Aspen vs Vail
Aspen vs Vail compared side by side: 218 km vs 234 km of slopes, 40 vs 31 lifts, top elevation 3,813 m vs 3,527 m. See which resort suits you.
| Statistic |
 Aspen
United States
|
Vail
United States
|
|---|---|---|
| Total slopes | 218 km | 234 km ▲ |
| Easy (blue) slopes | 44 km | 47 km ▲ |
| Intermediate (red) slopes | 109 km | 131 km ▲ |
| Expert (black) slopes | 65 km ▲ | 56 km |
| Share of easy slopes | 20% | 20% |
| Ski lifts | 40 ▲ | 31 |
| Snow parks | 4 ▲ | 3 |
| Base elevation | 2,422 m | 2,475 m ▲ |
| Top elevation | 3,813 m ▲ | 3,527 m |
| Vertical drop | 1,391 m ▲ | 1,052 m |
| Season | November – April | November – April |
| Ski area | Aspen Snowmass | Vail |
| Known for | Après-ski · Scenic views · Off-piste | Modern lifts · Snow-sure · Scenic views · Après-ski |
The verdict
- Vail is the bigger ski area with 234 km of slopes versus 218 km (a similar size).
- Aspen goes higher: its top station is at 3,813 m compared with 3,527 m, which usually means more reliable snow late in the season.
- For beginners, Aspen has the friendlier terrain mix with 20% easy slopes (44 km).
- Expert skiers get more black runs in Aspen: 65 km of expert slopes.
- Aspen has the larger lift network with 40 lifts.
Aspen vs Vail: quick answers
Vail is bigger with 234 km of marked slopes, compared with 218 km.
Aspen has the higher top station at 3,813 m versus 3,527 m.
Aspen is the friendlier choice for beginners: 20% of its slopes are easy blue runs (44 km), versus 20% in Vail.