minturn mile

I just learned to ski and after three weeks of skiing my friends took me down the Minturm mile to the bar. The first half, after a good snow was filled with tons of fresh powder. The second half of the trail was icy and luge like, the whole ride down I spent trying to slow my speed down. By the time I made it to the bar I was beat!The key to the minturn mile is to leave in the afternoon so that when you finish the bar is open. It is a happening place and the bartenders are great, especially Margaret!

This is one of the best Saturday markets I've ever been too. So many good, fresh foods and a great variety. The crepes were a booming business and the roasted chillies were a great "take away" for my family.Enjoy - and eat your way through this quaint little town!

I have skied this twice with friends and aside from being off the beaten track, the reward is having a beer at the bar at the end of the run. A great way to end a spring day.

The drop in can be a lot of fun on a powder day, but there is a long luge like run out that seems to take forever. If you do it have a margarita at the Minturn Saloon to celebrate.

Was neither greatly impressed nor was I disappointed

This is a out of bounds ski run made popular for it's deep powder and great dining at the end of the trail. This is for expert skiers that can endure the run out through river beds and over logs to a road in the town of Minturn where you walk in your snowboard gear or skis and end up at the restos in town. There is no Ski Patrol as this is off trail (piste). The skiing is comparable to game creek bowl but not part of Vail resorts. After your 120 powder turns be prepared for a half hour of out run unless you go early, then you will break trail and better know where your going. For all the effort mushroom bowl at least ends up back in the resort and is higher altitude with deeper snow and about equal risk. Even the east vail chutes end on the IN TOWN bus route if you know how to hang left at the end. For off piste the Minturn Mile is more about the food at the end than the skiing.

This is kind of a cool side trip. Take Game Creek lift up, follow to the Lost Boy run. Keep going past the "Warning - off mountain rescues can be costly" sign. Head down the mountain. The run "funnels" down to the bottom. It needs snow to be enjoyable. The run ends at the road in Minturn (I think Taylor Street). Throw your skis over your shoulder and walk a couple 100 yards to the Saloon for drinks and dinner. Call a cab for the ride back.

Eight members of our Cleveland Ski Club took the Minturn Mile and had a blast. I don't recommend it for average skiers and i don't recommend it for anyone if there isn't a lot of fresh snow. You enter the gate for the Minturn off Lost Boy Trail at Vail and from there you pretty much follow the trail down the valley into Minturn. What makes this challenging is the narrowness of the trail and without fresh snow it would not only be hard to control your skis but you'd probably tear them up on rocks and debis on the trail.

Hi, to everyone who reads these little article.I remember the first time I went to vail, I was about 10 years old (today I'am 30), since then Vail Mountain has always offered a very good experience of skiing like new bowls, new tracks and even new mountains. But it was until 2010 that I discovered the Minturn Mile, about 5 years ago someone in a lift mentioned something about it but I didnt pay much attention. Two years ago I heard of it again so I started investigating, finally a local worker told me about the trail an the way to get to minturn, for different reasons (weather, lack courage, nor time) I didnt go. For these season I decided that these was gonna be my goal, and I made it...... IT WAS THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF SKIING DURING THESE SEASON, trully a nice and different adventure for skiers around the world.Luckilly my brother in law decided to come with me and we took off. (just go to lift 3 or 7 and ski to to the top of LOST BOY, go all the way to the left and you'll find an exit with different caution signs, then ski all the way down threw the powder and trees till you get to the river, then follow the river, it will take you all the way to minturn)I'am not that good skier in powder, but you really need to be a quick feet skier so you can move quickly between trees or stop wen you feel your going too fast. The ride lasts about 35 minutes and when you get to minturn you have too walk about half a mile to get to the minturn saloon, there you will taste the best beer of your life.........Just go for it.... you will have lots of fun (just remember to ski with precution and try to notify someone you know and might meet you in the saloon).Have a nice adventure.Marco CummingsMexico City, Mexico

I skied the Minturn yesterday for the first time having heard about its mysteries for years and never quite having got there before. It is not to be taken lightly but was just unbelievable in parts. I am an intermediate to advanced skier, you need to be proficient in powder. After 6 new inches overnight we decided to give it a go. The top is breathtaking. Gorgeous powder, quite steep and deep where everybody had a great play.The next section is ok, a pleasant stroll or glide through tree lined glades, nothing challenging there alongside a creek. I gather you can come through it a different way where you have to cross the creek which can be tough but we seemed not to have to do that. Very pretty part of the route.The last section is the infamous luge and nothing really enjoyable about it. Its simply something you have to do in order to enjoy the top bit. We did it in fresh snow and that was bad enough. You cant turn although there are about 3 opportunities to slam your skis right to reduce the speed. Otherwise you simply bank into the strongest snow plough wedge to attempt to get down in one piece. If there was no one else on the track you could take a chance and let the speed hot up but to be honest, if you come across anyone else in front you are going to take them out in a dangerous fashion. The worst bit is the last 100 yards which gets really icy and you simply aim to stay upright on a very very narrow part of the track.But it was worth it just to ski the top part. Would not like to do it in poor ski conditions though. Would probably say give it a miss and wait for a powder day!.The saloon is sensational and margaritas have never tasted better.

This is a trail that can kick your behind. When it is slick with lack of snow you barely have room to make any turns. It is not wide enough to turn your skis as it is 3-4' wide in its long trail to Minturn. I am an average ability skier who found rough going in his attempt to conquer the Minturn Mile. Tht is a joke in itself as it is about 3-4 miles long.I made it but not without being totally burnt at the end. P.S. The Ribs at the Minturn make the trip worth the ride.