Aspen vs. Vail [Infographic]

Which Ranks #1 With You?

Be it winter or summer, Aspen and Vail are both top-notch destinations, but which is best? Check out what they each offer, and decide where you want to ski, play in the snow or visit in the off-season for fun in the sun.

Aspen in Winter

• Gets 300 inches of snow per year.
• Provides a variety of trails for skiers and snowboarders: 637 acres of skiable terrain
• Snowmass has the nation's longest ski lift - the Cirque Lift.
• Two-thirds of Aspen Mountain's runs are rated advanced or expert.
• Snowmobile tours.
• Carriage and sleigh rides through picturesque Aspen, Colorado.
• Aspen hosts the X-Games and an annual celebration of winter, Winterskol, every January.

Vail in Winter

• Gets 366 inches of snow per year.
• Boasts 5,289 skiable acres with 193 trails for all skill levels.
• Atop Vail Mountain sits Adventure Ridge, which offers ski bikes, snowshoeing, tubing and kids' snowmobiling.
• Vail Village has more than 250 shops and 100 restaurants and bars.
• Vail has the largest network of express quad chairlifts in the world: 17 high-speed quads and a gondola.
• Fine-tune your skills at Vail Snowsports School for skiers and snowboarders.

Aspen in Summer

• Visit two nearby ghost towns: Ashcroft and Independence.
• Whitewater rafting.
• Flyfishing in the Roaring Fork Valley.
• Golf surrounded by mountain vistas.
• June's annual Aspen Food and Wine Classic.

Vail in Summer

• Horseback riding.
• Mountain biking trails.
• Hiking. Meet up with a local trail guide to learn about birds and wildflowers in the area.
• Jeep 4-wheeling tours.

It's High Time for a Good Time

Aspen and Vail are each beautiful alpine resort towns at elevations around 8,000 feet. The summits in each area reach heights of more than 13,000 feet.