Probably the easiest trail to access on Vail Mountain, Berry Picker, measuring roughly six miles each way, begins right at the base of the gondola in Lionshead and ends at the top of the gondie at Eagle’s Nest.
To start, cross the bridge to the east of the gondola terminal, and you’re good to go – beginning the Berry Picker on a smooth singletrack surrounded by tall grass and Colorado wildflowers.
Don’t be fooled by the first flat 100 footsteps, the trail does take a few steep turns up switchbacks and traverses the front side of the ski mountain, but you’ll be so engrossed in the pine smells and surrounding aspens, foliage and berry bushes, that you won’t even notice you’re exerting yourself.
Yes, they call it Berry Picker for a reason. However, DO NOT pick the berries. They can be poisonous and serve better as food for animals that really need them.
With roots, rocks and the occasional small stream to step over, you’ll hardly notice that you’re hiking up a ski mountain, and the whir of the gondola line overhead will just reach your ears like a steady (and OK, loud and unnatural) breeze.
Well-marked the entire way, the Berry Picker is one of Vail Mountain’s foot traffic-only trails, thus you will not have to leap out of the way of mountain bikers. But, as the trail does cross a couple of dirt service roads, you’ll want to look both ways for said two-wheelers and maintenance trucks.
Once at Eagle’s Nest (about two hours if you hike at a moderate pace), you can catch an awesome view of Mount of the Holy Cross (one of Colorado’s 55 peaks measuring 14,000-plus feet) to the south and the jaw-dropping panorama of the Gore Mountains to the northeast. You can also sit down for a snack or if you’re in need of a higher heart rate, get airborne on the Bungee trampoline at Adventure Ridge.
Don’t forget to bring all the necessary provisions and plenty of sunscreen. Read our hiking tips before you go.
Happy trails!
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Berry Picker
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