EXPLORE VAIL, COLORADO WITH THESE TOP ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS
Vail is home to the famous Vail Ski Resort, but you’re seriously limiting yourself if you don’t explore all the activities in Vail, Colorado: whitewater rafting in the Vail Valley, snowmobiling near Vail, and did you know that we here at Sage offer the best ATV tours in Vail?
Keep riding to find out just how close our various activities are to this quintessential Colorado tourist town, and other attractions and things to do close by.
Choose Your Own Vail Area Adventure: Rafting, Snowmobiling or ATVing
Whitewater Rafting
Our Gore Creek – Vail Village whitewater rafting trip on class III rapids goes right through the heart of Vail Village. Take in the stunning scenery of the Gore Range, see waterfalls cascading off cliffs, and much more. Guests meet at the Lionshead Welcome Center or the Welcome Center on top of the Vail Village parking structure for this Vail white waterrafting trip.
The Lower Eagle whitewater rafting trip, also on class III rapids, offers a short but sweet rafting season just minutes from Vail. The Lower Eagle River flows through a 2,000-foot canyon! Guests are picked up in Avon, close to Vail.
The above two rafting trips are closest to Vail, but we have other Colorado rafting trips a driving distance away! Serious whitewater rafters may want to consider The Numbers with its class IV rapids; the Sage Arkansas River Outpost is about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the Vail area.
Snowmobiling
Come snowmobile in Vail with us! We have a private mountain for our Vail snowmobile tours that is ideal for families, first-timers, and for those more experienced with the sport. Take a two-hour adventure tour with Sage that offers views of five ski areas, seven mountain ranges, and the Continental Divide. For those more experienced, we offer a performance tour.
We make snowmobiling in Vail easy by offering to pick up guests at their accommodations if needed in Vail, Beaver Creek, or Avon. Otherwise, guests meet us at our snowmobiling facility in Wolcott, about 30 minutes from Vail.
ATV Tours
ATV tours near Vail, Colorado are yet another way to explore the beautiful terrain this area of the state has to offer. We ride on 20,000 acres of land on exclusive side-by-side trails just for you. You drive your own machine, we lead the way for our two-hour tours.
Although Sage operates out of several locations throughout Colorado, our main ATV base is seven miles north of Wolcott, which is roughly a 30 to 45-minute drive from the Vail area.
And did you know? We also have Vail fly fishing >>
Discover More to Enjoy & Explore in Vail, Colorado
In addition to the Vail Ski Resort, you may want to add one or more of the following attractions and activities to your Vail vacation:
Colorado Snowsports Museum
It’s yet another way to take a deep dive into the snowsports that the Vail region is known for: The highly rated Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall of Fame serves up informative displays about the Vail Valley, the ski industry and snowsports in general, and they have an array of military artifacts worth seeing. Guests also rave about the 10th Mountain Division exhibit.
Vail Brewing Company
If you love some tacos with your beer you’ll find a lot to love about the Vail Brewing Company, which not only has great brews, but a taco truck parked just outside. Sit in their partially covered outdoor area that has views of the mountains. Dogs and kids are welcome!
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens
Did you know that one of the world’s highest botanical gardens is located in Vail? The Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, which actually comprises five distinctive gardens, sit at an altitude of 8,200 feet! This place is a playground for anyone who appreciates nature, plants, waterfalls, water features, and statues. They also have a children’s play area, an amphitheater, a museum, an education center, and a gift shop.
Bonus tip: The Vail Nature Center and Vail Valley Drive (road known for luxury properties) are situated right by the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, on the other side of Gore Creek; there’s even a walkable bridge.
Booth Falls Trail
If you love outdoor adventures in Colorado – and who doesn’t? – you must add Booth Falls Trail to your Vail, Colorado vacation itinerary. This trail is about 10 miles roundtrip with a 3,000-foot elevation gain from the trailhead to the summit, and a 60-foot waterfall about two miles into the trail.
Bonus tip: Experienced hikers may also want to look into Deluge Lake Trail, a difficult hike with a steep and rocky incline and gorgeous views of the Gore Creek Valley. Beginner hikers may want to stick to Shrine Ridge Trail, also in Vail, known for its wildflowers.
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Do outdoor concerts get any better than when they’re coupled with views of the Rocky Mountains? That’s the experience you can look forward to each summer at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, an outdoor venue in Vail that features musical and theater performances and more productions each year.