People know Vail for the skiing, but ask anyone who actually lives here and a lot of us will tell you summer is the secret. The week the snow melts off the high trails, this valley turns into some of the best hiking country in Colorado. I grew up in Vail and I've been walking these trails since I was a kid, so when clients ask where to start, I don't hesitate.
I was first introduced to a lot of these hikes back in high school, at Ski Club Vail. Every fall, dry land training meant getting off the pavement and up into the mountains on foot. Hiking was how we built the legs and the lungs for the coming race season. That's where these trails got under my skin. In the years since, they've gone from training routes to family favorites, and the ones I steer clients toward when they ask. So this list isn't pulled off the internet. These are the five I keep coming back to: a mix that covers a waterfall, an alpine wildflower ridge, a lake you can practically drive to, a trophy climb straight up Vail Mountain, and a quieter favorite over in Beaver Creek. There's one here for a relaxed afternoon and one to test your legs.
1. Booth Falls Trail (East Vail)
This is the most popular hike in the valley, and for good reason. From the East Vail trailhead the path climbs steadily through aspen groves and wildflower meadows, with the Gore Range opening up behind you, to a dramatic 60-foot waterfall. It's a real climb. The grade is honest and the altitude is no joke, but the payoff is one of the most photographed spots in the area. One planning note that trips up a lot of visitors: there is no public parking at the trailhead. The free Town of Vail East Vail bus drops you right at the start, which is the way to do it. Best from late June through September, and spectacular when the aspens turn in fall.
2. Shrine Ridge Trail (Vail Pass)
If I could send someone on only one hike for the scenery-to-effort ratio, it might be this one. The trailhead already sits up near 11,000 feet off Vail Pass, so you start high and the climbing is short. What you get for it is enormous: rolling alpine meadows, 360-degree views that include the Mount of the Holy Cross, and from mid-July into early August some of the best wildflower displays in the state. It's moderate, family-doable for fit kids, and a favorite for sunset. Because it's all exposed up top, get an early start and be heading down before the afternoon thunderstorms build.
3. Upper Piney River Falls (Piney River Ranch)
This one feels like a destination before you even start walking. The trail begins at Piney Lake, with the Gore Range reflected in the water and Piney River Ranch right there for lunch, a paddle, or a drink on the deck. The hike itself is gentler than its length suggests, following the river through aspens and open meadows to a pretty set of falls, gaining only about 700 feet, and the early stretch along the water is easy enough for families. Keep an eye out for moose. The catch is getting there: it's roughly a 45-minute drive north of Vail on a rough dirt road, so bring a high-clearance vehicle and don't be in a hurry.
4. Berry Picker Trail (Vail Mountain)
This is the trophy hike, and you can start it right from the village. Berry Picker switchbacks up the front of Vail Mountain through forest and wildflower runs, with the valley dropping away below you the higher you climb. It's a genuine workout, over 2,000 feet of gain, but here's the trick that makes it accessible: in summer you can hike up and ride Gondola One back down for free. Earn the view, skip the pounding descent. On a clear July morning, with the wildflowers out and the whole valley spread beneath you, it's hard to beat.
5. Beaver Lake Trail (Beaver Creek)
I include this one on purpose, because the best hiking in the valley isn't all in Vail. Starting from the top of Beaver Creek Village, this trail follows a creek through evergreen and aspen forest up to a quiet alpine lake tucked beneath the ridgeline. It's moderate, well-shaded, and a touch less crowded than the Vail icons, which makes it a favorite for anyone staying on the Beaver Creek, Avon, or Edwards end of the valley. The lake at the top is the kind of spot that makes you sit down for a while.
A Few Things to Know Before You Go
These are real mountain trails, and the altitude does most of the talking. Start early, because afternoon thunderstorms build fast in July and August, and you do not want to be on an exposed ridge like Shrine when they roll in. Carry more water than you think you need, bring a layer even on a warm morning, and remember the valley floor sits at 8,000 feet and the trails climb well above that. Download your map on AllTrails before you lose signal, give wildlife room, and pack out what you pack in. The prime season runs late June through September, with wildflowers peaking in mid-to-late July and the aspens turning gold by the end of September.
What It Means for Your Home Here
When I'm helping clients, trail access comes up almost as often as ski access does, and it should. Part of what people are really buying here is the ability to walk out the door and be on a trail. East Vail homes sit minutes from Booth Falls and the Gore Creek wilderness. A place in Vail Village or Lionshead puts the Berry Picker trailhead and the gondola within walking distance. Out in Beaver Creek, Avon, and Edwards, buyers are close to Beaver Lake and a whole network of quieter trails. When we look at neighborhoods together, this is exactly the kind of thing I pay attention to: not just the house, but what's out the back door. If an active, trail-from-the-doorstep life is what you're picturing here, let's build it into your search.
Plan your hike: AllTrails: Vail area trails · Discover Vail hiking guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best hike in the Vail Valley?
Booth Falls is the most popular hike in the valley and the one most people start with: a roughly four-mile round trip in East Vail that climbs through aspens to a dramatic 60-foot waterfall, with Gore Range views the whole way. It's consistently among the highest-rated trails in the area. For the best alpine scenery with less effort, Shrine Ridge on Vail Pass is the local favorite.
When is the best time to hike near Vail?
Late June through September. The high trails hold snow well into June, so early summer is best for lower hikes, while July and August open up the alpine routes. Mid-July to early August is peak wildflower season on the higher trails like Shrine Ridge. Fall, when the aspens turn gold in late September, is one of the most beautiful and underrated times to hike here.
Where are the best wildflowers near Vail?
Shrine Ridge, off Vail Pass, is the signature wildflower hike. Because the trailhead already sits near 11,000 feet, you reach high alpine meadows quickly, and from mid-July into early August they fill with paintbrush, columbine, and lupine beneath 360-degree mountain views.
Can you hike up Vail Mountain and take the gondola down?
Yes. The Berry Picker Trail climbs from the Gondola One base in Vail Village up the front of Vail Mountain, and in summer you can ride the gondola back down for free. It's a hard climb of roughly 2,200 feet, but the one-way-up option makes the trophy view accessible to fit hikers who'd rather not descend on tired legs.
Do I need a car to reach the Vail Valley trailheads?
It depends on the trail. Booth Falls has no public trailhead parking, so you take the free Town of Vail East Vail bus to reach it. Berry Picker starts right in Vail Village, walkable from town. Upper Piney River, on the other hand, requires a vehicle (ideally a high-clearance SUV) for the rough dirt road into Piney River Ranch.
Are there easy or family-friendly hikes in the Vail Valley?
Yes. Upper Piney River Falls is a gentle, mostly moderate hike that starts right at Piney Lake, and the first stretch along the water is easy and scenic enough for families. Beaver Lake in Beaver Creek is another approachable creek-to-lake walk. Booth Falls can also be done as a shorter out-and-back to a viewpoint without finishing the full steep climb.