USA Ski Resort Guide for Vail

Vail Ski Resort Guide

About the Resort

This resort is the USA's biggest ski area. It has the Blue Sky Basin, a 645 acre area served by three fast quads. It is a large shady and wooded ungroomed paradise for competent skiers. The village has a free and efficient bus service. The best and most convenient places to stay are in the more expensive areas with the cheaper accommodation being further from the slopes. The resort centres are largely traffic free and attractive.

About the Mountains near Vail

The slopes are immaculately groomed and there are runs to suit all abilities and every taste. The slopes above Vail are accessed via three main lifts. The Blue Sky Basin often opens later in the season and warm weather has closed the Bowls. The resort does have an excellent snow record. The expert skier will love the vast areas of open slopes and interesting lightly wooded areas with some genuinely double black diamond runs. Intemediates will enjoy the front face of Vial which has plenty of well placed easy cruising runs. The nursery slopes can become a little crowded but there are plenty of easy runs to progress to.

Après Ski at Vail

The mountain restaurants, though adequate, are few in number and expensive. The apre ski is fairly lively with live music and English style pubs. Bars, discos and restaurants complete the picture. Eating out can be pricey but there is plenty of choice.

Vail Resort Ratings Guide

Snowfall RatingSnow Reliability5 Stars
Ski Lifts Number of Lifts 16
Resort HeightResort Height 2500 m
8200 ft
Run Length Slopes / Runs 2475-3525 m
8120-11570 ft
QueuesQueues 2 Stars
Green Ski% of Green Pistes in resort 18%
Blue Ski% of Blue Pistes in resort 19%
Red Ski% of Red Pistes in resort 0%
Black Ski% of Black Pistes in resort 53%

Local Tourist Office Information

Web address: www.vail.com

Email: vailinfo@vailresorts.com

Telephone: +1 970 476 5601