One of the best ways to explore Vail’s rugged mountains, riverside paths and tree-lined trails is aboard your trusty bicycle. Whether you’re mountain biking, road biking, e-biking or anything in between, there’s a bikeway for every Vail visitor. Bike rentals for children and adults are available throughout Vail Village and Lionshead. For route ideas, get a map and ask for suggestions from local bike shops or the Welcome Centers.
Insider Tip: No matter the season and where you’re biking, be prepared for changes in the weather. Dress in layers and always pack a rain jacket. Water, snacks and sunscreen are a must.
Vail Mountain Biking
With a massive network of trails weaving through alpine meadows, dense forests and rugged mountain terrain, Vail provides an unforgettable adventure for those wanting to explore Colorado’s backcountry on two wheels.
Golden Gate on Vail Mountain
Rating: Easy
Golden Gate is one of the easier singletrack trails on Vail Mountain, and a favorite for those newer to mountain biking or looking to improve their skills. Access Golden Gate via Gondola One and ride down Mill Creek Road or take the Side Kick singletrack trail to the bottom of Chair 10. If you have the lungs and endurance, ride up Gitalong Road to Mill Creek Road from Vail Village to the base of Chair 10 (about 4 miles and 1,300 feet of vert). Once at the base of Chair 10, you’ll see the entrance to Golden Gate just to the west of Chair 10. Golden Gate is smooth and flowy, as it descends 1,000 vertical feet through Golden Peak. Fast straightaways along stands of quaking aspens and fun whoop-dee-doos keep it interesting. The trail is a wide singletrack with some fun twisty sections and bermed sides. Finish right near the top of the beginner Chair 12 lift at Golden Peak.
Eagle’s Nest to Lionshead or Mid Vail to Vail Village
Rating: Intermediate
The Eagle’s Nest trail is the longest, but most mellow route for mountain bikers on Vail Mountain. Take Gondola One or the Eagle Bahn Gondola up with your bike and follow the winding gravel roads as they traverse and descend the mountain. Either route is about 7 miles long, and you’ll be rewarded with outlooks of the storybook villages from above and Gore Range. For the route from top of Eagle’s Nest, follow Post Road to Cub’s Way to Gitalong Road into Lionshead Village. Or for the route from Mid Vail, follow Mill Creek Road all the way into Vail Village.
Radio Flyer on Vail Mountain
Rating: Intermediate
Accessed from the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, Radio Flyer is a fun, fast and flowy intermediate singletrack. It’s a buttery smooth trail, winding from Eagle’s Nest down through Vail’s lodgepole pine forests. Most of the rocks and roots have been removed, leaving an endless series of rollers and banked corners to play on. If you’re feeling confident, take the Lower 9 Line or Mane Lane expert singletrack options towards the end of the trail. Both end at the base of Lionshead Village, where you can head back up the Gondola for another lap.
Grand Traverse on Vail Mountain
Rating: Intermediate
The 8-mile Grand Traverse trail is famous among Colorado mountain bikers and one of Vail’s signature intermediate trails. It starts just south of the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola and weaves through Game Creek and Sun Down Bowls with sections of green forest and wide-open singletrack. The trail starts easy and then hits you with some challenging climbs as you gain more than 2,500 feet of elevation along the way. It’s well worth the effort for the views of the Sawatch Range, Mount of the Holy Cross and the kaleidoscopic wildflowers. The trail can be extended by taking one of the off-shoot trails along the way, including Cougar Ridge (into Minturn) or Mid Vail Escape to Side Kick to Golden Gate (down the front side of Vail Mountain). For a truly epic day, ride the 7 miles up Vail Mountain from the base the village before connecting with the Grand Traverse.
The North Trail
Rating: Intermediate
On the south side of the valley, the North Trail offers several mountain-biking options, depending on where you begin and end, as well as which direction you choose to ride. A favorite route is the western half, riding east to west (a tougher climb, but faster down). Park at Buffehr Creek Road to start an easy, smooth, gradual ascent through deep aspen forest. It’s thick and lush with lots of Colorado wildflowers and is a good singletrack climb for about 2 miles. Arrive to a meadow with one of the best views in the valley, stretching from the Gore Range all the way to the Holy Cross Wilderness. Start the descent with well over a mile of gradual turns through beautiful aspen forests. Arrive at a dirt road and head left for a quick escape to West Vail and back to your car.
Buffehr Creek Trail
Rating: Difficult
One of the more difficult rides for even experienced mountain bikers, Buffehr Creek Trail can be ridden from the Lost Lake Trailhead or from the bottom of Red Sandstone Road. Along the trail, you’ll ride past stunning mountain outlooks and an old cabin on a meadow. In summer, expect to see a rainbow of wildflowers as you wind along the path. Near the end, the trail plummets down an aspen-covered slope directly across from Vail. Enjoy the fast, fun ride on a steep trail before it ends at the intersection with the North Trail. Turn left (east) for another mile of singletrack that will eventually take you out to the road to head back to the trailhead.
Vail Road Biking
If a paved path is more your speed, there are plenty of paved trails that will get your blood pumping or enjoy an easier cruise while taking in the craggy peak views.
Vail Pass Bike Path
Rating: Difficult
Cyclists seeking a paved off-road route through spectacular mountain scenery will find just that on the epic Vail Pass Bike Path. The entire Vail Pass Bike Path runs along I-70 and connects Vail to Copper, and the route covers 14.2 miles (one way) and 1,500 feet of elevation gain. But there are a few ways to tackle riding Vail Pass, ranging from easy to difficult. The ultimate challenge is to ride from town up to the Vail Pass summit, sitting at a cool 10,554 feet. From the summit, you can either turn around and take the downhill back into Vail or ride down into Copper and then turn around and ride back up to the summit before descending into Vail.
Gore Creek Recreation Trail
Rating: Easy
For the more casual, recreational riders, the beautiful Gore Creek paved recreational trail offers miles and miles (12 miles total) of fun flat to rolling hills from the East Valley Trail on the western end and the Vail Pass Trail on the eastern end. Our favorite sections along the Gore Creek Trail include:
Gore Creek: Vail Village to Lionshead
Rating: Easy
From Vail Village, ride west towards Lionshead, meandering through the village (watch for mandatory dismount spots), by the hospital, in front of the Vail Library along the river and end in Lionshead. Follow the same route back headed east to Vail Village. This easy route is a perfect way to hop from one village to another.
Gore Creek: West of Lionshead to Donovan Park
Rating: Easy
From Lionshead, follow the path as it drops under the Eagle Bahn Gondola and meanders along Gore Creek. Headed west, the path is flat to downhill and flows through piney forested sections all the way to Donovan Park. This is a great spot to relax and grab a snack or picnic lunch before heading back to Lionshead. The path does continue past Donovan Park, right along North Frontage Road, heading past the Matterhorn and Intermountain neighborhoods before picking up again and heading all the way into Avon and Edwards.
Gore Creek: East of Vail Village
Rating: Easy
Catch the recreational trail headed east out of Vail Village at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola by Pirate Ship Park. It climbs a bit towards Golden Peak and then follows the road along the Vail Golf Course. Continue on with rolling hills and a steep descent, before turning right towards the Vail Golf Course Clubhouse. Some may choose to end there and turn around or continue on the road past the clubhouse until the road dead-ends. The recreational trail continues from there, following the golf course and Gore Creek, through meadows and aspen groves. There are benches and picnic tables along the way to stop and enjoy the view. The path ends in East Vail, just after crossing a bridge over Gore Creek, and you’re ready to turn around and ride the reverse. This section can be ridden either direction, and it’s a little more “uphill” going west to east.