Vail Mountain

Gondola One

Starts at the top of the Gondola One, on Vail's front face. Runs almost directly down the fall line for nearly 4 miles — you can see parts of it from the gondola. Finishes just above Vail Village.

Nearly 4 miles long — Vail's longest single run. Flows as a blue then transitions to black near the bottom. A true rite of passage.

Riva Ridge GoPro — full run, Vail Mountain

Avanti Express (Chair 2)

On Vail's front face, just west of Gondola One. The Avanti Express is one of the first chairs you reach from Vail Village — a 5 min walk from the gondola building.

Wide rolling descent with a satisfying natural rhythm. Skier's right stays ungroomed on powder days — delightful chaos.

Pride Express (Chair 26)

On the far western edge of Vail's front face, above Lionshead Village. The Pride Express is right at the base of Lionshead — step off the gondola and you're there.

Family favourite hugging the west boundary. Consistently wide all the way to Lionshead Village.

Simba Run POV — Vail, Colorado

Orient Express

Inside China Bowl on Vail's back side — a 20 min ski from the front face via the ridge. You reach it via the Orient Express chair which sits at the bowl's base. The back bowls face southeast and catch morning sun.

China Bowl at its sunniest. Wide open, best on a bluebird day — super-wide carving arcs on curved corduroy.

Eagle Bahn Gondola

On Vail's front face above Lionshead, directly below the Eagle Bahn Gondola line. Very easy to access and a great first run of the day.

Classic front-side groomer. Great for building speed and finding your mountain rhythm first thing.

Vail Born Free — 4K corduroy, first chair of the day

Game Creek Express

In Vail's quieter Game Creek Bowl area on the back of the mountain — far fewer people than the front face. You access it via the Game Creek Express chair, which is reached from the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola.

Hidden gem on the quieter Game Creek side. Excellent grooming, fraction of the crowds.

Northwoods Express

On the far eastern edge of Vail's front face. The Northwoods Express chair is at the base of the mountain east of the main gondola — quieter and often overlooked by visitors.

Tree-lined and atmospheric — quiet on weekdays with a pleasant pitch through dense aspen stands.

Born Free Express (Peak 2)

Born Free is probably the most filmed blue run in Colorado — its name reflects the feeling. Peak 2 is accessed by the Born Free Express from the base of Vail Village. The run is wide, consistent, and perfectly groomed every morning. One of the great first-chair experiences in skiing.

There are YouTube POV videos of this run that have six-figure view counts. That tells you everything. The first-chair corduroy grooming here is exceptional. Go early, go fast, lap it before the crowds arrive.

Avanti Express (Golden Peak area)

Cappuccino runs off the Avanti Express — one of Vail's main access lifts on the Golden Peak side. It's a longer intermediate blue with a consistent pitch and less traffic than the front-face runs. Good for building mileage mid-morning.

The Avanti Express area is where experienced Vail skiers go when the front face gets crowded. Cappuccino is the best intermediate option here — long enough to feel satisfying. The Golden Peak base lodge has excellent food.

Wildwood Express (Peak 5)

Pickeroon is on Peak 5 — the far end of Vail's front side and the gateway to the famous Back Bowls. The Wildwood Express serves this area. Pickeroon is a wide, gentle blue that loops back to the Wildwood base area.

Peak 5 is consistently the quietest area on Vail's front face. Pickeroon has the same grooming quality as the busier runs but half the crowds. The Back Bowls entrance is nearby — if conditions are good, check out Sundown Bowl (a gentle black that skis like a blue in powder).