Archived ski notes: Vail Mountain

Ski area Gondola One

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.

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Ski area Avanti Express (Chair 2)

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

Ski area Pride Express (Chair 26)

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

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Ski area Orient Express

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

Ski area Eagle Bahn Gondola

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

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Ski area Game Creek Express

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

Ski area Northwoods Express

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

Ski area Born Free Express (Peak 2)

Consistently gentle — Vail's most famous easy cruiser, wide open corduroy, 4K POV views

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.

Ski area Avanti Express (Golden Peak area)

Mostly gentle — a long intermediate cruiser on the Golden Peak side, less busy than Game Creek

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.

Ski area Wildwood Express (Peak 5)

Consistently gentle — a wide easy blue in the Back Bowls approach area, excellent for families

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).