Summer

Vail Mountain Summer Fast Facts
 
Location
Vail Mountain is located 100 miles (160 km) west of Denver, 140 miles (230 km) east of Grand Junction and is easily accessible via the Eagle Airport, located 35 miles (56 km) to the west, all along the Interstate 70 corridor.

Stay connected!
More information will become available closer to our summer kickoff via our social media channels (IG/FB/Twitter: @VailMtn) and on the web at vail.com!
 
Vail Mountain Season Dates:
  • Open Daily June 19 – September 6
  • Open Fridays to Sundays until October 3
Summer 2021 Gondolas
  • Vail Village - Gondola One (#1)
  • Lionshead Village - Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19)
Summer 2021 Activities
 
  • Scenic Rides & Bike Haul from Gondola One and Eagle Bahn Gondola
    • Freeride Biking Trails: More than 40 miles of trails. Bike trails and bike haul are dependent on snowmelt. 
    • Hiking Trails: More than 20 miles of trails
 
  • Epic Discovery
    • Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster: Enjoy the thrill as it winds its way 3,400 feet down the mountain, following the natural contours of the landscape through the forest. The coaster is the perfect activity for families and adrenaline-seekers alike!
    • Bungee Trampoline: Bounce, flip, and soar skyward on this trampoline.
    • Eagle’s Nest Tubing: Grab a tube, hop a lift, get a rush! Adventurers young and old will love taking thrilling runs down the 550 ft-long tubing hill. Music entertains you the whole way down, while the Adventure Bahn carpet ride will take you back to the top. 
    • Marmot Mini Kids Tubing: Grab a tube and glide down the mountain on a thrilling, adrenaline-fueled ride. The multi-lane tubing hill features two runs, and easy-access surface lift gets you back up top fast. 
    • Little Eagle Zip Line: Kids can soar through the air above 11,000 feet!
    • Paramount Peak Climbing Wall: Harness your adventure while scrambling up to new heights!
  • On-Mountain Dining
    • Bistro Fourteen
    • Eagle’s Nest BBQ
    • Sarge’s Deck
    • Express Lift
By the Numbers
  • Vail Mountain Elevations:
    • Base Elevation 8,120 ft. /2,476 m
    • Mid-Elevation: 10,250 ft. /3,125 m
    • Peak Elevation 11,570 ft. /3,527 m
    • Vertical Rise 3,450 ft. /1,052 m
Summer Climate
  • Average Daytime Temperature: 75 degrees
  • Average Nighttime Temperature: 45 degrees
  • Vail receives an average of 300 days of sunshine a year with little-to-no humidity, although weather can change in a matter of hours and light afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer.
Flora & Fauna
  • The earliest wildflowers typically bloom in April.
  • By July, wildflowers abound, sometimes waist deep in mountain meadows as in China Bowl on Vail Mountain.
  • By mid-September, leaves from the aspen trees that engulf the Vail Valley, turn a brilliant gold, lasting about three weeks.
  • Wildlife is often viewed in the backcountry and includes fox, deer, elk, marmots, beaver, coyotes, moose, black bears and bighorn sheep.
History
  • During the 1800s, Ute Indians and pioneer hunters roamed the peaceful valley that is present-day Vail.
  • In 1854-56, mountain explorers, Jim Bridger and Lord Gore, explored the area. The high mountain peaks surrounding Vail to the east were named the Gore Range by Bridger in honor of his friend.
  • In the 1940s, a group of ski enthusiasts from the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division were exposed to the area's majestic mountains while training at Camp Hale near Leadville during World War II
  • Following the war, veteran 10th Mountain Division soldiers Pete Seibert, Bill "Sarge" Brown and Bob Parker returned to the Gore Valley with dreams of establishing a ski area in the beautiful mountain area. Through hard work and endless dreaming, Vail was established by the trio in 1962.