Vail, CO
Home MenuVail Mountain Trails
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Trails on Vail Mountain
Length: Varies Difficulty: Varies Crowds: Varies
Vail Mountain offers many miles of hiking trails that are both accessible from Vail Village and Lionshead, as well as from Mid-Vail and Eagles Nest/Adventure Ridge.
See the Vail Mountain Hiking Website for more information.
North Trail (Cortina Lane to Buffehr Creek) (CLOSED April 15 – June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for North Trail (Cortina Lane to Buffehr Creek)
Length: 4.9 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
From the trailhead, walk 1/8 mile to the signed North Trail/Davos Trail junction and take a right onto the North Trail. After 1.3 miles of climbing, keep right on the North Trail. The trail continues to climb gently and then curves around into a drainage of mixed pine and aspen. The trail then reaches the section’s high point. From here the views to the south and west of Holy Cross Wilderness and the Gore Range are excellent. After winding through another drainage, the North Trail begins its descent into Buffehr Creek via a series of switchbacks. At the next signed junction, turn right to continue the descent to Buffehr Creek. Staying left takes you to Red Sandstone Road via the Buffehr Creek trail. At the bottom of the descent, turn left and follow the trail to the Buffehr Creek bridge. Turning right at the last junction allows you to loop back to Cortina Lane via Garmisch Drive.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: Travel west on I-70 to Exit 173 for West Vail. Proceed north from the roundabout on the north side of I-70. Turn left at the yield sign onto Chamonix Lane. At Arosa Drive, turn right and veer right onto Davos Trail. Take the next right on to Cortina Lane, which will take you to the trailhead. There is limited parking at the end of the road. Please obey parking signage.
Bus to Hike: Take the free West Vail Red bus and get off at the Chamonix bus stop. Walk up Chamonix Lane to Arosa Drive to Cortina Lane for 1 mile and you will see the Davos Trailhead.
Trail Adopted By: Vail Public Safety, Vail Recreation District, East West Partners, Town of Vail Employees, Marriott Streamside
North Trail (Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone) (CLOSED April 15 – June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for North Trail (Buffehr Creek to Red Sandstone)
Length: 3.7 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
From the Buffehr Creek trailhead, cross the bridge and proceed about 1/4 mile before turning right at the first junction (the trail to the left takes you to Garmisch Drive). Continue north approximately another 1/2 mile, ascending a series of switchbacks, to the North Trail junction and stay right. After passing a beaver pond on the right, cross Buffehr Creek. From Buffehr Creek, climb steeply for approximately one mile on an open hillside. At the top of the switchbacks, take the right fork to stay on the North Trail (the Buffehr Creek Trail departs the North Trail and heads left/north). From here the trail enters an aspen stand, and openings along the way provide scenic views to the south and east. Begin the descent to Red Sandstone via a series of switchbacks where the stand of aspen begins to thin. The first couple switchbacks offer outstanding views of the Gore Range and the Red Sandstone drainage.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: Travel west on I-70 to Exit 173 for West Vail. Turn right and proceed east on the North Frontage Road for 0.5 miles to Buffehr Creek Road. Turn left and continue to the trailhead on the left. There is limited parking at this trailhead.
Bus to Hike: Take the free West Vail Red bus and get off at the Buffehr Creek bus stop. Walk up Buffehr Creek Road a 1/4 mile and you will see the Buffehr Creek Trailhead.
Trail Adopted By: Vail Public Safety, Vail Recreation District, East West Partners, Town of Vail Employees, Marriott Streamside
North Trail (Red Sandstone to Son of Middle Creek) (CLOSED April 15 – June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for North Trail (Red Sandstone to Son of Middle Creek)
Length: 3.5 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
Follow switchbacks as you climb steadily for about 1.5 miles to an intersection with the Son of Middle Creek Trail #2136. Views from here are excellent as this is one of the two highest points on the entire length of the North Trail. Stay right here and descend the Son of Middle Creek trail to the Spraddle Creek trailhead on the north side of the I-70, Exit 176.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: From Exit 176 for Vail, travel west about 1 mile on the North Frontage Road to Red Sandstone Road. Turn right onto Red Sandstone Road and proceed for 1.3 miles to a gate and the second of two intersections with the North Trail. This is the trailhead on the right.
Bus to Hike: Take the free Sandstone bus and get off at the Vail View/Red Sandstone bus stop. Walk up Potato Patch Road to USFS Red Sandstone Road for 1 1/4 miles and you will see the North Trail/Son of Middle Creek Trailhead.
Trail Adopted By: Vail Public Safety, Vail Recreation District, East West Partners, Town of Vail Employees, Marriott Streamside
Son of Middle Creek (CLOSED April 15 – June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Son of Middle Creek
Length: 3.6 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
Son of Middle Creek trail ascends the hillside on the north side of I-70, offering views of Vail Mountain and the Town of Vail. After a mile, it crosses a bridge over Middle Creek in a cool spruce/fir forest. This is a great destination for families. The trail continues climbing after the bridge to its junction with the North Trail at 2 miles, then gradually meanders through a lodgepole pine forest for another 1.5 miles to its terminus at Lost Lake Road.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail and cross under I-70 to the north side of the high-way. At the roundabout, take the Spraddle Creek Road exit. The parking lot for Son of Middle Creek trail is 100 yards ahead on the left.
