How to max your trip to Vail

Skiing powder at Vail. Photo by Connor Walberg

Vail made a big buzz in the ski world this season, actually reducing the price of the pass by 20%. This is good news for everyone who couldn’t quite afford a pass before, but maybe less welcome news for regulars at this already busy mountain. However, with day tickets still prohibitively priced and limited in number, it remains to be seen how the crowds will really change.

Even with the Epic Pass now cheaper, Vail is still an expensive trip. It’s not surprising that one of the biggest and best resorts in North America has such a steep entry fee. So if you’re making the journey to ski or ride this famous mountain, you definitely want to make the most of your time. Just a glance at the huge trail map, though, is enough to make your head spin. There’s no way to do it all in one trip, no matter your skill level. If you try to explore the whole mountain, you’ll likely waste time traversing and waiting on lifts for most of the day. Instead, you should single out zones to lap for half days or full days, only dealing with a handful of lifts. This way you’ll maximize your time––and your money––while also maxing out your legs.

Which zones you pick will of course depend on your skills and preferences, and there’s a lot to choose from. To help out, I compiled a FATMAP guide, complete with suggestions for beginner, intermediate, advanced, and experts. you can scroll around this map to visualize the mountain, but you’ll want to click for the larger map and full guide on FATMAP. Get the mobile app to use it on the go, and you won’t have to waste a minute of ride time at Vail!