Beaver Creek Attractions

Beaver Creek Mountain
Early prospectors originally wanted to make Beaver Creek into a ski resort destination, but a family refused to sell the necessary land – Vail was chosen instead. Many years (and one crucial sale) later, Beaver Creek is quickly catching up to its famous neighbor. Beaver Creek Mountain’s skiing is fantastic – runs such as the Birds of Prey are renowned among international competitors. The mountain boasts 1,625 skiable acres with 146 runs (27 percent expert, 39 percent intermediate, and 34 percent beginner). The skiing is different enough from Vail Mountain’s that it complements any Vail vacation (the lift tickets are interchangeable); the mountain is also a great escape from lengthy lift lines on Vail Mountain. Beaver Creek is approximately 15 minutes west of Vail.

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, situated at an elevation of 8,200 feet, is purportedly the world’s highest public botanic garden. Over 600,000 annual visitors learn about high elevation plants and ecosystems as they peruse the Children’s Environmental Garden, Schoolhouse Garden, Alpine Tundra Garden, Mountain Perennial Garden, Mountain Meditation Garden, and Alpine Rock Garden. The botanic garden also hosts a variety of programs geared towards children or adults, and a horticultural therapy program for the disabled. A children’s amphitheater and the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater provide further educational opportunities for guests. There is no admission fee to enter the botanic garden, but donations are appreciated. The gardens are located at 530 S. Frontage Road in Ford Park.

Biking
Mountain biking and cycling are popular summertime activities for all skill levels in Vail. One of the most difficult rides is the 30-mile Vail Pass Bikeway, which climbs over 2,000 feet in elevation. Many bikers take Vail Mountain’s Eagle Bahn Gondola up to Adventure Ridge, where trails like the Grand Traverse (moderate) offer spectacular views of the back bowls, Mount of the Holy Cross, and the Gore and Tenmile ranges. The Lost Lake Trail is another popular ride, running along Red Sandstone Road to Piney Lake. The Village Trail is easier than any of the aforementioned, and provides cyclists with outstanding views of Vail Valley and Gorge Range.

Colorado Ski Museum & Ski Hall of Fame
The Colorado Ski Museum and Ski Hall of Fame, located just off of Interstate 70 (exit 176) within the Transportation Center, explores the skiing heritage of Colorado and the people that made an impact on the sport. Hundreds of items and exhibits depict the evolution of ski equipment – from the 1800s miners’ and trappers’ implements to today’s high-tech gear. Guests marvel at the primitive skis, bindings, and clothing that people once wore to brave the slopes. Even old ski lifts are on display – a testament to the bravery of early mountain adventurers. There is also a room devoted to the Tenth Mountain Division, a sector of the U.S. Army trained in Colorado for ski warfare. Call the museum at (800) 950-7410 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Festivals
Vail Valley hosts a number of festivals throughout the year. World-class orchestral and chamber music resonates through the mountains late June through early August at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. The 11-week Vail Jazz Festival concludes with the Labor Day Weekend Party, which boasts internationally renowned jazz musicians in an intimate performance setting. September’s Oktoberfest features music and street entertainment, German cuisine, and a seemingly endless supply of German beer. A similar festival, the Vail Block Party, offers food, beer, and live music in mid-July. The Vail Festival of Lights, which takes place in December, includes World Cup ski competitions, Christmas ice skating shows, and sparkling light displays.

Fishing
The streams and lakes in and around Vail provide abundant opportunities to snag rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and brook trout in the summer. Gore Creek, one of Vail’s most popular angling destinations, runs directly through the town. The Eagle River, located in the Holy Cross Wilderness, provides a great catch and scenic views. Black Lakes, near the summit of Vail Pass, provides enough shoreline for the whole family to enjoy the day and is chock-full of rainbow trout – try fishing on the western shore of the upper lake, or find more of a challenge on the less accessible southern and eastern shores. Piney Lake, just a 40-minute drive from Vail, provides anglers with ample fish from its subalpine waters and a gorgeous backdrop of Gore Range’s highest peaks.

Hiking
The areas around Vail, including the White River National Forest, Holy Cross Wilderness Area, and Eagles Nest Wilderness Area, offer countless hiking opportunities. Those looking to stay in the Vail Mountain area should take a gondola ride up to Eagles View (easy) or Berrypicker (moderate) to see spectacular panoramic views, wildlife, and colorful wildflowers. Locals and visitors enjoy the moderate Pitkin Lake and Booth Creek trails, both which begin in Vail and end in the Eagles Nest Wilderness. Along the way, hikers encounter rushing waterfalls, wildflowers, and lakes. The Notch Mountain Trail, a difficult hike that elevates close to 3,000 feet, offers an unparalleled view of the snowy cross on Mount of the Holy Cross.

Tenth Mountain Division Huts System
The Tenth Mountain Division, a sector of the U.S. Army devoted to ski warfare, trained at Colorado’s Camp Hale during World War II. The Tenth Mountain Division Huts System is named after these brave men and comprised of 350 miles of trails. These routes intersect with 29 backcountry huts. Backcountry skiers, hikers, and bikers can follow these trails and stop for a sheltered rest at any of the huts (for a fee). The huts are primitively outfitted with only basic necessities, but those who enjoy the outdoors and cherish self-reliance will find that the shelters are a perfect complement to the challenging backcountry trails.

Vail Golf Club
The Vail Golf Club is a gorgeous, 18-hole mountain course with greenside and fairway bunkers that necessitate accurate shots. The 14th hole, its signature, challenges players with woods and water situated along the whole left side of the fairway and a bunker and thicket of trees on the right – only a straight and accurate shot will make par. If players make it through this hole unscathed, they are up against the most challenging tee shot on the course at the 15th hole. The golf club offers all the amenities expected of a premier golfing venue and a variety of instructional options, including a three-day golf school, adult clinics, junior programs, and private lessons with a PGA professional. The golf club is located at 1778 Vail Valley Drive. Call the golf club at (888) 709-3939 to reserve tee time (up to six months in advance with a credit card guarantee).

Vail Mountain
Some of the finest skiing in the world is found at Vail Mountain – legendary for the powdery paradise of its Back Bowls. All skill levels enjoy this mountain – the front side alone boasts 989 acres of beginner and intermediate trails. One of the newest additions to the mountain, Blue Sky Basin, provides seemingly endless glade runs for experts and intermediates in virtually untouched terrain. This mountain boasts it all, from beginner and cruising slopes to moguls, bowls, and glades – with 193 trails, 33 lifts, and an average of two skiers per acre. Adventure Ridge, an activity center accessible via the Eagle Bahn Gondola, offers a number of nonskiing winter activities such as ice skating, tubing, snowmobile tours, and ski biking; try a summertime jaunt up to the center for fantastic mountain biking.

Vail Nature Center
The Vail Nature Center is a hot spot for outdoor educational activities in the summer. It hosts a number of treks into the woods to experience plant and animal life – the Morning Bird Walk, Nature’s Medicine Chest and Pantry, and daily Wildflower Walk are a few examples. The Fly Fishing and Stream Ecology classes teach basic techniques necessary for successful fly fishing – including tips about the kind of lures that make fish bite. The Beaver Pond Tours, which take place in the early evening, teach individuals and families about the lives and habits of these curious animals before observing them in action. Bright Stars and Flaming Marshmallows – which offers a short nighttime hike into the woods, s’mores, and wild stories told around a campfire – is another family favorite. Call the nature center at (970) 479-2291 for additional information about any of its programs.