VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Northwoods Express (#11) to Get an Upgrade

Vail Resorts continues its wave of tremendous investments at Vail Mountain with the replacement of the Northwoods Express Lift (#11) with a six-passenger lift to debut during the 2017-2018 winter season, with U.S. Forest Service approval. 

The new lift will reduce wait times and increase capacity by 25 percent and will improve the flow of skiers and snowboarders to the legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin throughout the day, including end of day, creating a better flow of traffic exiting Blue Sky Basin and moving across the mountain.

Every time we upgrade a lift at Vail, the mountain experience improves and since 2007 the experience has been completely transformed. With the 10 new lifts, you have more time than ever to explore the terrain and less time waiting in line or riding the chair.

The current lift – a Doppelmayr detachable-quad– was installed in 1985, along with a group of lifts including, the original Vista Bahn Express (#16), Mountain Top Express (#4) and the current Game Creek Express (#7). The Vista Bahn Express was upgraded in 2012 to the 10-passenger Gondola One, and in 2013, Mountain Top Express was upgraded to a detachable six-pack.

Keep an eye out for updates on the new six-passenger lift as it is installed over summer and fall 2017 and take a ride on the new lift during the 2017-2018 season!