Vail Mountain 2021-2022 Winter Tip Sheet

Under blue skies more than 300 days each year, Vail is the world’s premier mountain resort. The year-round alpine destination delivers a superior, seamless experience for every guest, from the vast terrain and natural grandeur of the surrounding Gore and Sawatch Ranges to world-class events, shops and spas, and the abundant culinary options and luxurious accommodations that line the pedestrian-friendly streets of Vail and Lionshead Villages. Vail offers more than 5,300 acres of developed ski and snowboard terrain, including seven limitless Back Bowls in winter, and expanded offerings of summer activities through Epic Discovery. Coupled with the enduring spirit of innovation inherent in Vail’s founders, and a timeless pursuit of excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail is like nothing on earth. 

 

 

The experiences you know and love at Vail are back and better than ever this season. Kick off your winter with the Biggest Opening in Colorado on November 12th thanks to our world class snowmaking system and commitment to Five Star Grooming. The hardworking teams at Vail don’t stop there, when experiencing the thrill of the Biggest Opening in Colorado, enjoy the return of Revely Vail in November, Vail Snow Days on December 3rd & 4th, and Powabunga from December 9th - 12th.  The early season in Vail is the biggest opening celebration in Colorado! 

 

A World Class Snowmaking System  

Unveiled during the 2019-2020 season, Vail’s massive snowmaking expansion project was the largest in Vail Mountain’s history and the largest one-year snowmaking expansion in North America. Nearly 200 acres of new and enhanced snowmaking terrain (in addition to more than 430 acres of existing snowmaking) provides guests with earlier access to higher elevation terrain, a broader variety of trails, earlier season access from three base areas, and improved early season ski school terrain.  

 

This upgrade also creates more reliable early and late-season conditions with high-quality snow, and improves existing snowmaking technology to be more energy and water-efficient. At Vail, investing in an automated system allows the resort to manage resources more efficiently and operate more productively in narrow, early season snowmaking windows. This means we can create more snow in the right places on the mountain, using less energy, and during a shorter window of time. Vail Resorts continually re-invests in our resorts in order to elevate the guest experience, and at Vail we are committed to not only providing the best overall ski experience possible, but also ensuring a strong early-season snow surface and a pre-Thanksgiving opening each year. 

 

Vail is dedicated to providing the best grooming experience for guests through a commitment to Five Star Grooming. The legendary Back Bowls are now even more accessible with a 30% increase in groomed terrain. A few of the Back Bowls' trails where guests can expect to see increased grooming include: The Slot, Poppyfields, Chopstix, Cloud 9, Grand Review, Big Rock Park, Red Zinger, Inner Mongolia, Morning Thunder, Ricky’s Ridge, Jade Glade, Genghis Khan, Yonder Gully, China Spur, Emperor’s Choice, The Star, Headwall, In the Wuides, Bolshoi Ballroom and more. In addition, guests can enjoy regular grooming on some of Vail’s signature runs like Blue Ox, Lindsey’s, and Riva Ridge. 

 

 

NEW! The Avanti Skills Zone & The Avanti Performance Center   
Build your skills and confidence on specially designed learning terrain with the world’s premiere ski and snowboard instructors this season. Located at Avanti Express Lift (Chair 2), this NEW cohesive learning area combines the Avanti Performance Center and the Avanti Skills Zone to offer cutting edge methodologies with world class terrain, and coaching.  
 

The Avanti Skills Zone  
This NEW terrain design located at the bottom of Avanti Express Lift is a dedicated learning area with terrain specifically designed to help guests improve their abilities so they can tackle all of Vail’s legendary terrain.  Three terrain “lanes” will be dedicated to: The Perfect Carve, Off-Piste Skiing & Riding, and Skills: Bumps, Berms, Spines, Rollers and more.  With a dedicated surface lift, The Avanti Skills Zone is the perfect space for skiers and snowboarders to unlock their potential.  
 

The Avanti Performance Center  
Located in the heart of the NEW Avanti Skills Zone, the Avanti Performance Center is a dedicated space for Ski and Snowboard School students.  It is equipped with leading-edge tools to enhance the lesson experience and unlock all of a student’s potential.  Instructors can take Ski and Ride School guests through a series of indoor training tools that replicate movements essential to mastering skills, and also review their skiing or riding on large monitors to accelerate their improvements. 
 

 

While enjoying all that the Front Side has to offer or after some exhilarating laps in the Back Bowls, slide on over to Henry’s Hut, Rocky’s Roadhouse and Buffalo’s located at the top of Chairs 4, 5 and 11. Experience Henry’s Hut like never before!  With a NEW and expanded deck, interior improvements and more seating, Henry’s Hut is the perfect place to grab a quick bite from Rocky’s Roadhouse (located outside of Buffalo’s) and catch your breath.  Keep a lookout over Dogtown where you’ll be able to spot Henry watching after younger patrol dogs Jake, Rocky and Cowgirl as they train and keep their skills sharp.  You never know when they’ll swing by the deck for a meet-and-greet!  Buffalo’s is named after legendary Vail Ski Patroller “Buffalo” ’Mikottis; Rocky’s Roadhouse is named after Vail Ski Patrol Avalanche Rescue Dog, Rocky; and Henry’s Hut is of course named after Vail’s first Avalanche Rescue Dog – Henry. 

