Welcome to ThinkVail! We hope you find this article about where to play pickleball in Vail Colorado helpful.
Pickleball is taking the Vail Valley by storm! Here is a detailed list of all the places offering this fun, competitive sport in and around Vail, Colorado as well as the local tournaments and championship play that take place in the valley.
Pickleball is the fun, popular, new racquet sport that is taking Colorado, and the rest of the country by storm. It is one of the fastest growing sports in North America and everybody is giving it a try.
Pickleball combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis, but it is, in essence, simply, oversize ping-pong.
Played on a badminton size court, a paddle is used to keep a light, plastic type of wiffle ball volleying back and forth over the net. Games are played as singles or doubles, and happily, Pickleball has very simple rules, that are similar to tennis and is easy to learn and fun to play!
To learn more about how to play pickleball, see videos, tournament schedules and places to play in western Colorado visit: Western Slope Pickleball Club
Pickleball has taken Vail, Colorado by storm and there are many places where you can drop-in, borrow some paddles and balls and give this fun new sport a whirl. Here is a list of all the places where you can get in on the action in the Vail Valley!
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461 Vail Valley Drive Vail, Colorado
Located at the east end of Vail Mountain, between Vail Village and the Ford Amphitheater and Ford Park. The Golden Peak Pickleball Center offers a summer outdoor pickle ball program This is one of the finest pickle ball facilities in the area. It has six dedicated pickle ball courts with high performance surfaces that is easier on the knees, joints and body then conventional outdoor court surfaces.
Enjoy a comfortable, shaded seating area, a filtered water bottle filler, solar-powered bathrooms and the helpful Vail Recreation staff that maintains the courts and ongoing activities. During drop-in play, a “Challenge Court” is available for advanced-level players.
They offer balls and demo paddles at these drop-in sessions. They also offer protective eye wear, court shoes, portable nets and more for purchase. There is also a variety of clinics and lessons from Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) offered.
There is limited parking at the courts, so the best place to park for summer pickleball at Golden Peak is at the east end of the Vail Village Parking Structure, which is less then a five-minute walk to the courts.
Take advantage of drop-in play from 10 am to 2 pm during weekdays and 9 am to noon on the weekend with a Shootout in the afternoon
Remember that dates and times for play may change so please contact Vail Rec District to confirm before you go. Get more information, programming schedule and pricing at VailRec.com
551 N Frontage Rd W, Vail, CO
The Vail Recreation District also manages winter indoor pickleball play at Red Sandstone Elementary School. The Red Sandstone Elementary school is located on the north side of the highway in Vail at 551 N Frontage Rd.
During the winter months (October-May) pickleball is played on the 3 full-sized indoor pickleball courts at Red Sandstone. Drop-in sessions are open to people of all ages, abilities and experience.
Beginner-Intermediate and Intermediate-Advanced drop-in play is available. Certified instructors are always on-hand.
Cost is $5 or purchase a punch card for additional savings
VRD offers clinics and lessons from Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) certified instructors during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Visit VailRec.com for more information, scheduling and programs offered
Ford Park 700 S. Frontage Road E., Vail, CO
Play pickleball on eight Har-Tru clay courts with stunning views of the Gore Range Mountains, then look no further than Vail Tennis Center. Located in Ford Park near the softball fields, the Tennis Center boasts eight outdoor clay courts and a full-service pro shop that rents rackets and schedules the courts. Lessons, programs, camps and clinics are available for players of all ages and abilities. Season passes and drop-in day passes are available. Vail Tennis Center only operates during the summer months, starting around Memorial Day weekend. Managed by the Vail Rec District, visit their website for the full schedule of programs VailRec.com
4695 Vail Racquet Club Dr, Vail, CO
Enjoy Pickleball at the Vail Racquet Club Mountain Resort is an extraordinary hotel with condo and townhome vacation rentals. It is located in the heart of East Vail. The Vail Racquet Club boasts 8 outdoor courts, including 3 clay courts. There is also a tennis shop and restaurant on-site. All courts are available spring, summer and fall and feature breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Check out there calendar to schedule your next pickleball game. VailRacquetClub.com
Stay & Play!
Court time is available to anyone but it is free to resort guests and members and can be secured when reserved within 24 hours of your desired time.
1 Academy Loop, Minturn, CO 81645
During the winter season (till early April) enjoy supervised indoor drop-in play at the Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy in Minturn. Court days and times are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 -10 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The Vail Rec District manages winter pickleball at the VSSA and balls are provided, demo paddles are available to try, and new paddles are offered for purchase. Certified instructors are available.
