A ride in the Vail Gondola is an experience of a lifetime! Let the Eagle Bahn in Lionshead Village or Gondola One in Vail Village race you to extraordinary views on top of Vail Mountain! Here, the entire family will enjoy breathtaking scenery of the Rocky Mountains and Mount of the Holy Cross.
Riding the Vail gondola in the summer is an entertaining way to see a unique view of Vail Valley, and you’re surrounded by the New York, Gore and Sawatch Mountains. Once at the top you can take a short hike, enjoy lunch and snap a few photos of the breathtaking scenery.
Location: The Vail gondola is located on Lionshead Circle in Vail, in the heart of the pedestrian neighborhood.
Choose from either the Eagle Bahn or Gondola One. Both are located at either Lionshead Village or Vail Village respectivly.
Gondola Ride up to Mid-Vail in Summer
Read also: Your Visit to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
Gondola Details and Schedule
Gondola One (#1) will start spinning daily on June 14th, and Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) will start spinning daily on June 21st.
Hours: June 2nd through October 1st, 2017. Daily 9am-9pm. Weekends only and limited hours in early June and September.
Prices: $36 for adults, $31 for seniors (65 years +).
Again, this summer all kids can ride the Vail Mountain gondola free with the purchase of an adult or senior lift ticket. Guess get one free child ticket with every full-price adult ticket purchased. For gondola-only tickets, one child age 12 or under rides free with the purchase of each adult ride ticket.
Stop by one of our 2 ticket office locations located in Vail and Lionshead village. Vail’s gondolas aren’t free, but you can purchase gondola tickets online or at the Vail Village and Lionshead ticket offices. Adventure Passes for Epic Discovery include a gondola ticket.
Read also: Comprehensive Vail Resorts Overview
In addition to Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19), which goes to Eagle’s Nest and Epic Discovery from Lionshead Village, Gondola One (#1) departs Vail Village to take you to Mid-Vail at 10,250 feet, which has stunning vantage points and dining.
Absolutely. Mornings often have calmer weather and shorter lines. Spend this summer sightseeing from above!
*Epic 1-7 Day Passes do not include summer scenic lift rides. Summer scenic lift rides begin when resorts open for summer operations.
Important Note:
Pets are restricted from riding either the Eagle Bahn or Gondola One.
Consistent with the requirements of the Americans with disabilities act and in the interest of the safety of guests, employees and other individuals accessing the mountain, if an individual with a service dog need to ride a chair lift, the service dog must be harnessed, leashed or tethered to the handler at all times while on the lift. The service dog must be unable to move on its own to help prevent the dog from jumping or falling off of the lift, potentially onto a person below, or posing a safety risk to guests or employees using the lift. In addition, the handler must be unhindered by the service animal and able to negotiate and use the lift safely, including loading and unloading the chair properly.
Read also: Vail Ski Club Benefits
Some of our properties are pet friendly.
Enjoy spectacular views from Beaver Creek's Centennial Express Chairlift. Once at the top you can enjoy hiking and mountain biking trails, lunch at the Spruce Saddle, and a disc golf course.
Epic Discovery at Adventure Ridge
Once at the top of the mountain, the fun doesn't stop there. Guests can purchase a ticket or a day pass to experience Vail's signature summer experience called Epic Discovery.
Epic Discovery at Adventure Ridge does not have an official opening day yet. Epic Discovery at Adventure Ridge - located at the top of Vail Mountain near Eagle’s Nest - offers some of the most thrilling Vail summer activities for families.
Find outdoor amusement for all ages, from heart-pumping action to more leisurely pursuits. daily, June through Labor Day weekend, and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in September.
The best way to experience all the fun at Vail Mountain’s Epic Discovery for one bundled price is to purchase an Adventure Pass. The pass includes three total rides on the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster and one-day unlimited use of all the other attractions that you meet the age, height and weight requirements for. It offers excellent value for families who want to do multiple activities throughout the day, and you can choose a lunch option that comes with a coupon to use for mountaintop food and beverage.
Yes, a scenic gondola ticket or an Adventure Pass is required to access Vail Adventure Ridge on the mountaintop. Your Adventure Pass includes a ride up the mountain, giving you direct access to Epic Discovery.
You can pick up your Epic Discovery Adventure Pass or purchase gondola tickets at the Lionshead ticket office, then ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) to Eagle’s Nest.
Activities at Epic Discovery
Vail Mountain offers bike hauls, scenic gondola rides, and several activities at Adventure Ridge, located at the top of Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19). Once you’ve had your fill of Epic Discovery excitement, enjoy a blend of adventure, nature and Vail mountaintop dining.
