193 km
2476 m - 3527 m
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Test report Vail
Skiresort.info Test of the ski resort Vail
Total result: 4.6 out of 5 stars
Test Vail
The review Vail was created by Skiresort.info, the world’s largest test portal for ski resorts.
Top evaluation criteria
These evaluations count double in the total result.
Further evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria for special interests
In detail: Test report for ski resort Vail
Top evaluation criteria
These evaluations count double in the total result.
Vail is one the largest ski resorts in the USA with its Front Side, the Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin.
Runs/slopes
Altitude difference
1051 m (Valley 2476 m - Mountain 3527 m )
Lifts/ cable cars
25
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 5 ← 4
Number of lifts to get from one end of the ski resort to the other
→ 5 ← 4
Vail offers runs for everyone - wide forest aisle runs on the Front Side down to Vail, the Blue Sky Basin with many steep, deep snow and forest runs as well as the Back Bowls for advanced skiers. Numerous long and well-sloped runs make the ski resort a dream for every winter athlete.
Runs/slopes
Total 193 km
Easy
35 km
(18 %)Intermediate
55 km
(28 %)Difficult
103 km
(54 %)
Longest run
6.4 km
Run location
just above tree line, under tree line
Worth knowing
- Valley run available
- Public race course with time measurement
There are mostly high speed chair lifts in Vail as well as two gondola lifts that serve as feeder lifts to the ski resort. Unfortunately, the chair lifts do not have weather protectors. Three j-bar lifts are available as feeder lifts and also for the beginners. As of November 2012, the first 10 person gondola lift with seat heating in North America will go into operation.
Number of ski lifts
25
Total capacity
50863 Passengers / hour
Length of all lifts
38.5 km Total
Lifts and cable cars
2
20
3
Additional
2
2
Due to the altitude level, the ski resort is very snow reliable. The main slopes on the Front Side and most of the valley runs also have snow-making capabilities. In the Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin, they are reliant upon natural snow. There is almost always enough snow and at the latest by December, these parts of the ski resort are also open.
Worth knowing
- Artificial snow-making
25 % of the slopes have snow-making capabilities
- The valley run is practically always open.
Season 2009/2010
160 Days open
160 Days when valley run open
160 Days when valley run open
Season 2010/2011
155 Days open
155 Days when valley run open
155 Days when valley run open
Season 2011/2012
149 Days open
149 Days when valley run open
149 Days when valley run open
Photos
The slope preparation is excellent.
A "white carpet" is laid down every day over the slopes that provides perfect conditions until late afternoon. The majority of runs on the Front Side are groomed. In the Black Bowls and in the Blue Sky Basin, only the connections to the lifts are prepared - everything else is freeriding space.
Tip: By new snow, an optimal slope prepartion is not always possible, even with a large effort. In addition, the new snow can not combine with the snow lying underneath and moguls are created quickly. For safety reasons, usually no slope preparation is possible during operating times.
Photos
Further evaluation criteria
The ski resort is located directly off the Highway and is easy to access. Unfortunately, there are is no free parking. For valet parking at the hotels, you will pay about $28 and at the lifts, it costs no less than $25. From the main parking lot, you must walk or take the shuttle bus to the slopes.
Access via Highway 70 Denver-Grand Junction, Ausfahrt Vail
- Riva Bahn Express (Vail), Entry suitable for day visitors
Distance: 1 km · approx. 3 Minutes driving time
Roads: Main street, well-developed, without significant incline
Parking spaces: limited amount available, Tarred parking lot, for a fee
- Eagle Bahn Gondola (Vail, CO 81657), Ideal entry for day visitors
Distance: 2 km · approx. 2 Minutes driving time
Roads: Main street, well-developed, without significant incline
Parking spaces: usually enough available, Car park, Tarred parking lot, for a fee
Trail map and overview maps:
The trail map depicts the entire ski resort very well. On the back, there is a detailed map of the Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin. There is also a small complete overview from a bird's eye perspective. All lifts and trails are indicated with details. There is also additional information about the ski school, activities, the good restaurants and all important telephone numbers on the map. All mountain and base stations are indicated with elevations.
