Legendary Terrain: Getting to know the Biggest Mountain in Colorado

Posted December 28th, 2021
With over 5,317 acres of terrain for you to explore, Vail is one of the largest mountains in the world – and the largest in Colorado. With so much unmatched terrain to explore, we know it can be a little daunting – so this season we’re going to be introducing (or re-introducing) you to our wide variety of terrain.

In our Legendary Terrain series, you’ll learn all about what makes Northwoods some of the most varied terrain on the mountain, or how you can feel disconnected from it all in Blue Sky Basin, or what makes Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls so Legendary. We’ll break down the Frontside, the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin into terrain you can connect with when you’re out there so you can forge a deeper bond with the spectacular vastness of Vail Mountain.

For this introduction, let’s take a step back before diving in deep. Vail has over 5,317 acres for you to enjoy with over 3,000 of those acres found in the Seven Legendary Back Bowls. If you’re a frontside skier or snowboarder, don’t worry – Vail Mountain has over 1,600 acres of skiing for all types accessed from our three base areas: Vail Village, Lionshead Village and Golden Peak. With 195 trails and 31 lifts, there’s plenty of room for everyone... so much so, that it’s not uncommon to depart a lift and find yourself on a run all to yourself.

Are you a first-time skier or snowboarder? Head over to Gopher Hill at Golden Peak to test things out, and when you’re feeling comfortable, head up Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) and whisk yourself away to the top of the mountain for amazing views and the learning area at Eagle’s Nest.

Feeling a little more advanced? Game Creek Bowl is your entry point to a bowl experience. With a beginner run, plenty of intermediate terrain and some wide-open blacks, this is for you.

For those advanced skiers and snowboarders out there... well... over 50 percent of Vail Mountain’s terrain is calling your name.

Stay tuned for more Legendary Terrain as we break down all that Vail Mountain has to offer.