Vail Base Areas: Which One Should You Start Your Day At?
Vail Village may be the most prominent place to start your day at Vail, but it’s not the only option!
As Colorado’s largest ski resort, Vail’s footprint can be challenging to figure out. Starting on one side of the mountain can potentially leave you miles from where you intended to ski or ride. As a result, the base area and lift you start at can have a profound impact on your ski day.
So what are your options? Vail offers four bases and five lifts to get up the mountain.
Vail Base Areas and Lifts
Golden Peak Base — Riva Bahn Express Lift
Vail Village Base — Gondola One
Lionshead Base — Born Free Express Lift
Lionshead Base — Eagle Bahn Gondola
Cascade Village Base — Cascade Village Lift
So, where should you start and why? Let’s explore these options, in order from east to west.
Golden Peak Base
The Riva Bahn Express out of Golden Peak is a unique way to get up the mountain. This base area is less busy than Vail Village or Lionshead, meaning the lines are often much shorter. The Riva Bahn chair stops at a midway point; if you get off here, you can access the terrain park and ski racing courses.
From the top of Riva Bahn, you can reach the Northwoods and Highline Express lifts. Highline is a low trafficked, steep, difficult, moguly, section of Vail. If you want a morning of serenity, take the Riva Bahn to Highline Express and enjoy the peace and steeps.
Who Should Start at Vail’s Golden Peak Base?
Ski racers en route to the Golden Peak race course
Freestylers looking to take hot laps in the terrain park
Mogul fiends seeking difficult terrain away from the crowds (Riva Bahn Express to Highline Express)
Beginners looking for mellow cruisers with excellent grooming and short lines (Riva Bahn Express to Highline Express to Sourdough Express)
Crowd avoiders who want to skip the lines of the more popular base areas
Bowl enthusiasts looking to be first to hit some of Vail’s most epic Back Bowl terrain (taking Riva Bahn to Highline/Sourdough or the Northwoods lift provides the fastest access to several Back Bowls)
Vail Village Base
The Gondola One at Vail Village is the classic Vail experience, calling home to where it all started. If you have been looking at photos of Vail’s base area for years and want to be in the middle of all that history, start here.
Vail Village is also the most central place to start, so, if you are not sure what terrain you want to ski, Gondola One is a great option. Gondola One fits ten people and has heated seats.
On the flip side, Gondola One’s central location and storied history is no secret. The line here is consistently the longest of any other way up the mountain.
Who Should Start at Vail Village?
Vail Village hotel and condo guests who want the most convenient uphill option
Big groups who value spending the lift ride together (Gondola One fits ten)
First-timers to Vail who are unsure what kind of terrain to ride
Photo-op seekers (the Gondola One base, view from Mid-Vail, and Legendary Back Bowls sign all are some of Vail’s best photo-ops)
Groomer and bowl enthusiasts looking to ride some of Vail’s best terrain of this type (Swingsville/Christmas, Northwoods, Sunup + Sundown bowls)
Central-location prioritizers who want to start skiing in an optimal place and don’t mind a wait on busy days
Lionshead Base
The Lionshead Base area conveniently offers two ways to get up the mountain, the ten-passenger Eagle Bahn Gondola and Born Free Express high-speed quad.
The Born Free Express chairlift brings you halfway up the mountain and offers quick access to cruisey groomers (Avanti Express and Pride Express). The Eagle Bahn Gondola brings you up over 2,000 feet and offers some of the best top to bottom skiing in Vail. From the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, you have easy access to Game Creek Bowl, which is the most beginner friendly bowl in Vail. In addition to Game Creek, you’ll find a bunny slope and some blue groomers off the top of the Eagle Bahn.
Pro tip: the line for the chairlift is almost always shorter than the gondola. So while the Born Free lift may not get you as physically high up on the mountain, you may still reach upper mountain areas faster thanks to time saved in line.
Who Should Start at Lionshead’s Eagle Bahn Gondola?
On-site guests staying in Lionshead and wanting the experience of a gondola
Cold visitors looking to warm up
True beginners — a learning zone with magic carpets and a dedicated lift sit right next to the gondola exit
Long run enthusiasts looking to ride tons of vert top to bottom (2,200 feet)
Beginner bowl experience seekers — Game Creek Bowl is just a catwalk away
Who Should Start at Lionshead’s Born Free Chairlift?
Peak-time guests staying/parking in Lionshead looking to avoid a long gondola line
Those in a rush who only have time for a couple laps
Those in need of a direct route towards Vail Village from Lionshead
Intermediate guests looking for quick access to fun blue terrain (take Born Free Express to the Avanti or Pride Express)
Cascade Village Base
Cascade Village is one of Vail’s biggest secrets. The Cascade chair is a slow, fixed grip 4-person chairlift that feels out of place for Vail. It’s located as west as you can get skiing Vail and is in a small base area with just a few hotels. This lift is also walkable from parts of West Vail, which is popular for Airbnbs.
Despite its slow speed, if you despise lines, you should consider going to Cascade. Even on the weekend, you will seldom wait more than a couple minutes to get on here. From the top of Cascade lift, you can access the Pride Express or ski down to Lionshead Village.
However, there's a bit of a catch with this base area in the early and late seasons. The Pride Express does not operate during those times, so if you opt for the Cascade chair, you'll need to ski or ride down to Lionshead and wait in line for a lift there. If you're staying in Cascade Village, this will still be convenient, but if you're just using this lift to avoid the lines at the larger base areas, you’ll want to make sure the Pride Express is in operation before committing to starting your day here.
There is no practical terrain for lapping under the Cascade Lift. While there’s technically one blue trail to get back to the chair and village, this low-elevation, relatively flat trail is not worth anyone’s time compared to Vail’s other runs.
Who Should Start at Cascade Village?
On-site guests staying in Cascade Village
West Vail residents who want the most convenient option
Staunch crowd avoiders who despise lift lines (except before mid-December and after mid-April)
Final Thoughts
Vail may come across as intimidatingly complex at a first glance, but the resort offers a range of options for skiers and riders to find their ideal starting point. Whether you're about avoiding queues, getting some photos for the gram, or targeting specific terrain zones, there’s an option for you. Take into account your preferences, group dynamics, and the type of terrain you're looking for to kick off a memorable day exploring everything Vail has to offer.
For more on Vail, check out our full mountain review and Colorado resort rankings. Additionally, you can check out our Vail review in video form below.
