One of the most famous off-piste routes at the resort.
Hunt for powder even days after a storm on these hidden off-piste runs.
Vail can be a dream for powder skiing and riding, with storms hitting frequently from late December through early April. On the morning of a powder day, you can’t go wrong skiing anywhere on the mountain, really. Just hit the main lifts early and get to the upper mountain or the Back Bowls as efficiently as you can.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that your trip to Vail will line up with a storm, and even if it does, most runs get skied out by the crowds just hours after opening. Luckily, this huge mountain has a lot of hidden spots that are slower to get tracked. You can still find powder turns days after a storm if you know where to look, and these hard-to-reach freeride lines are great places to start.
One of the most famous off-piste routes at the resort.
A short tree shot and a great warmup on a powder day en route to the bowls.
Short tree run in the Avanti area.
Short tree shot down to Mid Vail area.
Short tree shot down to Mid Vail area.
Great gladed powder run down Mountain Mop.
Long gully, epic on powder days.
Solid treeline that holds snow for weeks after a storm.
Huge treeline with plenty of options.
Wow Widge
Epic tree skiing in Sun Down Bowl
Some incredible tree skiing in Sun Up Bowl.
China Bowl's worst kept secret.
Hidden gem in China Bowl.
This isn't much of a secret, but it can be really good, and the huge amount of terrain can stay good pretty long into a powder day.
Find powder days after a storm.