Vail Nature Hikes
The town of vail and has plenty of luxury hotels and exquisite restaurants but nothing beats the beautiful Vail Nature Hikes. Hiking the surrounding area is the best way to enjoy the wildlife that made our valley the touristic destination that it is. Charming aspen groves and pine forests make for great refuge from the hot summers and protection from the wind in the winter. Hiking gives you the opportunity to observe an overabundance of wildlife from golden eagles and red tail hawks to marmots and mule deer.
In order to witness the most wildlife it is key to escape from the crowds. Our guides have less traveled trails that will give you just that opportunity.
Possible Wildlife
- Bald Eagle
- Grey Jay
- Pine Crosbeak
- Red Fox
- Black Bear
- Moose
Booking / More Info
Ready to sign up? We look forward guiding you on a Vail Nature. Register with the accompanying calendar, call (970) 949-9111 or use our contact page to request more info.
See our inclusion policy for special group requests.
Vail Nature Hikes – Quick Info
Explore nature in the Vail Valley! Escape the crowds and really appreciate the beauty that surrounds Vail with Apex Mountain School.
Duration
6 – 12 Hours
Location
Mt Elbert area
Difficulty
Easy to Moderate
What To Bring
- Rain Jacket or Hardshell
- 64 oz of water per person
- Small day backpack (we have bags available upon request)
- Snacks
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm (optional)
- Hiking boots/Shoes
- layering appropriate for weather conditions (synthetic recommended)
During times of Covid-19 concern please bring: Face mask, Hand Sanitizer, and Rubber Gloves (if desired)
**Not enough slots? Reach us at admin@apexmountainschool.com
Andrew Kirchhoff
July 1, 2022.
My teen sons and I had an amazing time rappelling with Bob in Vail! Apex provided everything we needed and accommodated our last minute booking. Thank you Apex!!
PARTYBOMBS
June 29, 2022.
Myself and my family had a awesome time repelling. Thanks to Bob we had fun while staying safe. I would recommend for anyone seeking a thrilling experience.
Colin Kirchhoff
June 29, 2022.
Bob was a fantastic guide! Despite never repelling before, Bob never failed to make us feel safe and confident enough to have fun. 10/10 experience. Thank you so much!
Beth Ann Rosica
June 28, 2022.
We had an amazing day climbing with Bob! We had 4 kids between 13 and 15, and Bob coached all of them to the top! He was patient and encouraging and kept everyone safe! I highly recommend Apex for a climbing experience! The kids are hooked on climbing and loved the adventure!
Jack Saussy
June 27, 2022.
My family had a great day climbing with Bob. He was very knowledgeable about the routes and equipment and turned our half day of climbing into a lesson. I plan to get my own shoes and join a gym at home because of this great experience, I highly recommend Apex Mountain School!
Jamie Schmid
February 7, 2022.
We had such a blast ice climbing with our guide Jesse! He was so helpful and motivating and never made us feel like we were terrible at climbing even though it was our first time haha and he was so patient with all my picture taking and getting great shots! Would 1,000% recommend!
Joe Mahoney
January 18, 2022.
Took my AIARE 1 through APEX. It was hard to decide with so many options out there. Look no further, APEX is exactly what you're looking for. I walked away with the exact knowledge I was hoping to get, and more. Josh V was our instructor and is extremely knowledgeable, had great answers to all of our questions and was just great to hang out with in the backcountry. Can't recommend these guys enough.
Shannon M.
December 6, 2021.
Recently took the Level 1 AIARE Course with Apex and had a great experience. All of the instructors were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about snow safety and answered all questions in great detail to ensure the students learned as much as possible in the 3 day course. It was a very hands on experience and we were even able to do lots of field work despite the low snow conditions right now. Will definitely come back for another course, and looking forward to more backcountry travel with all the new info learned!
kurt albertson
November 24, 2021.
Apex Mountain School is a wonderful outdoor educational and guide service! Recently took the level one AIARE and Avalanche Rescue course through Apex. Our instructors Andy and Mike were highly professional, knowledgeable and very engaging instructors that were very passionate about snow safety and teaching others about best practices to enjoy their experiences safely in the backcountry. Would highly recommend anyone regardless of experience to take a course with Apex. Looking forward to continuing my outdoor experiences with Apex in the future via additional educational courses as well as the opportunity for private guided trips. Excellent people and a great experience!!!
Tom Watson
November 23, 2021.
I took the AIARE 1 course with Apex Mountain school and it was truly an amazing experience. Andy was a outstanding instructor, he fostered a culture in the group that encouraged participation, teamwork, learning and fun! The knowledge and tools learned in the course were second to none. We were fortunate to have a small group of 5, and this allowed for a lot of questions, learn by doing, and overall really fun time. I cannot recommend Apex Mountain School enough.