The trail map depicts the entire ski resort very well. On the back, there is a detailed map of the Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin. There is also a small complete overview from a bird's eye perspective. All lifts and trails are indicated with details. There is also additional information about the ski school, activities, the good restaurants and all important telephone numbers on the map. All mountain and base stations are indicated with elevations.
Information boards and sign-postings on the slopes:
There is real-time information about the groomed runs and lifts at almost all mountain stations. The slopes are all sign-posted with names. It is easy to find your way to the Blue Sky Basin and back.
There is real-time information about the groomed runs and lifts at almost all mountain stations. The slopes are all sign-posted with names. It is easy to find your way to the Blue Sky Basin and back.
They place a high value on the cleanliness of the entire ski resort
They operate the ski resort almost completely with wind energy and encourage the use of public transportation with buses. The garbage is separated in the ski resort and the good restaurants do not use plastic dinnerware. In some of the other restaurants however, they still use plastic dinnerware.
Awards:
Vail Resort Echo
Public transportation/ on-site mobility
- No direct train connection
- Comprehensive ski bus network
- Scheduled busses
The personnel in Vail is very friendly. You are greeted in a friendly way at all ski lifts and are assisted in boarding the lifts.
There are restaurants awaiting the winter athletes throughout the whole ski resort. They are beginning to move away from self-service and starting to offer high quality restaurants in the ski resort.
12 Mountain restaurants & Ski huts
Gastronomy tip
-
The 10th
Mid-Vail at the mountain station of the Vista Bahn Express
New and modern serviced restaurant with a first class kitchen, bar and a large wine menu. There is a gorgeous view of the Gore Range through the large window. Very inviting ambiance and high quality decor.
-
Game Creek Restaurant
On the Game Trail in the Game Creek Bowl
Very exclusive restaurant that is normally only open for club members. When it is not full, you can also dine here as a non-member. The restaurant offers a well-balanced menu and exclusive wines.
-
Eagle´s Nest/Bistro Fourteen Restaurant
At the mountain station of the Eagle Bahn gondola in the Eagle's Nest, upper floor
The Bistro Fourteen is a serviced restaurant within the Eagle's Nest that offers very good food and drinks.
-
Wildwood
At the mountain station of the Wildwood Express and the Game Creek Express
In the Wildwood, fresh food is served from the grill. It is a self-service restaurant with a large sun terrace and the food cooked on the grill tastes wonderful.
Photos
There are many Après-Ski possibilities in Vail. You can begin on the mountain in the early afternoon and continue afterwards in the valley. The Après-Ski bar on the mountain is the Bistro Fourteen at the Eagle's Nest before you begin the run down to the valley. In Vail, Vendetta's, Bart & Yeti's, Bully Ranch, Sarah's Lounge, The Red Lion, The Club, Pepi's and Garfinkel's are waiting. The nights in Vail can go on quite a while.
Photos
The village of Vail stretches along the ski resort and therefore many hotels have direct access to the lifts and slopes. You can reach the slopes easily by foot or with the shuttle buses from the other hotels. There is a high standard for the hotels in Vail and the hotels belonging to well-known chains are also there such as Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Marriott and Rockresorts.
Ski-in/Ski-out
There are very many accommodations with direct access to the slopes and to lifts (Ski-in/Ski-out)
Towns/villages
- Vail
Distance to ski resort 0 km (directly at ski resort)
Note: For the evaluation, only the accommodations which are located directly on the slopes and lifts, or have very easy access to the ski resort have been considered.
Photos
Evaluation criteria for special interests
Vail is very family and child friendly. There is daycare offered for babies and small children as of 2 months old. In the ski resort, there is the Adventure Ridge and Tubing Center at Eagle's Nest. There are nine Kids Adventure Zones waiting for families and children in the ski resort. These include individual slopes with characters, wave runs and adventure obstacle courses through the forest.
