Front Side, Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. As the flagship Epic Pass resort within the Vail Resorts network, Vail draws substantial global visitation from Epic Pass holders and destination travellers alike.
Vail's purpose-built alpine village continues to draw considerable visitation for its dining, shopping and nightlife alongside the skiing itself. School holiday periods and major weekends bring some of the heaviest crowds in Colorado, reflecting Vail's status as one of the most internationally recognised ski destinations in the world.
Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since its 1962 founding by Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, Vail has grown into the flagship of what became Vail Resorts, the world's largest ski resort operator. The resort's considerable scale and Bavarian-style village remain central to its enduring global reputation.
Season 2026 - 2027
13 Nov 2026
Opens
18 Apr 2027
Closes
156
Days open
29 ft
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Vail, and where to stay
Vail sits in Vail, Colorado, with a base elevation of 8,120 feet and a summit at 11,570 feet across a 3,450-foot vertical drop over 5,317 acres, making it one of the largest single ski mountains in the United States. This setting places the resort directly along Interstate 70, roughly 100 miles west of Denver.
The town of Vail itself, a purpose-built Bavarian-style alpine village established alongside the resort's 1962 opening, offers extensive lodging, dining, shopping and nightlife directly at the mountain's base.
Interstate 70 provides direct access to the resort, making Vail one of the more straightforward major Colorado destinations to reach despite its considerable distance from Denver. Winter driving conditions on the interstate can include snow and ice, particularly near Vail Pass, though the route is well maintained given its status as a major national corridor.
Eagle County Regional Airport, a manageable drive from the resort, offers direct seasonal flights from numerous major US cities, providing a considerably more convenient gateway than the roughly two-hour drive required from Denver International Airport.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Vail, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Vermont Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Few Dates Set, Killington Waits on the Cold
Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.
9 Oct 2026
Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships President Resigns Ahead of Fraud Hearing
Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.
9 Oct 2026
Kelly Canyon, Idaho, Adds Snowmaking, a Bigger Terrain Park and More Parking for 2026-27
Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
9 Oct 2026
Valle Nevado Extends Season to November 8 After 108 cm in 48 Hours
Winter was meant to be winding down in Chile. Then Valle Nevado took 108 cm in 48 hours in early October, and the resort has pushed its closing date out to November 8 - its latest in 38 years of operation. That makes 143 days of skiing since opening day on June 19, with 690 cm banked for the season. Only part of the mountain is running while the storm settles, so check the mountain report before you plan a trip.
9 Oct 2026
Alps Snow Forecast: Cold Front Brings Thursday Snow to the High Alps
The Alps look a lot more like winter today, for a day or so. A cold front is moving west to east, dropping up to 35 cm on high glaciers and peaks, with snow levels falling to around 1,500-1,800 m at times. Don’t plan a trip around it: mid-elevation snow will be thin and wet, every area is closed bar a limited Sölden glacier opening tomorrow, and warmer weather returns by Monday.
8 Oct 2026
California Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: Mammoth Leads, Tahoe Follows
Mammoth Mountain is first up in California, targeting Friday 13 November after a dusting of September snow. Heavenly and Northstar follow on 20 November, Palisades Tahoe on Wednesday 25 November and Sugar Bowl on 27 November, with Kirkwood on 4 December and June Mountain on 19 December. Plenty of smaller areas have no date yet. A super El Niño favours the Sierra, but a warmer storm track is the catch.
7 Oct 2026
Colorado Ski Resort Opening Dates 2026-27: A-Basin and Keystone Race to Be First
Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Winter Park are all chasing an October start, though none has a firm date yet. The first dated openers are Breckenridge and Copper on Friday 6 November, then Vail on 13 November, with most of the rest bunched around US Thanksgiving. Hesperus did not open at all last season. A super El Niño offers hope but no guarantee, and forecasters say the southern mountains have the better odds.
5 Oct 2026
Dolomiti Superski 2026-27: Four New Gondolas, New Reservoirs and an €89 Peak Day Pass
Dolomiti Superski is spending around €100 million across its 12 areas before winter. Kronplatz gets a new 10-passenger gondola with a middle station, 3 Zinnen gets Helmissimo, and Val di Fassa swaps a chairlift for a gondola above Col Valvacin. New water-storage basins and upgraded snowmaking follow, and construction has started on the San Martino to Passo Rolle link. A peak adult day pass is €89.
4 Oct 2026
Vail Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 10 Oct 2026
11,568ft
summit
+0in
new snow · last 24 hours
Overcast34°F / 49°F · SW 19mph
Snowfall
24 hours
0in
48 hours
0in
7 days
0in
Base depth
0in
Season total
0in
Total lifts33
Live open status isn’t available right now.
13 Nov 2026 - 18 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 40 hours· Updated Oct 10, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
11,568 ftUpdated Oct 10, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.1"
Days 8–14
0.0"
Sat, Oct 10
Drizzle
Temp49° / 34°°F
Snow0.0"(19%)
Wind19 mph SW
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Vail snow report
Vail snow conditions, updated regularly: current snowfall, snow depth, temperatures, and the outlook for this Colorado resort on the Epic.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Vail is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 1051m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Vail's base and summit.
Data sources
We pull Vail's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 33 lifts, including 16 quad chairlifts and 3 6-person chairlifts.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Vail's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.