Vail is one of America's most famous and best-loved ski resorts. Located 100 miles west of Denver in the state of Colorado, Vail has the largest single ski mountain in North America, boasting a total of 5,289 skiable acres. Together with its neighbour Beaver Creek, which is just a 30 minute shuttle bus ride down the road and has a shared lift pass, it is unquestionably one of the top ski destinations in the United States.

Vail is a modern, purpose-built resort that first opened for business in the winter of 1962/3. The heart of the resort, which is a pedestrian zone, was designed in a faux-Bavarian style and includes a covered bridge and a clock tower.

The ski area has expanded massively from the initial runs that were served by two chairlifts and one gondola. Today there are 31 lifts, of which 17 are high-speed quads. The majority of the terrain on the front side of Vail mountain comprises well-groomed pistes ideally suited to intermediate and advanced skiers who enjoy cruising. The Back Bowls, which were opened in the late 1980s and at that time effectiVail's owner - Vail Resorts, is the biggest ski area operator in North America, also owning the other major Colorado resorts of Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone - at which your Vail ticket is also valid.

Vail has been through several changes of ownership during its history, which is short by the standards of many European resorts. Today the holding company, Vail Resorts (a public company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange), is the biggest ski area operator in North America, also owning the other major Colorado resorts of Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone - at which your Vail ticket is also valid. With Vails Epic Ski Pass you can also ski at Heavenly and Northstar-at-Tahoe (both in California), which Vail Resorts also own.