The Gore Creek Trail follows the creek that runs through the heart of Vail Valley, connecting the village to the surrounding wilderness. The section through town is paved and busy with strollers and cyclists; further east, the trail enters the White River National Forest and becomes a proper mountain path through stands of aspen and pine.
The easiest stretch begins at Ford Park and heads east along the creek. In summer the creek runs clear and cold, fed by snowmelt from the mountains above, and the willows and meadow grass along its banks attract a surprising amount of birdlife. The trail continues all the way into the Eagles Nest Wilderness if you want to make a longer day of it. In winter the lower section is often passable for a brisk walk even when the mountain is crowded with skiers.
For mountain bikers, the trail connects to a network of singletrack that climbs into the hills above the valley. The Vail Mountain Bike Park (accessed via the gondola in summer) offers more challenging terrain.