Home to two gondolas, Vail’s Gondola One, which leaves from Vail Village, and Eagle Bahn, which leaves from Lionshead, take riders 10,000 feet up the mountain. From your comfortable seat, you will be able to snap photos of flower-filled meadows, color-changing aspen trees, and snowcapped mountain peaks, depending on the time of year.
This is a spectacular way to enjoy the natural landscape with sweeping views of the beautiful Gore Range, the Sawatch Range, and Mount of the Holy Cross.
Gondola One
Gondola One is the newest gondola at Vail Resort, opening in 2012, and runs from the Vista Bahn base area to mid-Vail. With 120 cabins that can hold ten riders each, it features heated seats, LED lighting, and Wi-Fi. There are also exterior skis, snowboard, and bike racks to haul your equipment.
It departs from Vail Village and can carry 3,600 riders per hour at nearly 1,200 feet per minute, leaving it tied for North America’s fastest mono cable gondola.
Eagle Bahn Gondola
Leaving Lionsheads pedestrian village, the Eagle Bahn Gondola takes you straight to the slopes. It can carry 12 riders at a time and has a vertical rise of 2,200 feet. This gondola is open at night throughout the winter and summer to allow visitors access to Eagle Bahn restaurants, nighttime tubing, and snowmobiling.
The best part of the Eagle Bahn gondola is that it takes you to Epic Discovery, located at the top of the mountain. The ride to get up there is splendid, with amazing views of Vails back bowls and the Rocky Mountain peaks. A perfect ride during any season and a quick 8-minute tour to the top.
Epic Discovery Area
At Epic Discovery, you will find adventure courses, tubing hills, a bungee trampoline and climbing wall, and plenty of hiking opportunities. There is even a speedy coaster and zipline! During the summer months, you can bring your mountain bike inside the Gondola and then ride it back down the mountain, with several biking trails to choose from.
When you get hungry, there’s a handful of options before you. Some popular choices are Talons Deck Outdoor Grill which serves up burgers, hot dogs, and fries, and Wildwood BBQ, featuring a more sit-down atmosphere with a menu of pulled pork, ribs, and other BBQ favorites. For drinks, Bistro 14 Bar has plenty of draft beers, cocktails, and wine.
The Gondola One and Eagle Bahn are open daily from mid-June to early September and then switch to weekend hours until early October.
Details
Address: Vail Village and Lionshead Village, Vail, CO 81657
Phone: 970-754-0005 (Customer Service)
Season: Summer & Winter | Closed between seasons
Website: vail.com (Summer Gondola)