Here’s a secret locals know: some of the best days of a Vail winter happen nowhere near a Ski Lift.
Maybe your legs need a break after three days in the Back Bowls. Maybe half your group doesn’t ski. Maybe a storm closed the upper mountain, or you just want a day that feels different. Whatever the reason, Vail Valley and the mountain towns are full of winter experiences you won’t forget.
Here are ten of our favorites, from hot springs to husky-pulled sleds, all within about an hour of Vail. (Want us to plan and drive the whole day? See our Winter Must-Dos page.)
1. Soak in the Glenwood Springs Hot Springs
There’s nothing quite like sinking into 104-degree water while snowflakes melt on your shoulders. Glenwood Springs, about an hour west of Vail, is the closest major hot springs town to the valley, and it has multiple Hot Springs at differnt temps with differnt mineral levels.
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is the classic, with a huge outdoor pool that has drawn families for generations. Iron Mountain Hot Springs is quieter, with 16 small mineral pools along the Colorado River and an adults-only section. If you want something truly unusual, Yampah’s underground vapor caves are a natural steam room inside the mountain.
Local tip: Go in the late afternoon, soak through sunset, then grab dinner downtown before heading home.
2. Go Tubing at Frisco Adventure Park
Frisco is a hidden gem in the mountains. If you have kids, or you’re a kid at heart, this is the place, we do a ton of transfers here for familys with kids and even the adults seem to enjoy themselves. Frisco Adventure Park’s tubing hill has a lift that hauls you back to the top, you can spend an hour flying down the lanes instead of trudging uphill. There’s also a free sledding hill across the road and a beginner ski hill for first-timers.
Frisco is about 45 minutes east of Vail over Vail Pass. Tubing sessions sell out on busy days, so reserve ahead.
3. Ride Behind a Team of Huskies
Dog sledding is pure joy, mostly because the dogs are so clearly thrilled to be running. At Mountain Musher in Wolcott, just west of Edwards, you sit back under blankets while an experienced musher drives the team through aspen groves and pine forest. Partway through, there’s a stop for hot cocoa and homemade treats.
Tours are small and fill quickly over the holidays. Book as soon as your dates are set.
4. Snowmobile to the Continental Divide
For a dose of adrenaline, head to Camp Hale or go with R.M.A.R ( Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals ), about 30 minutes from Vail, where Nova Guides runs snowmobile tours across one of Colorado’s largest trail systems. Guides lead you up to high viewpoints with sweeping views of the surrounding peaks, and no experience is needed.
Camp Hale is also where the 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine warfare during World War II, which adds real history to the ride.
5. Take a Sleigh Ride to Dinner
This may be the most romantic night in the valley. In Beaver Creek and Bachelor Gulch, horse-drawn sleighs carry guests up the mountain to cozy log cabins for a multi-course dinner by the fire. It’s ideal for anniversaries, proposals, or simply a night you’ll talk about for years.
Reservations go fast, especially around Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
6. Play at Adventure Ridge
You don’t need skis to enjoy the top of Vail Mountain. Ride the Eagle Bahn Gondola up from Lionshead to Adventure Ridge for snow tubing, ski biking, and some of the best views in the valley. It’s an easy afternoon for non-skiers and a fun way for the whole family to end a ski day together.
7. Skate Under the Village Lights
Outdoor skating in the mountains feels like stepping into a holiday card. Vail and Beaver Creek both have rinks in the heart of their villages, with fire pits, hot chocolate, and twinkling lights. Go after dark for the full effect.
8. Visit the Colorado Snowsports Museum
Hidden in Vail Village, this museum tells the story of the 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at Camp Hale and later helped build Colorado’s ski industry, Vail included. It’s a great stop on a stormy day, and it gives you a whole new appreciation for the mountain.
9. Explore the Quiet Side of Winter
Not every winter day needs to be fast. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Nordic centers in Vail and Beaver Creek take you through peaceful, snow-covered forest with no crowds and no lift lines. Guided snowshoe tours on Vail Mountain add stories about the wildlife and ecology around you.
10. Go Underground at Glenwood Caverns
If you’re heading to Glenwood for the hot springs, make a day of it. Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park sits atop Iron Mountain, reached by a scenic gondola. In winter you can tour one of Colorado’s largest cave systems and see the holiday light displays on the mountain. Pair it with a soak in the afternoon.
A Few Planning Tips
- Book activities early. Dog sledding, sleigh ride dinners, and tubing sessions sell out over the holidays and on weekends.
- Check the season. Snow-dependent activities usually run from about December into early spring, depending on conditions.
- Dress in layers. Even on sunny days, it’s cold at elevation. Bring gloves, a hat, and warm boots, plus a swimsuit for the hot springs.
- Build in drive time. Several of these spots are 30 to 60 minutes away on mountain roads, and winter weather can slow things down.
Let Someone Else Drive
The hardest part of a winter adventure day is navigating through the Mountain: icy roads, Vail Pass in a storm, and a long ride home after a hot springs soak or a glass of wine at dinner.
VIP Ground is based in the Vail Valley, in Avon, just outside the Beaver Creek Roundabout, and our local chauffeurs drive these roads every day. We’ll pick you up at your Ski Resort / Rental, plan around your reservations, and get your whole group there and back safely. You get one flat rate with no surprises.
