Vail

Vail is a vast and fantastic ski area, one of the USA’s largest resort towns and it is home to some of the world’s smartest hotels and best in-resort restaurant and bars.

weather Forecast today: Mainly fair

Max temp: 2.9 °c
Min temp: -11.9 °c
Last snowed: Tue 17 Dec

Last Updated: Wed 18 Dec

weather Forecast today: Mainly fair

Max temp: 2.9 °c
Min temp: -11.9 °c
Last snowed: Tue 17 Dec

Last Updated: Wed 18 Dec

24%Beginner

36%Intermediate

40%Advanced

This Colorado big hitter is perhaps the state’s most famous resort, if not the most well-known resort in the entire country.

It has long attracted the rich and famous from around the world and for good reason. The town is always buzzing, the range of accommodation is unrivalled in the Rockies and there is a huge range of food options – just be prepared to pay for the privilege as prices here can be extremely expensive.

Although not everyone comes for the skiing, choosing instead to enjoy the town, Vail is home to some fantastic ski terrain. The highlights are the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin – open powder bowls and tree runs, all served by fast lifts.

Perhaps the only slight downside is that Vail is a victim of its own success and extensive queues can form, particularly at the weekends and during major holidays.

Beginner
Fast lifts
Intermediate
Resort Activities
Advanced
Aprés
Snow
Value

Pros and cons

Huge ski area and epic terrain in the Back Bowls
Every main lift is fast and there’s been lots of investment recently
Loads to do in town if your budget allows

Resort can get busy and queues often form at weekends
Super expensive lift pass and high prices in town
Some accommodation can be a decent walk away from the lifts

On the Slopes

A huge 5289 acres of terrain is on offer at Vail, with something for everyone.

Even absolute beginners are well catered for at Gopher Hill and at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola. The area really comes into its own however for intermediates upwards, especially if you follow the corduroy by picking up the day’s grooming map each morning. Our favourite runs lie in Game Creek Bowl, around the recently revamped Northwoods Express and over the back of the mountain down to the Orient Express.

Vail’s ski area comes alive on a powder day, especially when a Rocky Mountain snowstorm loads the Back Bowls with fresh snow – just be sure to get there as early as possible to score fresh tracks. Blue Sky Basin is one vast playground filled with tree runs and gladed terrain, some of which is seriously steep and it is here where you’ll find the best powder stashes long after fresh snowfall.

Nearly 200 acres of new and improved snowmaking terrain for this season will ensure that Vail will open pre-Thanksgiving every season.

In the Resort

Vail is vast and spreads for almost four miles along the southern flank of the I-70 Highway, with two distinct bases at the foot of the resort’s two gondolas at Vail Village and Lionshead. In between lies a plethora of luxury accommodation – whether you’re looking for smart hotels or luxury condos, Vail has so many options. Those looking to save some cash should look at staying further along the valley at Eagle Vail or in Avon below Beaver_Creek, then catch the bus back to the Vail ski area.
The resort is also home to some fantastic après spots and places for a drink in the evening – just try to make the most of the daily happy hours for the best value drinks. Vail is also home to perhaps the widest range of ski resort restaurants in the USA, with everything from classic American BBQ food to sushi, the resort has something for everyone.

Season Dates

Opens: Friday 15 November 2024
Closes: TBC

Vail Resorts has not confirmed closing dates for 2024/25 leaving them flexible depending on conditions

Courtesy NSAA

Green Credentials

Ski Club Recognised: Environmentally Sustainable Resort

The Ski Club uses third party independent assessments and accreditation of ski resorts to determine a resort “environmentally sustainable” – more information can be found here.

Vail and Vail Resorts Alta was the 2023 winner of the NSAA Golden Eagle Climate Change Impact award, given to resorts that pioneer

“Powerful initiatives that result in impactful climate change solutions, whether through action, adaptation, advocacy or mitigation.”

The National Ski Areas Association is an industry body representing more than 300 ski resorts in the USA.