Trail Adopted By: RA Nelson, Town of Vail Employees
Lower Piney Trail
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Lower Piney Trail
Length: 3.0 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
The Lower Piney Trail follows the Piney River downstream through meadows and aspen forests. At mile 1, the Wash Holland trail veers right. Stay left here. At mile 3.0, the trail enters a large meadow where the Piney River and Meadow Creek merge. An old homestead marks this site. Please respect this valued piece of Eagle County history by not disturbing the cabin remains.
To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. Dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness – regulations are posted at the trailhead.
Crowds: Light.
Access: From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left. At mile 6.5 you will pass Red and White Mtn Road-FSR 734. At mile 6.7 you will pass the Lost Lake Trail parking lot on the right and then reach an intersection where the Muddy Pass/Moniger Road goes left. Stay right here. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some don’t, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see the trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left.
Meadow Mountain
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Meadow Mountain
Length: 4.8 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
The Meadow Mountain trail follows an old logging road above Dowd Junction. Popular year-round, the trail is family and dog friendly. It climbs through meadows that were once home to a very prosperous lettuce farm. Views span from the Gore Range to Tennessee Pass. From the top of Meadow Mountain, you can descend the Whiskey Creek trail, then turn right on the Everkrisp trail for a 10.1 mile loop that will return you to the Meadow Mountain trailhead.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Exit here and turn right (south). Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. The trail begins from the south end of the parking lot near the white house.
Trail Adopted By: Pedal Power
Everkrisp (CLOSED Through June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Everkrisp
Length: 4.8 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
The Everkrisp trail opened in 2019 and splits from the Meadow Mountain trail after 0.4 mile. It ascends through meadows, aspen, and conifer forests, offering views in all directions until it meets the Whiskey Creek trail at mile 2. Continue on the Everkrisp trail, climbing slightly before descending into EagleVail and meeting the Stone Creek trail at mile 4.
Crowds: Moderate.
Access: Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Exit here and turn right (south). Just past the interstate look for a large parking lot on the right. The trail begins from the south end of the parking lot near the white house.
Two Elk (CLOSED May 6 – June 20)
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Two Elk
Length: 10 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
The Two Elk National Recreation Trail climbs out of Minturn and follows the creek and enters Vail’s Back Bowls. The trail passes three chairlifts and continues climbing to Two Elk Pass before descending to the Vail Pass Recreation Path above East Vail. Scenic vistas of Mount of the Holy Cross and Battle Mountain are prevalent throughout the hike.
Crowds: Light to moderate.
Access: Travel west on I-70 to exit 171 for Minturn, Leadville, and Highway 24. Merge right and travel south 2.7 miles and turn left onto Cemetery Road. Cross the bridge and tracks and proceed onto FSR# 762. Follow this rough, dirt road about 1.8 miles until it ends at the trailhead.
Trail Adopted By: Manor Vail Lodge (East) and Slifer Smith & Frampton (West)
Upper Piney River Trail
Town of Vail Hiking Information for Upper Piney River Trail
Length: 3.0 miles (one way) Difficulty: Moderate
From the trailhead, it is a gradual climb for about 3 miles to a cascading waterfall which makes a good destination for the average hiker. Views of the Gore Range abound. Where the trail switchbacks, please stay on the trail and do not cut the switchbacks.
To avoid trampling sensitive vegetation and to prevent soil erosion, please stay on the trail at all times. Dogs are permitted, but must be kept on a leash in order to protect wildlife and the hiking experience of other trail users. This trail enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness – regulations are posted at the trailhead.
Crowds: Very high.
Access: From I-70, take Exit 176 for Vail. Take the North Frontage Road west to Red Sandstone Road. Turn north here and follow the paved road about 0.7 miles to a fork with a dirt road on the left. There should be a Forest Service sign indicating this is Red Sandstone Road #700 (Reset your odometer here). Continue up this road about 2.7 miles to an intersection with the Lost Lake Road (#786) and continue left. At mile 6.5 you will pass Red and White Mtn Road-FSR 734. At mile 6.7 you will pass the Lost Lake Trail parking lot on the right and then reach an intersection where the Muddy Pass/Moniger Road goes left. Stay right here. (Some maps show the Red Sandstone Road changing number from FSR 700 to FSR 701 at this point, and some don’t, but regardless, you stay right to get to Piney Lake and the Upper Piney River Trail). At mile 9.1, you will cross the Piney River and see a trailhead for Lower Piney River Trail - FDT 1885 on the left. Stay right and reach a Forest Service parking lot on the right at mile 10.65 before the entrance to Piney River Ranch (private property). The trailhead is on the north side (left side of the parking lot as one faces the Piney River Ranch entrance) of the parking lot. If visiting the ranch, you can drive further to their parking lot. Parking is very limited at this trailhead.