Over the years, Vail has become known as a year-round outdoor recreation destination. The resort quickly gained in popularity among skiers, and is now considered one of the best ski resorts in the world. That winter, Vail opened for its first season with one gondola and two chair lifts. The two men enlisted the help of ski industry experts, and construction on the resort began in the summer of 1962. In 1959, Seibert and Eaton were granted a permit to develop the area into a ski resort. The land that would be known as Vail, was owned by the U.S. Seibert and Eaton shared a passion for skiing and, after the war, began exploring the mountains to find the perfect place to build Colorado’s next ski resort. Pete Seibert, a former member of the 10th Mountain Division, along with fellow World War II veteran, Earl Eaton, helped to establish and build Vail Ski Resort. Vail Ski Resort’s beginnings date back to the late 1950s. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Then pedal north to Dowd Junction and past Meadow Mountain, and follow the (mercifully flat) paved bike path along Gore Creek back to Vail.This post may contain affiliate links. 79), follow the road (and tradition) for a mile or so back into town and savor a frosty brew and a mountain of nachos at the town’s venerable Minturn Saloon. After you take a couple laps around the town’s new bike park (see p. Leave the resort’s trail system by taking Two Elk Connector for 2 miles (including a short hike-a-bike section) to Two Elk Trail, a classic, old-school descent-rooty, rocky, and narrow in spots-down a creek drainage that ends 7 miles later south of Minturn near Cemetery Road. Get your legs and lungs working by climbing Mill Creek Road all the way up Vail Mountain-a steady grind over 9.6 miles and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. The trail’s twists and turns are nothing compared to the undulations of Big Mamba, which squiggles its way down from Eagle’s Nest for around 3 miles of swoopy, banked switchbacks. Connect to Hank’s Hideaway for another 1.8 miles of meandering trail through towering aspen groves.įrom the top of Fred’s Lunch near Gondola One, linger over the far-reaching views into the snowcapped Gore Range to the north, then get set for more than 2 miles of serpentine but not-too-technical singletrack. Toward the end, a few small tabletops serve as a grand finale. Descending 1,257 feet from Eagle’s Nest, almost 2.75 miles of quintessential flow are punctuated by plentiful sculpted rollers-including a 147-yard, giggle-inducing section of 34 rollers that’ll give both your bike’s suspension and your arm-absorption skills a workout. Radio Flyer is the mountain’s most popular bike trail, and for good reason. New this summer: the trail will extend to the Two Elk Lodge, with 2 miles of additional singletrack slated to be finished in September, just in time for the aspens on Golden Peak to light the mountain on fire. Ride it out and back, or connect to Mid-Vail Escape to return to the frontside. From Eagle’s Nest, the easily navigable route gradually climbs across Game Creek Bowl, then winds around Ptarmigan Ridge and Sun Down Bowl before ending about 4 miles later at the 11,250-foot summit of Vail Mountain, where three ski lifts converge. In midsummer, the wildflowers-rosy paintbrush, blue-purple larkspur, yellow arnica, and more-really pop. With its sweeping vistas of the Back Bowls and 14,005-foot-tall Mount of the Holy Cross, the Grand Traverse has long been one of Vail Mountain’s signature trails. A few rollers and berms along the way let you practice your bike-handling skills. Short and Funįrom the top of Gondola One, find your bliss by descending Sidekick to Golden Gate, two buffed-out, green-rated trails that traverse the front of Vail Mountain for 3 miles through fragrant fir trees, thick stands of aspen that carpet the trails bright yellow in fall, and open meadows. If you choose to pedal your way up, the preferred route is on Gitalong Road to Post Road, a climb of 6 miles up to Eagle’s Nest the route affords good views of the mountain’s western flanks.
As of last summer, e-bikes are allowed on Vail Mountain trails, too (but only of the Class 1, pedal-assist variety), which certainly boosts one’s uphill capability. Many locals ride up the mountain to access the trail network, but there’s no shame in using the bike haul on Gondola One and the Lionshead Gondola (open daily through Sept 6 then Fri–Sun only through Oct 3), especially if you’re acclimating to the altitude or riding a heavier bike. Many locals ride up the mountain to access the trail network, but there’s no shame in using the bike haul on Gondola One and the Lionshead Gondola.
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