A Skiers Perfect Day in Vail

erinburns20
Jan 5
4 min read

Updated: Jan 13

Vail Mountain: A winter wonderland of fresh powder, endless runs to choose from, mid-day lunch at the mountain peak & a perfect apres-ski environment to top off a long day of fun on the slopes.

Breakfast at the Lodge

To get out the door quick and ahead of the lift lines, I recommend eating a hardy breakfast at your accommodation. It's crucial to start your ski day with a protein-filled breakfast so you have fuel to explore the mountain during prime weather hours. And as a typical non-breakfast person, I understand the lack of desire to eat first thing in the morning, however trust me when I say even a little bowl of oatmeal or a couple of eggs goes a long way!

As far as lodging goes, during my past couple of visits to Vail I have stayed in the condos at the Antlers at Vail. It is very convenient to get to the mountain, located only 150 yards from the Eagle Bahn Gondola, which makes it especially nice if you're carry ski's to and from the lodge. The condo option is also a great way to save money and time in the realm of food when utilizing the route of groceries to meal prep breakfast in the morning, quick lunches, and in-house dinners to stay cozy.

Start the Fun

After you've gotten you're fuel, put your gear on, located lift tickets, maybe packed a lunch, you're ready to hit the slopes. I recommend starting out on the gondolas rather than the lifts to initially get up the mountain so you have more leeway on which direction you want to take down. Depending on where you're staying, gondola access will differ. If you're coming from Vail Village, you will want to take Gondola 1, and if you're coming from Lions Head, take Gondola 19 (Eagle Bahn). After you've made it up to the top, it's your journey from there! Though as you continue reading, I have made a guide on my personal favorite runs you're welcome to follow!

Run Guides

Front Side

Across the Mountain: Medium - Easy

Gondola 19 > Born free > Cubs Way > Avanti Express Lift > The Meadows > Mountaintop Express Lift > Christmas > Upper Lions Way > Avanti > Gitalong Road

Across the Mountain: Medium - Hard

Gondola 19 > Born free > Cubs Way > Avanti Express Lift > The Meadows > Look Ma > Mountain Express Lift > River Ridge

Quick Runs: Medium

Gondola 19 > Cubs Way > Simba > Safari
Gondola 19 > Cubs Way > Pride > Bwana
Gondola 19 > Born Free > The Preserve

Quick Runs: Medium - Hard

Gondola 1 > Ben's Face > Gitalong Road > Lindsey's > Pepi's Face
Gondola 1 > Upper Lions Way > Avanti > Gitalong Road > Giant Steps

Back Side - Blue Sky Basin

Pete's Bowl: Medium - Hard

Cloud 9 all the way
Cloud 9 > Bick Rock Park
Resolution > Cloud 9
Grand Review > Cloud 9

Lunch at Two Elk Lodge

Grab lunch at 11,000 feet for a mid-day break at Two Elk Lodge while enjoying your meal with an impeccable view of the mountains. Even if you've packed a lunch, taking a stop at this unique spot is a must!

Located at the top of the mountain near the back bowls, you can reach Two Elk from a couple of directions whether you're coming from the front side, blue sky basin, or back bowls as lifts #14, 36, and 9 all get you there.

Though it may be a hike to get there if you're not planning to ride Vail's back side, it is still worth the 10/10 experience to ride towards you're lunch destination and take a rest amongst a great atmosphere of skiers with lingering smiles from a great morning on the slopes.

Dinner in Vail Village & Lions Head

After a long day riding of up and down the mountain, it's time to unwind for dinner. As you may know, there are two main "villages" that lie at the foot of the mountain: Vail Village & Lions Head, where you can find restaurants, shops, outdoor ice-skating, and more.

Depending on where you're staying or coming from, there is an ongoing shuttle system between the two villages. If per say you are staying in Lions Head and want to head to Vail Village for dinner, you will find bus stops all around and a quick 5 minute ride will get there!

Here are a few of my favorite restaurants I recommend: