Things to do in Vail in summer
The lifts keep running, the rivers come up, and the valley turns green. Summer is the season locals quietly prefer — and the one most visitors have never seen.
Green season
Rivers: Gore Creek and the Eagle
From Eagle County (EGE)
We book it all at no fee
The lifts keep running all summer
Ride up in ten minutes and walk out onto ridgelines that take a full day to reach on foot. The same gondolas that carry skiers in February carry hikers and bikes in July.
Epic Discovery
Zip lines, an alpine coaster and ropes courses on top of Vail Mountain. The single easiest way to fill a day with children of mixed ages.
Hiking
Booth Falls and the Gore Valley trail for an easy morning, Gore Range ridgelines for a serious day. Take the lift up if you would rather only walk down.
Mountain biking
Lift-served descents in the bike park, paved valley paths for an easy family ride, and long climbs for anyone who came for that.
Rivers, fairways and horseback
Whitewater rafting
The Eagle River and the Colorado, from gentle floats to genuine whitewater. June runs highest and fastest as the snow comes off the peaks.
Fly fishing
Gore Creek runs through the middle of Vail and holds rainbow and brown trout. Guided half days suit beginners; the guides know which bend is worth walking to.
Paddleboarding
Flat water on Nottingham Lake in Avon, five minutes from the Riverfront Gondola. Good for a slow afternoon that still counts as being outside.
Golf
Championship courses at eight thousand feet, where the ball flies further than you are used to. Prime tee times need booking ahead.
Horseback riding
Rides through wildflower meadows and quiet forest, from an hour to a half day. Works well for a group with mixed appetite for exertion.
ATV and backcountry tours
Guided routes into the high country above the valley, up old mining roads and out to views you cannot drive to.
Music, markets and things for children
Sunday farmers market
Produce, crafts and food stalls through the middle of Vail Village on summer Sundays. Go early, eat breakfast there, walk it off afterwards.
Bravo! Vail and festivals
Orchestras at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the GoPro Mountain Games, art walks and outdoor concerts. Vail’s summer calendar is busier than its winter one.
Camps and nature programs
Day camps and nature centre programs that give children a morning of their own and the adults a morning of theirs. Places go quickly in July.
Summer questions we get asked
Is Vail worth visiting in summer?
Yes, and it is a genuinely different holiday rather than a quieter version of the winter one. Hiking and lift-served biking, whitewater on two rivers, golf at altitude, and a festival calendar that runs from June to September. It is also considerably cheaper than the same week in February.
What is there to do in Vail in the summer?
Hiking the Gore Valley and Booth Falls trails, lift-served mountain biking in the bike park, Epic Discovery on top of the mountain, whitewater rafting and fly fishing on Gore Creek and the Eagle River, horseback riding, golf, paddleboarding on Nottingham Lake, and festivals such as Bravo! Vail and the GoPro Mountain Games.
When is the best time to come?
Late June through August is the reliable window, with warm days and the full events calendar. June has the highest rivers for rafting. September brings the aspens turning gold and far fewer people, which many guests prefer.
Do I need to worry about altitude?
Vail Village sits at roughly 8,150 feet, and the mountain tops go well above that. Drink more water than feels necessary on the first two days, take the first hike gently, and go easy on alcohol the first evening. Most people adjust within forty-eight hours.
What is the weather like?
Warm, dry days and cool evenings — you will want a jacket after sunset even in July. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and usually brief, which is why locals start hikes early and are back down by early afternoon.
Tell us what you want to do and we will book it
Rafting, tee times, guides and tickets. Concierge service is included with every Visit Vail stay and there is no service fee.