Whether you’re a seasoned skier or just a beginner, Vail Mountain has plenty to offer. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are many other winter activities that will allow you to experience the beauty of Colorado’s mountains.
Snowshoeing is one of the most popular ways to enjoy nature during the winter months. The Betty Ford Alpine Garden has free guided snowshoe tours throughout the winter.
1. Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun winter activity that can also be a great way to burn calories and improve your health. It’s an aerobic exercise and can help build endurance, much like running.
It also works your abdominal and lower body muscles, including your hamstrings, calves, quadriceps and pelvic floor muscles. It also strengthens your ankles and feet, which can be helpful in other sports.
Ice skating can be a great way to improve your posture, balance and coordination. It’s also an effective cardio workout, helping you burn about 400 calories per hour.
2. Sledding
If you’re looking for a fun winter activity that the whole family can enjoy, sledding is a great option. Besides being an excellent way to spend quality time together, sledding also offers a number of health benefits.
Sledding is a great way to build strength and muscle mass, as well as improve endurance and cardiovascular fitness. It also promotes core stability and control, which is important for young children.
To increase your sledding safety, make sure you choose a sled that’s appropriate for your child’s height and weight. The sled should also have brakes, which are levers on either side that dig into the snow to slow and stop the sled.
3. Tubing
Vail Mountain is well-known for its endless ski terrain and legendary back bowls, but the quaint alpine town also offers a wide variety of fun winter activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Ice skating, snowmobiling, and tubing are all great ways to get your blood pumping and have fun without the need for skis or snowboards. And if you’re looking for something a little different, you can try out ice bumper cars or snowshoeing in Vail.
Located in Adventure Ridge at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola out of Lionshead, snow tubing is a stadium-sized tubing hill that’s fun for all ages. The snow-packed lane is inflated with inner tubes and there’s a carpet that whisks you to the top for an easy ride down.
4. Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is an activity that has been around for thousands of years and is a great way to spend time in nature while getting some exercise. It’s a low impact, easy to master and fun activity for the whole family.
Another reason to give snowshoeing a try this winter is that it can improve your mood and reduce stress. It can also help prevent winter seasonal affective disorder since it increases your body’s levels of serotonin, or “happy hormones”.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, snowshoeing is a great cardiovascular workout. It can burn up to 45 percent more calories than walking or running at the same pace.
5. Horseback Riding
Whether you’re a casual rider or a competitive athlete, horseback riding can have a wide range of mental and physical benefits. Known to be an effective therapy for a variety of conditions including autism, anxiety, depression and even chemical dependency and addiction, horseback riding can boost your well-being and provide a sense of mind-body connection.
The activity requires coordination between the arms, legs and seat to direct the horse. It also improves spatial awareness, eye hand coordination and balance.
It is a form of moderate-intensity exercise that can burn hundreds of calories, depending on the type and intensity of the activity. It increases circulation, stretches muscles and can be very beneficial for those with arthritis or other musculoskeletal issues.
6. Hiking
Hiking can be a great way to get a little exercise and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. It’s also a great way to relax your mind and decompress.
In addition to providing a cardio workout, hiking helps to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. It can even help to prevent osteoporosis and arthritis.
Whether you’re an experienced hiker or new to the sport, there are plenty of moderate trails in Vail that you can check out for your next winter adventure. You can start by visiting Gore Creek Trail, which offers beautiful mountain views.
You can also take a snowshoeing tour to explore the landscape around Vail. These tours are a great way to see the area in a more active way and you can rent snowshoes from the front desk of your hotel for free!
7. Ice Fishing
Ice fishing is a fun, unique winter experience. It doesn’t require a lot of equipment and is great for families with small kids.
The key to successful ice fishing is selecting the right rod, reel and line. For example, if you’re targeting lake trout, get a rod and reel that can handle a weight of eight pounds or more.
You’ll also want to invest in some quality ice fishing hooks and ice-resistant line. Round bend trebles are a good choice as they’re easy to hook and can resist ice-breaking in cold conditions.
If you’re looking for a more organized and hassle-free ice fishing experience, try Vail Valley Anglers, which provides winter trips to lower altitude reservoirs and sets up portable ice fishing huts. You can even rent an ice auger!
8. Winter Bike Tours
Winter bike tours are a great way to get out and enjoy the scenery. Not only is the climate much calmer than during summer, but the roads are quiet and the air is crisp, creating a magical atmosphere to explore.
You’ll need to be more careful while riding your bike in winter. Snow can make your tires slick and ice is slippery – it’s best to practice your skills on short routes beforehand so you know how to safely navigate them.
Another fun winter activity is snowmobiling. There are many options available in Vail including Buzz’s Backcountry Adventures and Nova Guides. Both companies offer half day or full day tours.
9. Hot Tubbing
A warm soak in a tub can help ease your muscles after a long day on the slopes or if you’re acclimating to a high altitude. The warm water and jet massage soothe tense muscles, while also helping to relieve stress.
Soaking in your hot tub can have many health benefits, including relieving pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and chronic illnesses like type II diabetes. It can improve circulation, reduce blood pressure, and boost mood.
It’s also an excellent way to spend time with loved ones and build stronger bonds. You can open up to your friends in a safe, distraction-free environment and enjoy meaningful conversations with them in the quiet waters of your tub.
10. Ice Skating Rinks
If you’re a non-skier and want to experience the winter wonderland that Vail Mountian has to offer, there are plenty of fun activities that can be done without hopping on a pair of skis.
Ice skating is a popular activity that is easy to do in the cold weather. It offers a great aerobic workout and is also great for improving balance and coordination.
The best part is, you don’t need to be an experienced skater to get started with ice skating. There are many rinks around town that are easy to access for those who are beginners.
You can enjoy a romantic night skating under the stars at the ice rink at Vail Square or try out Dobson Ice Rink. It has open skating sessions for adults and children, plus a new attraction: ice bumper cars!