Start with the Nature Discovery Center, an all-season yurt offering unique exhibits about wildlife and free guided nature hikes led by naturalists - choose from an easy or moderate outing.
When hunger hits, Eagle’s Nest offers plenty of casual options. Grab burgers, hot dogs or chicken tenders at Talon’s Grill - home to Vail’s largest deck, order drinks from Bistro 14’s bar or indulge in a pick-me-up of coffee or ice cream at Simba’s Café.
Embark on an exhilarating climb at Vail’s rock-realistic, 35-foot-tall climbing wall atop Vail Mountain’s Eagle’s Nest. This thrilling adventure is designed for climbers of all skill levels, offering a diverse...
If you’re looking to add some family-friendly fun to your summer agenda, a friendly round of putt-putt golfing at Gore Creek Mini Golf is the perfect outing - and some...
Prepare yourself for an exhilarating summer adventure at Vail’s renowned 550-foot tubing hill, where excitement and fun combine to create an unforgettable experience for adventurers of all ages. This dynamic...
When it comes to summer family fun, Marmot Kids Tubing in Vail is the perfect addition to any Vailcation - and an excellent opportunity to try summer tubing in Colorado....
Climb aboard The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster and wind 3,400 feet down Vail Mountain, carving through thick forests and along steep slopes. You control the speed as you dip between...
Tips for Your Visit
Fully enclosed footwear (no heel straps) is required for all activities - think tennis shoes or hiking boots. Be aware that mountain weather changes quickly and there is usually at least a 10-degree temperature difference from the bottom to the top of the gondola. Bring a raincoat or light jacket and dress in layers.
At an elevation of roughly 10,000 feet, UV exposure is significantly stronger than it is at sea level. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the mountains and may cause interruptions and delays in summer activities and gondola operations. Epic Discovery doesn’t close due to rain, but will close for lightning.
If you live at a lower elevation, you may tire more easily. Take it easy at first, plan short trips until you’re acclimated and drink plenty of water. Some visitors may experience symptoms associated with Vail’s high altitude like headaches, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite, restless sleep, coughing and difficulty in breathing.
Some Epic Discovery activities have requirements or limits for age, height and/or weight, in addition to proper footwear, so be sure to review them in advance.
The Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) is wheelchair-accessible to reach Eagle’s Nest, where you can enjoy views, dining and more. Epic Discovery is located at Eagle’s Nest at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19), which leaves from Vail’s Lionshead Village.
Is there a height or age requirement or limit to your activities? Is childcare offered and how can I make a reservation?
Discounts and Benefits
What discounts are include with my pass or lift ticket? There are many season-long discounts attached to your Season Pass. Benefits include Epic Mountain Rewards of discounts up to 20 percent on food and beverages, lodging, group lessons, and gear rentals, among other benefits.
Other Season Pass benefits include discount Buddy Tickets and Ski-With-A-Friend Tickets, and Summer Access. For more information, please go to EpicPass.com, Benefits (top, left) then View All Benefits. All Epic Day passes include season-long Epic Mountain Rewards discounts.
Other benefits and access are determined by the type of Epic Day Pass purchased.
Can I buy lunch with my pass? Yes! You just need to make sure you have resort charge set up.
Do I get my Epic Mountain Rewards at your restaurants? For the most part - absolutely! All of our cafeteria style restaurants on mountain offer the EMR discount (20%!) on food. Alcohol is excluded at all locations and there is limited participation among our fine dining and full service restaurants.
Do I need a reservation to have lunch on mountain? No! No reservations required to enjoy our convenient on-mountain cafeterias this year. Just ride until you're hungry, and then pop in.
I want to have lunch with a big group, is it okay if I save a bunch of tables? It depends, but we, and a lot of the other guests on the mountain, would really prefer you do not save tables so that those who are looking to sit can find a place to enjoy their lunch. If you want to eat with a big group all together, we recommend trying before noon or after 1:30 PM.
Last year you told me I had to leave after 45 minutes, is that still true? Thankfully we are in a different place than last year and required table time limits are no longer in effect. However, out of respect for other guests, we do ask you to be thoughtful and limit your time at the table, especially during peak times and holidays. Go ride!
When is the best time to eat lunch? When you're hungry! But also, to get the most out of your day, consider dining outside of our peak hours of 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM. We always recommend an early start, an early lunch (11:00 is awesome), and an early apres.
Where do I search and book online or call to review my vacation plans? How do I find ski in/ski out lodging? You can filter for ski in/ski out properties on many of our search and book pages.