Eagle: Trails, Water and History

When choosing Eagle as a destination, you can plan your stay around a range of interests: cycling and walking trails, paddling, plant diversity and history offer different points of interest. First consider what kinds of experiences you and your travel companions want to focus on. This can also help you choose a vacation rental: a clear focus for your trip gives your search for a place to stay a specific direction.

Paved Trails and Shared Use

The Eagle Valley Trail connects its users with town centers that offer shopping, dining, events and activities. This means that, alongside exercise, the connection to the town centers is also part of the experience. In Vail, the recreational trail network includes more than 15 miles of paved recreational trails within Vail and connects to the wider Eagle County trail network. The Vail Pass Bike Path focuses on shared use: this fully paved recreational trail is intended for biking, walking and other non-motorized activities. So if you prefer to get around on foot, you needn’t think of it as a cycling-only route. The trails, surface and types of use provide practical criteria for planning active days.

Paddling, Watching and Discovering Plants

Avon’s Whitewater Park offers freestyle kayaking and paddling opportunities for beginners, intermediate paddlers and experienced paddlers. The park also has a spectator terrace. This makes room for different roles on a group outing: you can make paddling the main activity or watch the action from the terrace. For groups with varied interests, this distinction can make planning the day easier without expecting everyone to take part in the same way.

West Avon Preserve offers a different perspective on nature. It has numerous wildflowers and a variety of plant species, including Harrington’s Penstemon. This is a specific point of interest for anyone who is also interested in plant life during a vacation. Paddling and plant diversity thus offer different emphases: one on activities on the water, the other on botanical observation.

History from Ranch Barn to County Fair

The Eagle County Historical Society’s history museum was once the barn of a local rancher. Its exhibits tell the story from the time when the Ute roamed the land through to the development of the county’s famous ski resorts in the 1960s and 1970s. This historical arc brings Indigenous history and the later development of ski tourism together in one exhibition. The museum complex also includes the reconstructed Avon General Store.

The Eagle County Fair also has a long history: the first Eagle County Fair was held in Eagle on September 16, 1939. With brief interruptions during World War II and the recent pandemic, the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo developed into an annual event. The Eagle County Fairgrounds are located along the Eagle River.

Seasonal Experiences in Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek is in Eagle County and offers a seasonal scenic gondola in summer. The Birds of Prey World Cup is also held annually at Beaver Creek Mountain. These are two distinct highlights: an explicitly seasonal summer offering and a recurring annual sporting event. If the World Cup is important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates in advance.

Choose a Focus for Your Vacation Rental Search

When searching for a vacation rental, it helps to start by matching your main activity to a location. If paddling is your priority, focus your search on Avon; for biking and walking, Vail is a specific point of reference. If you are traveling with children of different ages, you might also consider who wants to take part and who would rather watch. The spectator terrace at the Whitewater Park offers a specific place for this.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Basalt, Vail, Avon, Beaver Creek, Minturn, Edwards, Eagle and Gilpin County.

Go to the main travel overview: Colorado.