 

As Vail Resorts’ namesake resort, Vail Mountain is proud to honor its founders who paved the way through innovation and leadership in the ski industry. Vail Resorts’ pioneering spirit and core value of service to others are rooted in the legacy of its founders.  Take a journey back through time inside Vail’s newest historic mountaintop hut. Located at the top of Mountaintop Express (Chair 4), the Legacy Hut opened in March of 2020, and has a whole new look and feel for the 2021-2022 season. Experience history and become a part of Vail Mountain’s legacy at the Legacy Hut. 

 

Departing daily, Vail’s Mountain Tours are led by some of the valley’s most passionate historians. Join them outside of the Legacy Hut as they ski around the mountain, sharing stories and showcasing the pioneering spirit of Vail.  Special tours include Back Bowl, Women’s, Legacy, and Front Side Tours.  Each day, our tour guides will put the Tours of the Day on our tour board located outside of the Legacy Hut. 

 

Ever wonder about the story behind a trail name?  Like how Riva Ridge is named after a key battle that the 10th Mountain Division won during World War II, or how Morrie Shepard with Vail founders, Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton, dropped into Sun Up Bowl for the first time and after commenting that it took forever to hike back up the mountain, decided to later name that trail Forever To pay homage to Vail’s founding, signs have been placed across the mountain, allowing guests to embark on a self-guided historical tour of the mountain. These informational signs will be located in key areas that showcase the history of Vail, as well as provide insights into the naming of certain trails. Can you find them all? 

 

 

No other resort will allow you to escape from reality like Vail Mountain.  With 5,317 acres of skiable terrain, skiers can truly feel worlds away?and completely immersed in nature. In Vail’s expansive Back Bowls, the views (and the powder!) are absolutely limitless. Want to go the extra distance to find your own secret stash? Make the trek out to Outer Mongolia Bowl, at the very Eastern edge of Vail’s vast terrain. Not many skiers make the traverse, so you’ll often have the rolling fields of snow and stunning quiet all to yourself.

 

Beyond the legendary Back Bowls, Blue Sky Basin is no less than seven miles away from Vail’s base area, and thus feels like a true remote backcountry ski experience. Enjoy the huge outdoor space at Belle’s Camp, where skiers can take a break and relax under bluebird skies with stunning views of the nearby Mount of the Holy Cross, one of Colorado’s tallest peaks. For beginner skiers, take a moment to relax on the peaceful Timberline Catwalk in Northwoods, where the glistening snow on the trees surrounds skiers like a magical wood.

 

The possibilities for food, fun and fascination are endless between Vail Village and Lionshead Village. Whether you want to relax after a long day on hill at the RockResorts spas at The Arrabelle and The Lodge at Vail, continue the adrenaline rush at Adventure Ridge or, indulge in the appetite you’ve worked up all day at Tavern on the Square, there is something for everyone here at Vail.   

 

The Hythe, Luxury Collection Hotel, Vail – a brand-new luxury resort concept in the heart of the Rocky Mountains – is set to debut this winter 2021. Located in the bustling Lionshead Village, perfectly situated at the base of Vail Mountain, The Hythe is poised to bring a new level of sophisticated vibrancy to the destination, imbuing guests with a sense of celebration and adventure year-around. Currently completing the final phase of a $40 million renovation, guests of The Hythe will enjoy elevated interiors to include a vivacious and welcoming arrival and lobby experience, four brand-new food & beverage concepts, exclusive mountain-forward excursions, and much more. The Hythe will serve as a gateway to Vail’s most exciting and desirable experiences, from world-class skiing and hiking to unforgettable culinary and wellness offerings. 

 

 

 

Vail Transit is making every effort to transport passengers in a safe and efficient manner using guidance provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. For example: facemasks are required to be in use at all times by drivers and passengers (2 years old and older); complimentary face coverings are available on the buses to ensure compliance; passengers are being asked to be respectful of others by creating physical separation between non-related parties to the extent possible; extra buses will be in service during peak times, including Friday-Sunday, on the busiest routes to accommodate passenger demand. Also, Vail has pioneered use of a microbial reduction system in use on all buses. The continuous, chemical-free system complements the town’s additional cleaning protocols to provide wide-ranging environmental protections.  

 

Eagle County Regional Airport provides non-stop flights from 14 major markets in the winter, and three in the summer, which makes getting to Vail and Beaver Creek easy no matter when you visit. One-stop connections are available from over 250 cities worldwide, making EGE the number one choice for frequent visitors to Vail and Beaver Creek. This winter season, Eagle Airport will be serviced by Air Canada, American, Delta and United from markets including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/JFK, Newark, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Toronto and Washington DC. Eagle County Regional Airport is located just 30 minutes from Vail and Beaver Creek. For more information and current flight schedules visit www.flyvail.com  

 

For more story ideas, facts and figures, and the latest news on Vail, visit http://news.vail.vailresorts.com.  

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Dates and Hours
2021-2022 Season: November 12, 2021 – April 24, 2022
Hours of Operations (MST) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Hours extend over the course of the season)
 
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
 

Acreage
Total Skiable Terrain: 5,289 acres/2,141 ha
Front Side: 1,627 acres/658 ha
Back Bowls: 3,017 acres/1,221 ha
Blue Sky Basin: 645 acres/ 261 ha
 
Trail Classification
53% Expert/Advanced
29% Intermediate
18% Beginner
Conventional Trails: 195
Longest Run: Riva Ridge – 4 miles/6.4 km
 
Lifts
Total number of lifts: 32  

• Gondolas: 2
• High-speed six-passenger chairlifts: 3
• High-speed quad chairlifts: 14
• Fixed-grip quad chairlifts: 1
• Fixed-grip triple chairlifts: 2
• Surface lifts: 3
• Conveyors: 7

Total uphill capacity: 63,244 people per hour