Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area Snow Conditions
55,000 acres of managed mountain snowmobile corridors and backcountry ski bowls.
Spanning the Sawatch and Gore Range passes along I-70, the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area (VPWRA) features designated motorized riding bowls toward Shrine Mountain and Black Lakes, alongside dedicated non-motorized ski touring terrain.
Activity Profile:
0.0/10
Poor: Thin 0" base, softening at 48°F, calm winds.
Aggregated telemetry score tailored for Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area terrain and elevation profile.
Data Freshness & Provenance
Settled Base DepthUSDA SNOTEL Sensor
Just nowRecent
Recent Snowfall AccumulationAutomated Telemetry
Just nowFresh
7-Day Atmospheric ForecastOpen-Meteo Numerical Stream
< 1 min agoLive
Historical Baseline (% of Normal)NRCS / NOAA 1991–2020 Normals
30-Yr BenchmarkBenchmark
Settled Base DepthVail Pass / Shrine Pass
Measured (SNOTEL)
0in
SWE (Water Eq.)0.2"
24h New Snow+0"
72h Storm Total+0"
Historical Season Baseline105% of Normal
Why Conditions Currently Look Limited
Positive Condition Drivers
- Calm 0 mph winds with low windchill
Limitations & Caution Factors
- Severe boulder & stump hazards under thin 0" cover
- High 48°F temp causes rapid snowpack degradation
Mathematical Point Contributions:
Base Depth: 0 ptsTemp Thaw: -5.8 pts
7-Day Snow & Weather Forecast
High-resolution Open-Meteo atmospheric forecast
7-Day Total: +17.0" Snow
TodayOct 2
28°16°
💨 12 mph
SatOct 3
24°12°
💨 18 mph
SunOct 4
26°14°
💨 10 mph
MonOct 5
32°18°
💨 8 mph
TueOct 6
34°20°
💨 14 mph
WedOct 7
27°15°
💨 20 mph
ThuOct 8
29°17°
💨 11 mph
2026–27 Snow Season & Historical Baselines
Current vs Typical for Date
2%-98% below typical
Historical Average Peak Depth
68"Typically late Feb – early Apr
Typical Recreation Season
November - MayCore winter snowpack window
Methodology: Baselines represent 30-year median snow water and depth records calculated by USDA NRCS / NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Official Avalanche Advisory Required (Vail & Summit County)
SnowBase condition ratings score snow depth and meteorological quality, NOT avalanche danger. Before backcountry skiing or mountain riding, you must check the official regional avalanche forecast and carry rescue gear (beacon, shovel, probe).
View Official Avalanche Center Forecast →