Vail vs Beaver Creek
Vail has more vertical (3,450 ft vs 3,340 ft); Vail has more skiable terrain (5,317 acres vs 2,082 acres); Vail has more snow in an average season (354 in. vs 325 in.). Both are on the Epic Pass. Snow usually peaks in January at both.
The mountains
| Vail | Beaver Creek | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | Colorado Rockies | Colorado Rockies |
| Vertical drop | 3,450 ft | 3,340 ft |
| Summit | 11,570 ft | 11,440 ft |
| Base | 8,120 ft | 8,100 ft |
| Skiable acres | 5,317 | 2,082 |
| Trails | 195 | 167 |
| Lifts | 31 | 25 |
| Average snowfall | 354 in. | 325 in. |
| Pass | Epic | Epic |
| Usual season | Nov 14 – Apr 19 | Nov 19 – Apr 12 |
| Fly into | EGE, DEN | EGE, DEN |
Resort statistics are approximate and change year to year.
Month by month
Typical snowfall, crowds and trip prices (flights and lodging against each resort's yearly average).
| Month | Snow | Crowds | Trip price |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 42 / 39 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -17% / -17% |
| December | 60 / 55 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +19% / +19% |
| January | 60 / 55 in. | Very busy / Very busy | +18% / +18% |
| February | 57 / 52 in. | Packed / Packed | +22% / +22% |
| March | 60 / 55 in. | Packed / Packed | +33% / +33% |
| April | 42 / 39 in. | Moderate / Moderate | -6% / -6% |
Pairs read Vail / Beaver Creek.
This week
- VailOpens ~Nov 22
- Beaver CreekOpens ~Nov 22
Grades for the next few days from Veabird's snow model, updated Oct 3, 19:00 UTC. Higher is better: A+ to F.
Good to know
- Vail: I-70 weekend traffic from Denver can add hours; fly into Eagle (EGE) when possible.
- Vail: Back Bowls usually open mid-December or later.
- Beaver Creek: Upscale, quieter alternative to Vail.
- Beaver Creek: Free warm cookies at 3 pm at the base.
Questions
- Is Vail or Beaver Creek better?
- Vail has more vertical (3,450 ft vs 3,340 ft); Vail has more skiable terrain (5,317 acres vs 2,082 acres); Vail has more snow in an average season (354 in. vs 325 in.). Both are on the Epic Pass. Snow usually peaks in January at both.
- Which is less crowded, Vail or Beaver Creek?
- They are about equally busy over the season (very busy on average).