There’s nothing like being among the beautiful Rocky Mountains during the summer. Spend those long, sunny days in the mountains by planning a trip to the best summer resorts in Colorado: Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek and Crested Butte. With activities ranging from scenic hikes, mountain biking, golf, fly fishing, and more, there are so many reasons to take the whole family on a summer adventure vacation to the mountains.
Vail
Scenic Hikes
- Vail Mountain is a great place to enjoy a hike, with trails starting from the base areas as well as the top of Gondola One and Eagle Bahn Gondola. Join a Walking Mountains Naturalist for an educational hike through the forest atop Vail Mountain beginning at the Nature Discovery Center. For those looking for a more adventurous time, check out a more strenuous, 2-mile guided hike beginning at the Nature Discovery Center to explore our mountain ecosystems.
Bike Haul
- Vail mountain biking offers up adventure, challenge, and enjoyment for families, first timers, experts, and everyone in between.
Epic Discovery
- There are so many fun activities for the whole family in the Epic Discovery Park: the Forest Flying Mountain Coaster, the Paramount Peak Climbing Wall, Eagle’s Nest Tubing, the Little Eagle Kid’s Zipline and more!
Summer Events
- Don’t miss out on events all summer long like the Bluegrass Festival, concerts in the park, on-mountain running race series, beer festivals and more!
Keystone
Keystone Bike Park
- The Keystone Bike Park is truly a downhiller’s dream. Professionally-maintained, progression-focused terrain welcomes riders of all abilities, with technical rock gardens, drops, and high-speed features.
Hit the Golf Course
- Take your golf game to new heights on Keystone's two breathtaking courses, The River Course and Keystone Ranch. Enjoy two distinct styles of play across 36 breathtaking holes. Also available, lessons, clinics and best of all, lodging package where you can Stay, Play & Save!
Horseback Riding
- Explore the picturesque Soda Creek Valley aboard our horse drawn wagons, or enjoy guided horseback rides up on the Soda Ridge. Our knowledgeable guides share the rich history of this valley and deliver dinner wagon rides and trail rides that will create memories of a lifetime for you and your families.
Summer Festivals
- Don’t miss out on the Bluegrass and Beer Festival, The Bacon and Bourbon Festival, Wine & Jazz Festival, Mountain Town Music Festival and more all summer long!
Beaver Creek
4X4 Tours
- 4x4 tours make exploring Beaver Creek's mountainous terrain easy and exciting for all ages. Tours start at the Summer Adventure Center and highlight the natural beauty of the area with an emphasis on fauna, flora and history of the area. 1½ - hour tours are available daily starting at 9:00 a.m. with advanced reservations. All 4x4 tours accommodate from 1 to 7 participants per 4x4 vehicle.
Wine Excursions
- Discover a luxurious alpine experience through Beaver Creek's Wine Excursions. Relish the stunning mountain views by way of a 4x4 Mountain Adventure Tour or a guided hike of 1½ miles to the iconic Beaver Lake before heading to Beano's. Tours end among the tranquil, wildflower-laden meadows of Beano's Cabin, on the spacious sundeck overlooking Grouse Mountain. The Beano's Cabin expert team will serve a refreshing glass of sparkling wine followed by wine pairings with a delectable charcuterie board.
Scenic Chairlift Rides
- Take a relaxing chairlift or gondola ride up Centennial Express Lift on Beaver Creek Mountain. Enjoy lunch and games at Spruce Saddle, and explore the mountain by foot or bike on our many trails.
Mountain Biking
- Reserve high-performance trail bikes or comfortable cruisers to explore Beaver Creek. With mountainside pickup at Centennial Express Lift, our expert team will equip you with the right wheels so you can spend the day discovering incredible views of aspen glades, wildflowers and the Gore Range. Take your bike up Centennial Express Lift with bike haul so you can begin your adventure at 10,200 feet of elevation. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you can enjoy miles of rolling single tracks and breathtaking views.
Crested Butte
Kids Summer Programs
- Get your child ready for the summer with Mountain Adventures! Your child will be immersed in incredible summer mountain adventures including water sports, climbing, archery, mountain biking, and everything in between.
Bike Park
- Since the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park was established in 2009, it has been designed to meet the needs of all riders; from beginners on two wheels to gravity experts. The lift-served bike haul, provided via the Red Lady Express, has a diverse network of trails that contains both downhill specific and cross-country rides that connect to some of the legendary trails located in and around Crested Butte.
Wildflower Hikes & the Wildflower Festival
- The Crested Butte Wildflower Festival is an annual 10-day festival offering over 200 workshops in wildflower expertise each July, be it painting, pollination, photography, culinary arts, or leading hikes into the wild beyond in the heart of the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Summer is the perfect time to take a wildflower hike with the family to experience the beauty of the area.
Disc Golf
- Bring your own discs and try Colorado's most scenic 18-hole disc golf course! Crested Butte’s disc golf course 10-3 @ CB, named after the course’s elevation, is eighteen holes of pure fun for beginners and seasoned players alike. The course begins at the top of the Red Lady Express Lift and meanders downhill to the base area.