Things to Do in Vail

From the Back Bowls to Booth Falls, here's what to put on your list.

Want the Full Rundown?

Vail is 5,317 acres of ski terrain wrapped around a pedestrian village, and it does not go quiet when the snow melts. Here is what to build your trip around. The Escape Guide goes deeper — insider picks, seasonal tips, and the local spots that don't show up on the usual lists. Worth a read before you pack.

Vail, Colorado

9 Things to Do in Vail

Ski the Biggest Mountain in Colorado
Vail Mountain covers 5,317 skiable acres across three distinct sections, making it the largest single ski mountain in the state. Two gondolas serve it: Gondola One from Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn from Lionshead.
Drop into the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin
Seven legendary Back Bowls stretch across 2,785 acres on the mountain's south side, with Blue Sky Basin tucked beyond them. On a bluebird powder day this is the reason skiers plan a year ahead.
Walk the Highest Botanic Garden in North America
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens sits at 8,200 feet in Ford Park and is open daily from dawn to dusk, year round. Admission is free with a suggested donation, and the alpine bloom peaks in July.
Trace a Century of Skiing at the Colorado Snowsports Museum
Free to enter and open daily from 10am to 6pm in the Vail Village parking structure. Inside are the Colorado Snowsports Hall of Fame and an exhibit on the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained nearby and later built this valley's ski industry.
Catch a Show Under the Peaks at the Ford Amphitheater
The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater holds 1,260 covered seats plus roughly 1,300 on the lawn. Each summer it hosts Bravo! Vail, one of the country's leading classical music festivals, and the Vail Dance Festival.
Watch the GoPro Mountain Games
Every June, Vail fills with kayakers, climbers, trail runners and dogs competing across more than 35 events. All daytime competitions are free to watch from the banks of Gore Creek.
Shop the Sunday Farmers' Market
The Vail Farmers' Market and Art Show takes over Meadow Drive in Vail Village on Sundays from mid-June through early October, 9:30am to 3pm. Local produce, food stalls and around 130 vendors along a closed street.
Hike to Booth Falls
A steady climb out of East Vail delivers you to a 60-foot waterfall. Note there is no parking at the trailhead or in the surrounding neighborhood and towing is enforced, so take the town's free Hiker Express shuttle to the Booth Falls stop.
Ride the Gondola in Summer or Ski-Bike It in Winter
The top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola runs as Epic Discovery in summer, with the 3,400-foot Forest Flyer mountain coaster and two zip lines, and as Adventure Ridge in winter, with tubing and ski biking. Scenic ride only is an option in both seasons.