Hit the Trails in Vail: A Hiker’s Dream Come True

Summer Wildflowers at Vail

Lace up your boots and discover the magic of the Rockies! Vail Mountain features more than 20 miles of well-maintained hiking trails, perfect for every kind of adventurer. For those looking to venture further out, there are over 150 miles of breathtaking trails on and around Vail Mountain to enjoy wildflowers, water features, and more. 

Whether you're craving a peaceful nature walk or a heart-pumping summit scramble, Vail Mountain offers something for every level of intensity. Start your alpine journey with views from above on one of our scenic gondolas, Gondola One or the Eagle Bahn Gondola, and at the top, indulge in mountaintop dining, take on Adventure Ridge activities, or gear up to tackle the trails.

We've included our top hiking and biking recommendations below!

Hike among the Wildflowers:

  • Grand Escape: This trail offers dense wildflowers in all varieties, following just below the Eagles Nest Ridge and affording spectacular, panoramic views of the Gore Range (photos).

  • Ridge Route Through Game Creek Bowl: This hike is a traverse above Game Creek Bowl providing great views of the Holy Cross wilderness. Head south from the Eagles Nest gondola area towards signs for Game Creek, pass the Grand Traverse and keep heading up the service road for another 20 yards until reaching the trail marker for the Ridge Route.

  • Nature Discovery Center & Guided Nature Hikes: Ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola to the Nature Discovery Center, an all-season yurt at Eagle’s Nest. Guided nature hikes are provided compliments of Vail Resorts, the United States Forest Service, and Walking Mountains Science Center.  

 

Hikes based on Ability:

  • Eagle's Loop: Easy ridge-top loop with great views of Mount of the Holy Cross. (1 mile)

  • Fireweed Loop: Easy, beautiful, wooded trail between Eagle’s Nest and Mid-Vail. (1 mile)

  • Grand Escape: This well-marked, intermediate trail has off-the-charts fields of dense wildflowers of all varieties. (1.3 miles)

  • Cabin Trail: This difficult trail offers a scenic hike through the forest up to Mid-Vail. (2.1 miles)

  • Berrypicker: This difficult trail offers a steep climb from Vail Village or Lionshead through peaceful aspen trees and wildflowers, up to Eagle’s Nest. (3.2 miles)

 

Looking to Bike Instead?

  • Radio Flyer: Freeride Biking Trail. Dozens of banked turns and rollers wind from Eagle's Nest down through Vail's lodgepole pine forests. (1.7 miles)

  • Sidekick to Golden Gate: These challenging beginner trails offer a flowy bermed descent from Mid-Vail, winding from forested terrain through dense aspen groves. (2.6 miles)

  • Big Mamba: An exhilarating freeride biking trail combining flowing rollers and smooth switchbacks that will take you across open meadows, into dense pine forests, and through sunny aspen groves. (2.7 miles)

  • Grand Traverse: Vail's signature single-track traverses the Back Bowls from Eagle's Nest, offering excellent views of Mt. of the Holy Cross. (5.9 miles)