Find out more

Vail Piste Map

Top (3433m)

	Wed 18 Dec			Thu 19 Dec			Fri 20 Dec			Sat 21 Dec			Sun 22 Dec			Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Mainly fair	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.3 cm	0.5 cm	0.8 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	1.5 cm	3.8 cm	2.6 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.4 cm	1.9 cm	2.1 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-2°c	0.2°c	-1.4°c	-0.8°c	0.2°c	-2.6°c	1.2°c	2.2°c	-0.8°c	1.2°c	2.6°c	-0.2°c	0.4°c	0.6°c	-1.2°c	-2°c	-0.6°c	0°c	-1.2°c	0.6°c	-0.6°c	-1.8°c	-1.4°c	-2.2°c	-3.8°c	-2.2°c	-3°c	-3.6°c	-2.8°c	-3.8°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-2°c	-2°c	-4.8°c	-2.6°c	-4°c	-4.6°c	-0.8°c	-2.2°c	-3.8°c	-0.2°c	-2.6°c	-3.4°c	-1.2°c	-2.6°c	-3°c	-2°c	-1.2°c	-3.4°c	-1.2°c	-1.6°c	-3.4°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c	-5.4°c	-3.8°c	-3.8°c	-4.8°c	-4.2°c	-4.6°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-6.2°c	-6.7°c	-10.3°c	-5.5°c	-6.4°c	-8.8°c	-1.7°c	-4.9°c	-7.3°c	1°c	-0.2°c	-8°c	-4.1°c	-5.6°c	-7.1°c	-6.6°c	-5.8°c	-7.5°c	-4.7°c	-3.9°c	-7.6°c	-6.4°c	-7.9°c	-8.4°c	-8.1°c	-7.8°c	-9.6°c	-9.9°c	-9.2°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-2°c	0.2°c	-1.4°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	-2°c	-2°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-6.2°c	-6.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-0.8°c	0.2°c	-2.6°c
Min temp	-4.8°c	-2.6°c	-4°c
Feels like temp	-10.3°c	-5.5°c	-6.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	2.2°c	-0.8°c
Min temp	-4.6°c	-0.8°c	-2.2°c
Feels like temp	-8.8°c	-1.7°c	-4.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	2.6°c	-0.2°c
Min temp	-3.8°c	-0.2°c	-2.6°c
Feels like temp	-7.3°c	1°c	-0.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Clear skies	Generally clear	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	0.4°c	0.6°c	-1.2°c
Min temp	-3.4°c	-1.2°c	-2.6°c
Feels like temp	-8°c	-4.1°c	-5.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.5 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-2°c	-0.6°c	0°c
Min temp	-3°c	-2°c	-1.2°c
Feels like temp	-7.1°c	-6.6°c	-5.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Mainly fair	Mainly fair
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-1.2°c	0.6°c	-0.6°c
Min temp	-3.4°c	-1.2°c	-1.6°c
Feels like temp	-7.5°c	-4.7°c	-3.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	1.5 cm	3.8 cm	2.6 cm
Max temp	-1.8°c	-1.4°c	-2.2°c
Min temp	-3.4°c	-2.8°c	-2.8°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-6.4°c	-7.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-3.8°c	-2.2°c	-3°c
Min temp	-5.4°c	-3.8°c	-3.8°c
Feels like temp	-8.4°c	-8.1°c	-7.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	1.9 cm	2.1 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-3.6°c	-2.8°c	-3.8°c
Min temp	-4.8°c	-4.2°c	-4.6°c
Feels like temp	-9.6°c	-9.9°c	-9.2°c

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Resort (2457m)

