Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area

Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area is open to motorized and non-motorized uses and requires that you purchase a day or season pass to enter the area. It is open from approximately November through May, snow conditions permitting (see our Winter Motor Vehicle Use Map for motorized over-snow dates). There are fee stations at all of the trailheads where you can purchase day or season passes. You can also purchase season passes at the Dillon Ranger District office. Maps are available at these locations and show users which routes are open to motorized and non-motorized travel. There are some groomed routes in this area.

This winter recreation area is managed by the USDA Forest Service as part of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004. The purpose of this program is to collect fees that help maintain and manage recreational areas and enhance visitor services and experiences on some public lands that receive high visitor numbers and use. 95% of the fees collected remain on site for management purposes.  Because of this, Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area fees are not covered under  Interagency/America the Beautiful Passes. Fees are collected per person for every person ages 16 and up:

Day pass $10
Season Pass $65

This is a multi-use recreation area. Please respect other users and always use Leave No Trace principles.

Each year people get hurt or even die in the backcountry by not being prepared! Plan ahead and learn tips, techniques and strategies for avoiding winter hazards at our Winter and Backcountry Safety page. 

Vail Pass Rec Area Map and general information:

*Visitors must understand and comply with area use restrictions – e.g. snowmobilers are not allowed to operate in non-motorized areas, shaded in blue on the trail map

• Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area Map (.pdf)
• Vail Pass Winter Recreation Guide (.pdf)
• Map for your mobile device: Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area Map via the Avenza map store.

At a Glance