Leaf peeping season is here! Hit the trails to view the kaleidoscopic transformation that autumn brings to the Vail Valley. These are some of our favorite places and routes to get out amongst the incredible stands of aspens that cover this valley that we love. Generally the leafing begins around September 15th and continues into early October with peak timing around the autumn equinox on September 21st.
Hikes
East Lake Creek
- Distance: 6 miles – out to the bridge and creek and back
- Elevation gain: ~1,000 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 3 hr 18 min
- Rating: moderate
- Start Location: Edwards
Booth Falls
- Distance: 4.2 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 1,358 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 2 hr 38 min
- Rating: moderate
- Start Location: East Vail
Gore Creek Path
- Distance: 1.9 miles – point to point
- Elevation gain: 209 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 40 min
- Rating: easy
- Start Location: Vail
Upper Piney River Falls
- Distance: 5.9 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 728 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 2 hr 26 min
- Rating: moderate
- Start Location: Piney River Ranch
Meadow Mountain Trail
- Distance: 9.6 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 2,073 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 4 hr 55 min
- Rating: moderate
- Start Location: Minturn
Berrypicker Trail
- Distance: 7.9 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 2,286 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 4 hr 41 min
- Rating: difficult
- Start Location: Vail Mountain
Shrine Ridge
- Distance: 4.3 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 1,030 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 2 hr 19 min
- Rating: moderate
- Start Location: Top of Vail Pass
Beaver Lake
- Distance: 6.3 miles – out and back
- Elevation gain: 1,689 feet
- Avg. Time to Complete: 3 hr 35 min
- Rating: hard
- Start Location: Beaver Creek – Avon, CO
Bike Rides
Vail Bike Path & Vail Mountain
- Wide variety of options ranging from paved bike bath to expert mountain biking trails.
Boneyard
- Distance: 6.7 miles – point to point
- Elevation gain: 1,099 feet
- Descent: 1,121 feet
- Rating: intermediate
- Start Location: Eagle
North Trail
- Distance: 6.6 miles – point to point
- Elevation gain: 1,901 feet
- Descent: 1,922 feet
- Rating: intermediate
- Start Location: West Vail
Tenmile Recpath from Frisco to Vail
- Distance: 24.7 miles – point to point
- Elevation gain: 1,280 feet
- Descent: 2,549 feet
- Rating: difficult
- Start Location: Frisco
Berry Creek
- Distance: 4.1 miles – loop
- Elevation gain: 936 feet
- Descent: 854 feet
- Rating: intermediate
- Start Location: Edwards
Drives
Vail – Battle Mountain Pass
- Avg. Time to Complete: 1 hour to full day
- Start Location: Minturn – Hwy 24 S
Red Sandstone Road to Piney River Ranch
- Avg. Time to Complete: 3 hours to full day
- Start Location: Vail
Brush Creek Road to Sylvan Lake
- Avg. Time to Complete: half to full day
- Start Location: Eagle
Independence Pass – Glenwood Springs/Aspen Loop
- Avg. Time to Complete: 4 hours to full day
- Start Location: Minturn or Glenwood Springs