Weekly round robin shoot-outs are held on Sundays at 1:30 pm and players must register by Friday each week to participate.
Scheduled times and programming is subject to change so please visit the website for the most up-to-date information and events. All programs require pre-registration except for drop-in play. VailRec.com
134 Eagle Drive, South of the Swimming Pool
Eagle Vail offers some wonderful, newly renovated courts for pickleball. Courts are for both EagleVail residents and non-residents. There is a $5 fee for non-residents and residents are free to play. Season passes are also available.
Vicky LeRoux-Keleske is the resident pickleball professional and she offers private and semi private pickleball clinics/camps for all ages and abilities.
Enjoy morning pickleball play on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-noon. There are also evening pickleball sessions on Tuesday and Thursdays from 6-8p. Keep in mind days and times are subject to change so please check with their website for the most up-to-date schedule and programming. EagleVail.org
The EagleVail Courts Facility has tennis courts, pickleball courts, and a multi-sport basketball court.
850 West Beaver Creek Boulevard, Avon, CO
Enjoy adult, drop-in, co-ed, open pickleball play at the Avon Elementary school gymnasium on Monday and Friday nights from 6-9 pm. It costs $5 to play and racquets and balls are provided. There are 3 indoor courts available. There are also 4 new outdoor courts at the school which are heavily used during the summer and fall. Enjoy free drop-in play for these courts every day from 9 am-noon. They have paddles and balls available for players to use. On-site supervisor is available to answer questions about pickleball or its rules.
Managed and maintained by the Avon Recreation Center. Visit their website for more information, schedule and to register and pay online. AvonRecCenter.com
1200 Arrowhead Drive Edwards, CO
Located at Country Club of the Rockies at the base of Arrowhead Ski Area, these four beautiful clay courts and two hard courts offer an amazing setting to play pickleball. The Arrowhead at Vail tennis courts are a combination of both Har-Tru and hard surface courts and feature programming for adults and kids of all ages and abilities!
Enjoy lots of fun pickleball activities on Thursdays and Sundays starting in early June. Enhance your skills and knowledge with clinics, instruction and match play. Most programs are free for Arrowhead residents and $10 for non-residents. You can also take advantage of private lessons, semi private lessons and group private lessons.
Visit their website for current pickleball schedule and more information about programming: ArrowheadAtVail.net
52 Lundgren Boulevards, Gypsum, CO
Managed by Mountain Recreation, the Gypsum Rec Center offers adult, drop-in pickleball Monday-Friday from 8am-1pm. Sessions are only during the winter months on their indoor courts from October-April. The cost is $7 for seniors (60+), $10 for adults. Price includes the use of the nets, balls and basic paddles if needed.
Keep in mind that scheduling and programming can change please visit there website for the most up-to-date events and information. MountainRec.org
100 Wulfsohn Road Glenwood Springs, CO.
Offering pickleball programming on indoor courts at the Glenwood Springs Community Center Gymnasium and on the outdoor courts, weather permitting. Come Mondays 6pm-9pm, Tuesday & Thursday mornings 9 am-1 pm and Saturdays 9am-1 pm for pickleball games.
Drop in anytime during league time and play with multiple partners increasing your skills and knowledge, all while having a blast. Come be a part of the fastest growing sport in the United States, Pickleball!
The Glenwood Springs Recreation Center outdoor courts are located outside the Glenwood Springs Community Center. There are four courts available for drop-in play or reservation. Courts are fully lit for evening play. Tennis ball and a pickleball machines are also available to rent.
Reservations can be made at GlenwoodRec.com seven days per week. Reservations are free with membership or $10 for non-members.
There are lots of opportunities to check out the pros playing pickleball in the Vail valley. Come and enjoy all the fun and excitement while watching these cool tournaments.
The Vail Pickleball Open is a fun 5-day USAPA sanctioned tournament that takes place in August. Includes Ladies singles, and Mens and Ladies 70+ age division. Mixed 60+ and Men’s singles, Mens’ doubles, Ladies doubles and Mixed doubles are offered at 3.0 and below, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 skill levels. There is also Mixed 70+ and mens and ladies 60+
Tournament includes an Open/Pro Division in Mens, Ladies and Mixed Doubles with a large cash purse!
You can register with or without a partner, but register early, because this tournament fills up quickly. For more information or to register visit USAPA.org
The Battle of the Paddle is a 5-day USAPA sanctioned tournament takes place in Gypsum Colorado at the Gypsum Creek Golf Course. Includes Men’s and Women’s 65+ Doubles, Mixed Doubles 65+ and Men’s and Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Doubles.
Lots of prizes are awarded.
