Announcement: Vail Mountain proposals available for public comment

Announcement

MINTURN, Colo. (May 22, 2025) – The White River National Forest seeks public comments on a proposal from Vail Mountain Resort to replace several aging chair lifts and make additional upgrades to improve skier circulation and operational access.

“The White River National Forest provides world-class winter recreation opportunities, including 11 permitted ski resorts,” said Eagle-Holy Cross District Ranger Leanne Veldhuis. “As we review this proposal for Vail Mountain, we want to hear any comments or concerns from the public.”

The proposed changes are within Vail Mountain Resort's existing permit boundary and were included in the Vail Mountain Resort 2023 Master Development Plan.

Vail Mountain Resort proposes to replace the existing Chair 21 (Orient Express), a quad chairlift that has a capacity of 2,400 people per hour, with a six-person chairlift with a capacity of 3,600 people per hour. The replacement is planned to improve reliable access to the Back Bowls, reduce wait times, and improve circulation.  

Among the improvements proposed for the Eagle’s Nest Beginner’s Experience are replacing Chair 15 with a quad chairlift that would increase the current 1,400 people per hour capacity to 2,400, and improving snowmaking infrastructure to extend the length of Chair 15.

Vail proposes to grade approximately six acres of terrain along the Two Elk ridgeline between the top terminal of Chair 21 and the Two Elk Lodge to improve skier flow and circulation. The grading would eliminate flat and inconsistent pitches in this area as well as allow Lift 24 to be removed.

The proposal includes a new 890-foot alignment of the access road at Mountain Top to provide more reliable late-season access for summer construction, maintenance, and operations.

More details about the proposal as well as information about how to comment, is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/projects/68128. Comments will be most helpful if received by June 6, 2025.

About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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