Exciting News: THE VAIL HIKER, now published in a revised, updated edition, has increased from forty to fifty trails for hikers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers.

    New hikes range from the challenging Commando Run, established during World War II for training skiing soldiers from Camp Hale, to the rewarding Village to Village trail on beautiful Beaver Creek Mountain.

    The brand-new revised and updated version of the popular guidebook, THE VAIL HIKER, is now available! Order today!

Avoid hiking trails in the lodgepole pine forest on windy days due to possible falling trees. This includes trails in the Gore Range and trails around Minturn, among others. Trees killed by the mountain pine beetle are subject to blow-down. If wind comes up suddenly, retreat to a large open meadow until the gusts subside.

Trail of the Season: For description and directions, click here.

High Altitude Hiking Tips: click here

The Trail of the Month

 Mary Ellen Gilliland, author of THE VAIL HIKER AND SKI TOURING GUIDE offers you Eagle County's best ski and snowshoe trail based on local conditions. Where to go when the County is crowded, finding the area's best snow conditions or protected areas during stormy weather are issues we take seriously and we want to share them with you.

WILDER GULCH

Time:  3 hours
Distance:  3.1 miles
Elevation gain:  1,365 feet
High point:  11,765 feet
Rating:  Moderate

Wilder Gulch is a wonderful trail which usually enjoys abundant snow. Since it receives heavy use from snowmobilers during the peak part of the ski season, it's best to do your tour here in late November (avoid Thanksgiving weekend) and early December. 

Drive I-70 to the Vail Pass rest area at the pass summit and park. Pick up the bikeway/recreation path and ski east, toward Copper Mountain and Summit County,  a half mile to the mouth of Wilder Gulch. Note the gray electrical box here. Turn 90 degrees right and proceed up the gulch on its right side. The climb through the open meadow is scenic. Where the trail enters the trees makes a good turnaround for an easier tour. Those who proceed will begin a bit steeper climb. 
   Later, after emerging from the trees, skiers and snowshoers enter the trees and turn left onto a snow covered jeep road. Then you face a steep but relatively short climb to the summit of Ptarmigan Pass. See The Vail Hiker,  new 2010 edition, pages 48-49, for full trail description, maps and photos.

The Vail Hiker guidebook is available at Summit County sporting goods, grocery and book stores, plus The Tattered Cover in Denver. You can order on this website. Click here.

Hikers will enjoy The Vail Hiker’s alpine lakes, waterfalls ghost towns, panoramic high passes, special hikes for kids and winter ski/snowshoe trails.

 Book features:                 topo maps
                                                great photos
                                                fold-out overall map
                                                companion book to The New 

How to Order 

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