Information for families and children
- Kid's Land/ separated area for children
- Wave ride for children
- Adventure course
- People mover
- Children's lifts
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
- Beginner's lifts in ski resort directly at the feeder lift
- Ski kindergarten
- Ski school for children
- Child care
- Nursery
- Playground / park
- Tubing slope with own lift
Special tips for children
-
Adventure Ridge + Tubing
A huge tubing park with covered people mover is located at Eagle's Nest. In addition to tubing, the children can even drive snowmobiles here. A bungee trampoline and ski bikes are also offered.
-
Children's area/practice area Golden Peak of the Vail Ski and Snowboard School
The children's and practice area is located at the Golden Peak base station and is ideal for children and beginners. There are multiple people movers and excellent supervision by the Vail Ski and Snowboard School.
Photos
Vail offers many possibilities for beginners on the Front Side. On Gopher Hill in Village Mountain Plaza, at Eagle's Nest and at the Avanti Express, there are perfect practice slopes with their own lifts and people movers. The complete Front Side can be skied from Two Elk Lodge over Patrol Headquarters, Wildwood and to Eagle's Nest. There are even easy slopes in the Game Creek Bowl. Sometimes these are very easy connection paths. Easy slopes lead back to all valley runs. The Back Bowl and the Blue Sky Basin are taboo for beginners.
Information for beginners
- Easy and manageable slope offering, which is easy to achieve
- Wide slopes
- Beginner's area
- Special slopes for slower skiers / beginners
- Easy valley run
- Beginner's lifts near the valley
- Beginner's lifts in ski resort directly at the feeder lift
Ski schools on-site
Photos
The legendary Back Bowls and the Blue Sky Basin, an 11 km wide deep snow area, leaves no wish unanswered. The Front Side of Vail Mountain also offers some difficult runs and many mogul slopes.
Information for advanced skiers, freeriders
- very many freeride / deep snow areas
- many mogul slopes
- some extremely difficult, steep and unprepared runs (Double Diamonds)
Slope offering advanced skiers
Runs/slopes
Total 193 km
Difficult
103 km
(54 %)Most difficult run
-
Prima Corniche · Length 1 km · Altitude difference 300 m
Note: Always mind the avalanche warnings and barriers, please. Never ski into a closed and unsecured area.
Photos
3 terrain parks and a superpipe leave no wish unanswered at Vail.
Information for Snowboarders
- few cat tracks
- no runs with ascent
- very many freeride / deep snow areas
Snow parks
- Golden Peak Terrain Park & Superpipe
The Golden Peak Terrain Park is the largest park in Vail and also offers a superpipe. It is easy to access with the Riva Bahn Express. Exit at the middle station and you'll be directly at the park.
- Pride & Bwana Terrain Parks
The two terrain parks are located beneath the Eagle Bahn gondola and offer many obstacles and jumps. The Pride Park is also accessible with the Pride Express. If you ride both parks one after the other, it amounts to 2 km of pure park enjoyment.
Offering snow parks
- Snow park/ Fun park
- Halfpipe
- Superpipe
- Kicker (Jump/ Ramp)
- Rails/ Slides
- Boxes
- Wallride
- Corner / Hip
- Boardercross
- Waverides
- Pro Line
- Medium Line
- Beginner/ Easy Line
- Chill area with music
- Cross-country trail offering
Total trail length: 32 km
The cross-country trails lead along the edge of the village through picturesque pine forests and Aspen groves. There is a 5 km long snow reliable trail at Eagle's Nest. You must pay $28 for the lift ride up with the Eagle Bahn gondola however.
Conclusion
Optimally groomed runs, beautiful panorama, many modern high speed lifts, Blue Sky Basin, deep snow runs
Early lift closing in the Back Bowls and in the Blue Sky Basin, limited parking, expensive parking fees, no chair lifts with weather protectors
Test Report issued on 2012-03-24
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