Vail Ski Resort, Alpine ski resort in Eagle County, Colorado
Vail Ski Resort is a winter sports center in Eagle County, Colorado, spanning 2,140 hectares across the White River National Forest. The terrain contains seven bowls and numerous runs with varying slopes and elevations for skiers and snowboarders.
Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton opened operations in 1962 with three lifts after years of searching the valley for a suitable location. The resort expanded rapidly over the following decades and grew into a major winter sports destination.
Trail names follow American mountain naming traditions while the village displays Bavarian architecture with timber and stucco facades. Shops and cafés line the streets where winter sports enthusiasts gather in the evening after a day on the slopes.
The area receives an average of nine meters of snow per season between November and April, with runs for beginners through advanced levels. Visitors can choose morning hours for less crowded conditions or later in the day when the sun warms the slopes.
The Blue Sky Basin sits away from the main area and offers tree-lined runs through pines and aspens that naturally shape the terrain. Few North American ski areas allow visitors to ride through such large forested sections without cleared corridors.
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