If you are planning a summer visit to Vail Valley in Colorado, there are several activities that should not be missed!
More information about safety protocols and why Eagle County is strong and ready can be found here: https://www.visitvailvalley.com/health/
Horseback riding with…
Beaver Creek Stables
If you are looking for a peaceful, relaxing, outdoor activity, Beaver Creek Stables is the ideal place. It offers beautiful and scenic horseback rides that allow you to get a taste of the Old West, through some of Colorado’s most breathtaking trails. Unique trails are chosen to ensure that rides are the most enjoyable for guests.
Choose from a one-hour ride, a two-hour ride, a three-hour picnic ride, a ride to Beaver Lake, or a ride to Beano’s Cabin for dinner. To experience a luxurious and most pleasant ride, try the sunset ride to Beaver Creek Mountain.
Bearcat Stables
Bearcat Stables in Edwards will make your Colorado vacation extraordinary. They specialize in horseback rides and family fun for all ages. Bearcat Stables will let you experience the immaculate beauty of the Rocky Mountains through scenic and breathtaking ride tours.
Choose rides from a one-hour ride up to four-hour rides. The field is easily navigable for people of all ages and skill levels. The terrain includes wide-open meadows full of wildflowers and aspen trees. Sightings of wildlife, including red-tailed hawks and trophy size mule deer bucks, are frequent around these areas.
Family fun theme park at such great heights with Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park
Head to Glenwood Springs and take a scenic gondola ride to the top of Iron Mountain where you will discover Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, which takes fun to another level. The park features various thrill rides, a variety of family-friendly attractions, and cavern tours. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is America’s only mountain-top theme park and western Colorado’s number one, must-see attraction. Nestled on the edge of Glenwood Canyon, the Park is located 1,300 feet above the Colorado River, which allows you to see panoramic views of the Canyon and its surroundings.
After an exciting experience at Glenwood Caverns, treat yourself with an authentic soaking experience at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Located alongside the Colorado River and surrounded by Rocky Mountain views in Glenwood Springs, Iron Mountain Hot Springs is a family-friendly recreational facility that features 16 natural mineral pools, a large freshwater family pool, and a jetted spa. It is the ideal place to relax, restore, and rejuvenate.
Splashdown the rivers with Sage Outdoor Adventures
Sage Outdoor Adventures is the perfect company that gives a true Colorado experience. They offer outdoor excursions throughout the Vail Valley. Sage operates on a 6,000-acre private mountain ranch, 20 minutes from Vail, which features amazing views, stunning terrain, and wildlife. Sage’s expert guides will take you away from the busy resort to explore Colorado’s rivers in a raft, kayak, or tubes. An adventure day typically includes a shuttle up the river followed by a relaxing float back to the Canyons restaurant.
Canyons, located in Dotsero, has access to the Colorado River. The restaurant’s menu features pizza, salads, and sandwiches. Canyons Restaurant also offers rentals on rafts, stand-up paddleboards, and tubes.
Bomb it down the fairways with…
Eagle Ranch Golf Club
Whether you are visiting Vail Valley for business or leisure, make a round golf one of your top priorities. Eagle Ranch Golf Club is a terrific choice for regular rounds of golf or a new destination to hang out with friends when visiting Eagle, Colorado. It is situated in the stunning Brush Creek Valley with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The 18-hole course features open, rolling fairways that lead to large greens. Eagle Ranch also offers Par and Birdie camps, which include games and fitness activities that allow kids to engage in a safe and thrilling golf setting.
EagleVail Golf Course
EagleVail Golf Course offers beauty and convenience. Located just a few minutes away from Vail and Beaver Creek, it is one of the reasons people love to visit the Vail Valley. The golf course is the perfect combination of gentle river and a challenging mountain course that offers players of all skill levels a thrilling experience. EagleVail Golf Course has 18 holes and expansive views of the Gore Range and surrounding peaks of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Other public courses in the Vail Valley include:
Exploring history, scenic mountains on ATV’s with Nova Guides
Enjoy a fantastic and exhilarating ATV ride with the Vail Valley’s favorite outdoor recreation company. Nova Guides offers an impressive number of thrilling activities for the entire family. Their ATV & side-by-side tours allow for multiple ways to explore the backcountry. All guests are given vehicle and safety instructions, which makes the experience convenient for any skill level. Starting at 9,200 feet, the off-road trails can take you to elevation heights of 12,000 feet. One of their special tours takes customers to Historic Camp Hale where the 10th Mountain Army Division trained. The tour features views of four different mountain ranges.
All guided ATV tours last two hours on the trail. The morning and the midday tours include lunch at McAllister’s Grill, a scenic lodge at Camp Hale.
Escape to the most scenic high alpine lake in a canoe with Piney River Ranch
One of the most pleasant ways to spend a day in the Vail Valley is by visiting Piney River Ranch, which is situated on acres of White River National Forest. It is abundant with wildlife and it has breathtaking views of the Gore Range. Piney River Ranch offers visitors the opportunity to explore Piney Lake in a canoe or stand up paddleboarding (SUP). The calm water and Colorado’s fresh air allows for a relaxing and peaceful adventure.
Piney Lake is also the perfect destination for lake fishing. Piney River Ranch anglers can chase almost every species of trout found in Colorado (Brookies, Browns, Cutthroat, and Rainbow trout).
Stop by the Lodge Restaurant and Bar, which offers Vail’s finest barbecue fare. Their menu includes salads, freshly-smoked meats, and side dishes made daily. At the restaurant, you will enjoy a wonderful meal with an unobstructed view of the stunning lake and its surroundings.
Piney River Ranch is located 12 miles from West Vail at the end of Red Sandstone Road. The road is not paved and about 10 miles of the drive are on a rutted, dirt road. However, a four-wheel drive is not necessary. Allow at least 45 minutes from the start of the dirt road to get to Piney River Ranch.
Exploring the mountains on e-bikes with Venture Sports & Charter Sports
Located in the heart of the Vail Valley, Venture Sports, and Charter Sports ideal locations for bike rentals while you visit the gorgeous Rocky Mountains. Explore miles of paved and dirt track trails that offer wonderful scenery. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can enjoy miles of rolling single track and breathtaking views. For a memorable experience, rent an electronic bike and take a thrilling ride while covering a lot of ground. These electronic cruisers are designed for relaxing riding on the bike paths and are the most exciting way to spend quality time with family and friends.
Soaring from cliff to cliff with Zip Adventures
Join Zip Adventures for a high flying zipline excursion. Zip Adventures offers a blend of a variety of outdoor activities. It is a different and thrilling way to enjoy, appreciate, and explore the stunning Vail Valley landscape. The zip line course at Zip Adventures offers the best ground-to-ground lines in the country. Each course gives you a different graduating progression of excitement and adrenaline; the farther you go, the higher the exhilaration.
Fishing float trips with Vail Valley Anglers
For anglers seeking quiet time and incredible views, a guided float fishing trip is one of the most enjoyable adventures in the Vail Valley. Choose from a full-day and a half-day float trip, which gives you the opportunity to explore three different rivers, the Gold medal stretches of the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers. Full-day float trips provide you with more than six hours of fishing on the water. Guided float fishing trips have access to distant areas that can only be reached by boats. Float trips are a fantastic way for the whole family to spend a day on the river together. Early morning half-day trips are ideal for beating the heat and crowds and afternoon trips are perfect to soak in the sun and enjoy a sunny weather out on the river.
*Please book a few days to weeks in advance. Reservations are filling fast.
If you want to explore the Vail Valley in a different way. Check out these scenic hikes in the Vail Valley.