Vail Resorts Are Reopening Across the Country — What to Know About Their Health and Safety Procedures

Some of the most scenic views in the country will once again welcome visitors as Vail Resorts gets ready to reopen its iconic mountain resorts, complete with social distancing, mandatory face masks, and enhanced cleaning, the company shared with Travel + Leisure.

“Summer is a special time in the mountains and we are excited to welcome guests back to the outdoors to have fun, refresh and recharge,” Pat Campbell, the president of Vail Resorts’ mountain division, said in a statement shared with T+L. “While we are offering limited summer activities, we are lucky that our beautiful outdoor settings provide a landscape to experience nature and to easily practice physical distancing so we all can safely return to the mountains we love. It is our expectation that guests help us ensure the experience is safe for them and for our employees by following our new guidelines. As summer progresses, we look forward to opening more activities and adventures at our resorts.”

While Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado and Okemo and Mount Snow in Vermont have already opened for hiking and scenic gondola rides, Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Vail, Beaver Creek, Park City, and Breckenridge will follow soon after in the beginning of July.

While resorts are once again open to guests, it will look a lot different than before COVID-19. Face masks will be required in certain areas, including in lines, while loading or unloading chairlifts, while riding in gondolas or bubble chairs, on slides and coasters, and inside any facilities at the resort, according to the company. The resort can provide face masks for anyone who didn’t bring one on request.

In addition, plexiglass barriers were installed in specific areas, including where people would purchase anything, and many transactions will be cashless. Capacity restrictions will be enforced, notably with lifts and gondolas, and people will only be able to ride with other members of their party.

Vail Resorts said employees, who will be required to wear face coverings at all times, will go through daily health screenings and have to stay home if they feel sick.

Resorts will prioritize hygiene protocols, including frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, in public restrooms, and after each ride on things like alpine slides and mountain coasters.

Here is a list of Vail Resorts mountains with their opening dates and what will be open:

Attitash

Opening date: July 18

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; alpine slide; grab ‘n go food.

Beaver Creek

Opening date: July 1

What will be open: Scenic chairlift and gondola rides; hiking; bike haul; Spruce Saddle to offer grab ‘n go food.

Breckenridge

Opening date: July 4

What will be open: BreckConnect Gondola; scenic chairlift rides; hiking; alpine slide and alpine coaster; Ski Hill Grill to offer grab ‘n go food.

Crested Butte

Opening date: June 26

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; Butte 66 to offer grab ‘n go food.

Heavenly

Opening date: July 3

What will be open: Scenic gondola rides; hiking; Tamarack Lodge and Café Blue to offer grab ‘n go food. Mountain coaster opening date to be determined.

Hunter

Opening date: July 4

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides and hiking.

Keystone

Opening date: June 26

What will be open: River Run Gondola; hiking; Summit House to offer grab ‘n go food. Golf opened June 5 at the River Course.

Liberty

Opening date: June 17

What will be open: Golf

Mount Snow

Opening date: June 26

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; Bullwheel to offer grab ‘n go food. Golf and Fairways (grab ‘n go) opened June 17.

Northstar

Opening date: July 15

What will be open: Golf to open July 15. Additional activities to be announced by early July.

Okemo

Opening date: June 26

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; mountain coaster; golf and disc golf.

Park City

Opening date: July 2

What will be open: Scenic chairlift rides; hiking; bike haul; alpine slide and mountain coaster; Jupiter Java to offer grab ‘n go food. Canyons Golf is scheduled to open June 26.

Stowe

Opening date: June 27

What will be open: Auto Toll Road opens June 27. Scenic gondola rides and Waffle to offer grab ‘n go food on July 18.

Vail

Opening date: July 1

What will be open: Gondola One scenic rides; hiking; grab ‘n go food at Mid-Vail. Mid-July, Gondola 19 is scheduled to open with hiking, Epic Discovery interpretive trails, mountain coaster and grab ‘n go food at Eagle’s Nest.

Wildcat

Opening date: August 1

What will be open: Wildcat Express scenic chairlift rides; hiking; cafeteria to offer grab ‘n go food.

Whistler Blackcomb

Opening date: June 29, subject to provincial alignment

What will be open: Whistler Village Gondola, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and Blackcomb Gondola scenic rides; hiking; bike park (Fitz Zone and Garbanzo chair). Rendezvous, Garbanzo Bike and Bean, and Roundhouse to offer grab ‘n go food.

Whitetail

Opening date: June 17

What will be open: Golf