Vail is the single biggest ski mountain in North America with 5,289 acres of world class skiing. Why, you might ask yourself does America measure its terrain in acres rather than kilometres of runs? The answer is very simple. Inside the boundary line you can ski anywhere you like: on groomed trails, through the trees, off cliffs, in gullies – it’s all there to be skied and enjoyed.

As long as you are within the boundary, whatever, the difficulty of the terrain, you are covered by your ski insurance and if you get into problems the ski patrol will be there to assist you. That means that you can enjoy the powder without having worries of being off-piste – a concept that does not really exist in America.

What type of skiing is available in Vail?

Very simply, skiing for every level of ability.  The skiing in Vail takes place in three separate but joined areas: The Front Face, the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin.

The Front Face
From the village, all lifts initially access the Front Face. There are two main access points: Vail Village and Lionshead. Whether you take the Vista Bahn from the Village or the Eagle Bahn Gondola from Lionshead you will be travelling up the Front Face. This part of Vail Mountain represents about a third of the total acreage and is a very good mixture of green, blue, black and double black terrain. Around 50% of the Front Face is beginner and intermediate territory.

One of the key features about the Front face is that most lifts access a variety of terrain and a group of mixed ability can ride a lift together and choose different routes down before meeting at the base of a lift again. The trails on the Front Face are all cut through the trees – although this does not mean you have to avoid them as the trails are, in the main, very wide.

There is plenty of terrain on the Front Face to keep beginners and intermediates entertained. If you are seeking more advanced terrain on the Front Face you should head over to the most easterly side where a selection of long and exacting double black diamond bump runs are to be found. Lovers of this kind of skiing will be pleased to hear that the HighlineLine lift is being replaced by a high speed quad meaning less time sitting and more time punishing the knees!

The Back Bowls
Literally at the back of the Front Face are the Back Bowls – the area of Vail Mountain which is unique.

The Back Bowls are seven Bowls which co-incidentally are seven miles wide. This area is quite unlike the Front Face in that there are far fewer trees and in the main this part of the mountain is not groomed.  This is terrain for competent intermediates and above. When there is fresh powder, this is the place to be. There are no designated trails and you can ski exactly where you like: you see it – you ski it!

Most of the runs here are designated black but the level of difficulty is based as much on the snow conditions as the pitch of the slopes. After a heavy fall, this is some of the most exciting terrain around. In addition, this is such a large area that you will often find that you are the only person around. Sound like heaven – it’s pretty close.

Blue Sky Basin
To ski Blue Sky Basin, you have to go through the Back Bowls. Blue Sky is more of an intermediate/advanced area so to enable most skiers/boarders to access it, a blue run through the Back Bowls called Poppyfields is generally groomed.

Blue Sky Basin is different again from the Front Face and the Back Bowls. Here the skiing/boarding is cut though the trees but not in wide open trails. Although there are generally designated descents, there are no specific runs. You set off and decide which route you wish to follow. If you are with a group of people you may see them at the top and then meet up with them again at the bottom – or perhaps criss cross each other as you descend.

Blue Sky Basin is really fun and even though it is a relatively small area compared with the rest of Vail Mountain, it is not unusual for people to spend a whole morning or afternoon there.

When you get off the Skyline Express at Belle’s Camp, you are seven miles from Vail Village so make sure that you allow plenty of time to return.