For more information, to register or to check out other pickleball tournaments visit PickleballTournaments.com
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Hopefully this list about Where to Play Pickleball in Vail Colorado helps you get out and try this really fun, new sport. It is a great way to meet new friends, while being active and having a great time. Where is your favorite place to play pickleball in the Vail valley? What is your experience playing pickleball, do you have any good stories about playing pickleball? We would love to hear them.
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Great article about where to play pickleball in Vail, Colorado. I just started playing pickleball this winter at the Red Sandstone School. So far I have only played indoor pickleball but I am so looking forward to playing this fun sport outdoors this summer. Thanks to your article I am planning to try quite a few courts, I didn't realize there were so many courts in the area. Love the idea of playing at Golden Peak, Vail Tennis courts, Eagle Vail, Avon and Arrowhead. Lots of variety, can't wait to give them all a try! Thanks again for putting all the courts and their information in one post.
Hi Fiona, thank you for your kind comments toward the post where to play pickleball in Vail, Colorado. Yes, this activity keeps growing in popularity, here in the Vail valley and there are lots of places to play. Have fun giving all these pickleball courts a try. Remember when playing outdoors to wear sunscreen and don't forget a visor to keep the sun out of your eyes. Have fun and enjoy outdoor pickleball in the summer in the mountains, it's fantastic!
Thanks for this information about where to play pickleball in Vail, Colorado. I have just moved to the area and have spent a lifetime playing tennis but due to injuries and age I can no longer play the sport the way I use to. I have been thinking of trying pickleball because it is similar to tennis, but has a smaller, lighter racket and plays on a smaller court. This might be easier, and the pace slower and less aggressive so it sounds perfect for my situation. I live in Arrowhead, so I think I will sign up for some of the clinics so I can meet other like-minded women to play with while learning the basics, I am confident that I can pick it up quickly due to my previous tennis experience.I love this list because Arrowhead courts close in the winter so if I like the sport i will need to find other venues for the winter. Now I just need to outfit myself with paddles and balls, I like to have my own equipment.
Hi Alblue
I think you are going to LOVE pickleball and it will be right up your alley. It is less strenuous but still tons of fun and can be as competitive as you want. Arrowhead is a beautiful place to play, and you will meet lots of friends and neighbors to play with. For pickleball paddles check out the post The Year's Best Pickleball Racquets, it has a great variety of paddles that you can buy online directly from the post. Have fun with your new adventure Alblue!
Awesome article about where to play pickleball in Vail, Colorado. I have been playing pickleball for about 2 years now and love it! It is really fun but it still feeds my very competitive nature. I have just started competing this summer. I am coming to Vail to watch the Vail Pickleball Open, the 6-day tournament you wrote about. I have been following many of the top players in this event and can't wait to watch them play first hand. The tournament takes place at Golden Peak so I doubt I will be able to play on those courts during the tournament but am hoping to try out some of the other local courts you suggested. Thanks so much for this information, you have made a pickleball fan very happy.
Hi Khobayer so happy to hear that the post about where to play pickleball in Vail Colorado was helpful to you and I am so excited that you will be in our neck of the woods later this summer for the Vail Pickleball Open. Remember, when you are up here at altitude (8,200 ft.) to wear sunscreen and sunglasses while watching the tournament over 6-days, as the sun can be very strong.
Pickleball is not something I have had the privilege to take part in... yet. We do have this sport in our area, just haven't had the time to check it out. It is gaining popularity here as well. I have seen many seniors and young people playing on a small court at a High School near us. As long as it's not too intense it would certainly be a good way to help keep a person more active.
I have played a fair amount of ping pong over the years and this seems to be equally as much fun.
My wife an I just recently retired and are looking to expand our horizons with our trailer and Colorado is one of the places we would like to visit. The Grand Canyon is one place on our bucket list and it wouldn't be very far (a few hours) to include a trip to Vail and perhaps a game or two of Pickleball.
Can you recommend any good but, not too expensive, places to camp with an RV?
Ready for Pickleball,
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
Wow, that sounds so fun traveling to different areas with your RV and enjoying the sights, sounds and activities of the area you are visiting. I am glad you enjoyed the post about where to play pickleball in Vail, Colorado, and yes, definitely put pickleball on your list, as a ping-pong player you are going to love this game because it is basically the same, just bigger!. Because the court is so much smaller than a normal tennis court it is not nearly as strenuous, but it is still fun and will keep you active. It's about 5 hours from Vail to the Grand Canyon so you could do it in the same trip but you would want to give yourself a day or two for travel. Yes there is a great RV Park in Gypsum, about 20 miles west of Vail CO called River Dance RV Resort.