Federal land managers are reviewing a proposal from Vail Resorts to upgrade chairlifts, improve terrain flow, and expand snowmaking infrastructure at Vail Mountain—and they’re asking for public feedback before moving forward. The White River National Forest, which oversees the land on which the ski area operates under a special use permit, opened a public comment period this week as part of its environmental review process.
“As we review this proposal for Vail Mountain, we want to hear any comments or concerns from the public,” Leanne Veldhuis said, Eagle-Holy Cross District Ranger, in a public statement.
The planned improvements fall within the resort’s existing permit boundary and were outlined in its 2023 Master Development Plan, a long-term vision document reviewed by the Forest Service. At the center of the proposal is a replacement of the Orient Express (Chair 21), a fixed-grip quad currently serving portions of the Back Bowls. Vail plans to install a six-person lift with higher uphill capacity, moving from 2,400 to 3,600 riders per hour to reduce bottlenecks and improve access to expert terrain.
Elsewhere on the mountain, Vail proposes to replace Chair 15 in the Eagle’s Nest beginner zone with a more modern quad, doubling its current capacity. The project would also expand snowmaking infrastructure to support more consistent early- and late-season use in that area. The proposal includes approximately six acres of “grading” near the Two Elk ridgeline to improve skier circulation between Chairs 21 and 24. If approved, the modifications would allow the removal of Lift 24, simplifying traffic flow across that ridge.
Finally, Vail is seeking approval to realign 890 feet of access road at Mountain Top to allow better access for summer maintenance and construction. According to the Forest Service, public comments submitted by June 6 will carry the most weight during the evaluation phase. Full proposal documents and comment submission details are available on the agency’s website.