	Wed 18 Dec			Thu 19 Dec			Fri 20 Dec			Sat 21 Dec			Sun 22 Dec			Mon 23 Dec			Tue 24 Dec			Wed 25 Dec			Thu 26 Dec			Fri 27 Dec
	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mainly fair	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Clear skies	Generally clear	Clear skies	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Snow grains	Occasional snow	Mainly fair	Generally clear	Generally clear	Occasional snow	Light snow	Light snow	Partly cloudy	Generally clear	Snow grains	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0.6 cm	0.8 cm	1.1 cm	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm	2.1 cm	5.2 cm	3.4 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0.8 cm	2.6 cm	2.6 cm	1 cm
Max temp	-0.9°c	2.9°c	-0.8°c	1.1°c	3.5°c	-1.2°c	2.4°c	5.2°c	0.5°c	2.6°c	5.6°c	0.6°c	2.1°c	3.8°c	0.4°c	0°c	2.1°c	0.1°c	1.1°c	3.6°c	0.1°c	-0.1°c	1.5°c	-1.6°c	-2.2°c	0.4°c	-2.4°c	-2°c	-0.1°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-11.9°c	-0.9°c	-5.5°c	-8.9°c	-1.2°c	-7.1°c	-9°c	0.5°c	-6°c	-8.8°c	0.6°c	-5.1°c	-7.6°c	0.4°c	-4.5°c	-6.4°c	0°c	-2.9°c	-7°c	0.1°c	-3.8°c	-7°c	-1.6°c	-5.4°c	-8.9°c	-2.4°c	-6.1°c	-8.8°c	-2.9°c	-6.6°c
Feels like temp	-16.5°c	-0.9°c	-0.8°c	-8°c	1°c	-1.2°c	-13°c	2°c	0.4°c	-8.1°c	2.2°c	0.5°c	-11°c	1.8°c	0.3°c	-5.4°c	0°c	0.1°c	-6.1°c	1°c	0.1°c	-9.4°c	-2.8°c	-1.6°c	-7.1°c	-2.2°c	-2.4°c	-7.6°c	-4.9°c	-2.9°c

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Select day:

	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-0.9°c	2.9°c	-0.8°c
Min temp	-11.9°c	-0.9°c	-5.5°c
Feels like temp	-16.5°c	-0.9°c	-0.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.1°c	3.5°c	-1.2°c
Min temp	-8.9°c	-1.2°c	-7.1°c
Feels like temp	-8°c	1°c	-1.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.4°c	5.2°c	0.5°c
Min temp	-9°c	0.5°c	-6°c
Feels like temp	-13°c	2°c	0.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.6°c	5.6°c	0.6°c
Min temp	-8.8°c	0.6°c	-5.1°c
Feels like temp	-8.1°c	2.2°c	0.5°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	2.1°c	3.8°c	0.4°c
Min temp	-7.6°c	0.4°c	-4.5°c
Feels like temp	-11°c	1.8°c	0.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.6 cm	0.8 cm	1.1 cm
Max temp	0°c	2.1°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-6.4°c	0°c	-2.9°c
Feels like temp	-5.4°c	0°c	0.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.1°c	3.6°c	0.1°c
Min temp	-7°c	0.1°c	-3.8°c
Feels like temp	-6.1°c	1°c	0.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.1 cm	5.2 cm	3.4 cm
Max temp	-0.1°c	1.5°c	-1.6°c
Min temp	-7°c	-1.6°c	-5.4°c
Feels like temp	-9.4°c	-2.8°c	-1.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0.8 cm
Max temp	-2.2°c	0.4°c	-2.4°c
Min temp	-8.9°c	-2.4°c	-6.1°c
Feels like temp	-7.1°c	-2.2°c	-2.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	2.6 cm	2.6 cm	1 cm
Max temp	-2°c	-0.1°c	-2.9°c
Min temp	-8.8°c	-2.9°c	-6.6°c
Feels like temp	-7.6°c	-4.9°c	-2.9°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	17/12/2024
Snowfall	Next 3 days	No information
Depths	Upper piste depth	93 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	50 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Artificial snow
Lifts	Lifts open	20 out of 34
	Resort opening date	Fri 15 Nov 2024
	Resort closing date	Mon 21 Apr 2025

Snow Overview

USA

Updated 17/12

High pressure remains camped out across almost the entirety of the continental USA, preventing the usual flow of low pressure systems from flowing in off the Pacific. As a result, the week and weekend ahead remains particularly absent of snow and precipitation. The Left Coast itself remains mild, with positive temperatures at mid-mountain in play across the PNW and Sierras, with plenty of sun to boot over this period, too. Some colder and more unsettled weather does flirt with the PNW towards the weekend, potentially bringing a few floccons to the region, although this will remain limited.

Elsewhere in the Rockies and Utah, a similar pattern will be instore, albeit with temperatures the right side of freezing.

On the Ice Coast, a mild middle to the week turns bitterly cold as the weekend approached. Temperatures of -24°C (-12°F) can be expected overnight from Saturday onwards, although high pressure moves in to leave things fine, dry and bright to start the new week.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast