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Vail
Vail is a town in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, built up around a ski resort in the Gore Creek valley.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
Best things to do in Vail
The one thing not to miss
Aspen and the Maroon Bells make the top day out: the Maroon Bells are two 14,000 ft peaks about 12 miles southwest of Aspen, among the most photographed views in Colorado.
Aspen and the Maroon Bells1. Aspen and the Maroon Bells
Aspen is a mountain city on the Roaring Fork River at just under 8,000 ft. About 12 miles southwest of it, the Maroon Bells are two 14,000 ft peaks in the Elk Mountains, among the most photographed views in Colorado.
Check access to the Maroon Bells Scenic Area before you go; it is a very popular spot and arrangements can change by season.
18,483 readers a month
2. Leadville
The highest incorporated city in the United States, at 10,119 ft, surrounded by the two tallest peaks in Colorado, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive. A historic mountain town for a day out.
The altitude is high; take it easy if you are not used to it, and check what is open on the day.
9,468 readers a month
3. Glenwood Springs and Glenwood Caverns
A city where the Roaring Fork and Colorado rivers meet. Nearby, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a summer-themed adventure park at 7,132 ft, about 160 miles west of Denver.
Check the park's own site for ticket details and opening times before you go.
5,813 readers a month
4. Rocky Mountain National Park
A national park on the Continental Divide with mountains, alpine lakes and wildlife, between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake. A long day trip from Vail, so plan the drive.
The National Park Service says a timed entry reservation is needed in certain hours from late May to mid-October, and an entrance fee or pass is always required. Check the NPS page for current rules.
5,431 readers a month
5. Breckenridge
A town and the county seat of Summit County, Colorado, with about 5,000 residents at the 2020 census. A mountain town with a ski resort, for a day trip or an overnight stay.
Check what is open for the season before you go.
4,982 readers a month
6. Vail Ski Resort
At 5,289 acres, the third-largest single-mountain ski resort in the United States, with seven bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Vail's own site also lists scenic gondola tickets for non-skiers.
Lift tickets, passes and gondola tickets are sold on the resort's site; the resort advertises a discount for buying lift tickets four or more weeks ahead.
1,917 readers a month
7. Camp Hale
A former U.S. Army training camp built in 1942 for what became the 10th Mountain Division, at 9,238 ft in the Eagle River Valley between Red Cliff and Leadville.
Check access and road conditions before you go; the site is high in the mountains.
1,736 readers a month
Sources
8. Copper Mountain
A mountain and ski resort in Summit County with 2,465 acres of in-bounds terrain, on land leased from the U.S. Forest Service. It sits beside Interstate 70.
Check the resort's own site for tickets and season dates.
1,602 readers a month
9. Hanging Lake
A lake in Glenwood Canyon reached by a trail of 1.2 miles that climbs about 1,000 ft from the trailhead beside Interstate 70. A popular spot for a short, steep hike.
Wikipedia says the lake is reached by the trail 'when open'. Check current permit, reservation and closure rules with the land managers before you go.
1,467 readers a month
Sources
10. Mount of the Holy Cross
A 14,005 ft peak in the Holy Cross Wilderness of White River National Forest, west-southwest of the town of Red Cliff. It is the highest point in Eagle County.
A high mountain wilderness: check trail, weather and access conditions before you go.
1,350 readers a month
Just missed the list: Dillon Reservoir (11th by readers; a large reservoir in Summit County); Beaver Creek Resort (12th by readers; a ski resort in Eagle County)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Aspen and the Maroon Bells leads with about 18,483 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.