Bringing together communities for generations

About and Fees

Vail Pass has been the place for generations for various winter activity communities to come together and enjoy the land responsibly.

Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area is comprised of motorized, non-motorized, and hybrid ski designated areas. It is each user’s responsibility to know his or her location in relation to the map. Carry a topographic map or GPS and keep track of landmarks such as mountain peaks, valleys, rivers and numbered non-motorized or multiple use routes.

Please obey all signage as these restrictions are in place to protect wildlife, wilderness, huts, ski area boundaries, and historic ski routes in the area.

• Total Area of 55,000 acres

• Highest elevation - Elk Mountain, 12,693ft

• Lowest elevation - Camp Hale, 9,200ft

• Total length of motorized trails - 67 m

• Total length of non-motorized trails - 52 mi

• Total length of groomed trails - 50 mi

• Total area of motorized-assisted ski terrain -3,300 acres

Fee Schedule

• Day Use Pass - $10 per person, per day

• Season Pass - $65 per person (non-transferable)

• Please make checks payable to : US Forest Service

• Self pay fee stations located at Vail Pass, Red Cliff, Pando, Camp Hale Main and Camp Hale South trailheads

• Fees collected 7 days a week

• Please pay the day use fee before entering the area

• Retain proof of payment when recreating

• Violations punishable pursuant to 16 USC 551, 36 CFR 261.17.

Board Members: 

Ben Dodge, Non-motorized Rep

Chuck Ogilby, Non-motorized Rep

Ben Bartosz, Non-motorized Rep

Frank Kvietok, Non-motorized Rep

Brian Binge, Motorized Rep

Steve Pittel, Motorized Rep

Ross Muzik, Motorized Rep

EJ Olbright, Motorized Rep

Partnerships:

USFS Dillon Ranger District

USFS Holy Cross-Eagle Ranger District 

Colorado State Parks

Colorado Department of Transportation

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Colorado Snowmobile Association

Colorado Mountain Club - Backcountry Snowsports Initiative 

Colorado Mountain College

Rocky Mountain Adventure Rentals 

Vail Powder Guides

Red Cliff Snowmobile Club 

Nova Guides

Mountain States Snowcats

10th Mountain Division Hut Association 

Weston Snowboards

Backcountry Access

Summit County Rescue Group

Vail Mountain Rescue

SE Group 

Backcountry United  

What Management does:

The U.S. Forest Service, within its mandated responsibilities, strives to provide high quality, sustainable recreation opportunities on the White River National Forest. To accomplish this aim, the U.S. Forest Service desires to continue to partner with the Vail Pass Task Force to improve and maintain recreational opportunities at Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area that contribute to high quality recreation experiences for forest users.  

Background: This Challenge Cost-share Agreement provides a framework for the parties to cooperatively develop, plan, and implement projects that are mutually beneficial to the parties and that enhance U.S. Forest Service activities at Vail Pass Recreation Area located on the White River National Forest. Collaborative activities and partnership work anticipated and accomplished by both parties under this agreement are consistent with the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act of 2015 goal of substantially increasing volunteerism on National Forest System Lands by significantly increasing the role of volunteers and partners on shared steward projects and activities benefiting National Forest System lands. Title: Vail Pass Recreation Area Shared-Stewardship Agreement I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this agreement is to document the cooperation between the parties to cooperatively develop, plan, and implement projects that that are mutually beneficial to the parties and that enhance U.S. Forest Service activities at the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area (VPWRA) located on the White River National Forest. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTERESTS: The U.S. Forest Service, within its mandated responsibilities, strives to provide high quality, sustainable recreation opportunities on the White River National Forest. To accomplish this aim, the U.S. Forest Service desires to continue to partner with Vail Pass Task Force to improve and maintain recreational opportunities at Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area that contribute to high quality recreation experiences for forest users. USDA, Forest Service OMB 0596-0217 FS-1500-10 Page 2 of 17 (Rev.3-15) Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area, encompasses 55,000 acres on both the Eagle/Holy Cross and Dillon Ranger Districts, in Eagle and Summit counties, is an extremely popular place for a variety of overlapping and often competing winter recreation activities (motorized and non-motorized, public and commercial, day and overnight), which has resulted in the need for intensive management and oversight. There are 67 miles of motorized trails, 50 miles of groomed trails, 52 miles of non-motorized trails, and 3,300 acres of motorized assisted ski terrain. Vail Pass Winter Recreational Area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service under the authority of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) of 2004. Vail Pass Task Force is a volunteer, non-profit group composed of people and organizations that enjoy recreating and working in the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area. The Cooperator works in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service in managing VPWRA and board membership is split to represent both motorized and non-motorized user groups. The Cooperator has the resources, skills, and desires to assist the U.S. Forest Service with the management of winter recreation in the Vail Pass Area and has the ability to apply for grant funding to assist with expenses of managing the area. It is the mutual desire of the U.S. Forest Service and the Cooperator to enter into an agreement whereby a variety of winter recreation opportunities at Vail Pass may be actively managed to provide for the best possible public experience, to encourage a variety of recreation opportunities and to protect the natural environment. It is in the public interest, as well as the mutual interest of both parties of this agreement, to jointly perform the agreed upon activities.