A World Class Environmental Learning Center for Residents and Visitors
At Walking Mountains Science Center we provide locals and visitors from pre-k to gray with opportunities to explore nature, gain a scientific understanding, and learn about the many wonders of our mountain environment through natural science and sustainability programs.
We envision a future where everyone in the community understands the science of nature and is inspired to take action as an environmental steward.
Come explore your curious nature with us at the Avon Tang Campus, Nature Discovery Center on Vail Mountain or Vail Nature Center!
Upcoming Events

Public Backcountry Hike
September 5 @ 8:00 am |
Join a trained Certified Interpretive Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and trained Naturalist to discover some of the most beautiful hiking destinations in the Vail area that are only accessible via […...

EarthKeepers Early Childhood Program, Avon
September 5 @ 10:00 am |
Register Here Summer 2025 Schedule: Dates & Topic May 27th Powerful Pollinators June 3rd Insect Mania June 10th Life in the Stream June 17th & 20th Space Explorers June 24th […]

Nature Tykes Gypsum
September 5 @ 10:15 am |
Nature Tykes is a 60-minute program in both indoor and outdoor environments. It may include short periods of walking, sitting, standing, and optional running. The dirt trails are mostly […]

Moderate Nature Hike, Vail Mountain
September 5 @ 10:30 am | Nature Discovery Center
Register Here Join a Naturalist for a more strenuous, 2-mile guided hike for those 12+ years old to explore our mountain ecosystems on Vail Mountain. For those looking for a […]

Vail Nature Walk, Vail Nature Center
September 5 @ 11:00 am | Vail Nature Center
Register Here Discover and learn about the ecology and wildlife of Vail in the meadows and woods along Gore Creek at the Vail Nature Center. Monday – Saturday | 2:00 […]

Vail Nature Walk, Vail Nature Center
September 5 @ 11:00 am | Vail Nature Center
Register Here Discover and learn about the ecology and wildlife of Vail in the meadows and woods along Gore Creek at the Vail Nature Center. Monday – Saturday | 2:00 […]

Easy Nature Hike, Vail Mountain
September 5 @ 1:00 pm | Nature Discovery Center
Register Here Join a Walking Mountains Naturalist for an easy educational hike through the forest atop Vail Mountain beginning at the Nature Discovery Center. Free. Reservations required. Suitable for most [&he...

Moderate Nature Hike, Vail Mountain
September 6 @ 10:30 am | Nature Discovery Center
Register Here Join a Naturalist for a more strenuous, 2-mile guided hike for those 12+ years old to explore our mountain ecosystems on Vail Mountain. For those looking for a […]

Vail Nature Walk, Vail Nature Center
September 6 @ 11:00 am | Vail Nature Center
Register Here Discover and learn about the ecology and wildlife of Vail in the meadows and woods along Gore Creek at the Vail Nature Center. Monday – Saturday | 2:00 […]
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Walking Mountains Sustainability
The Latest
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Illustrating the Natural World: Art in Field Guides
Art has been used as a method to communicate and express ideas for millennia. From ancient cave paintings to the Mona Lisa, art has been used to inspire new ideas and provoke thought. In field guides, these pieces interpret complex scientific ideas of the natural world to a wide range... Read more
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Bananas on Borrowed Time
What would our world look like without bananas? Maybe a little less yellow and a little less sweet. I never thought much about bananas until I learned they were on borrowed time. The world's most popular banana, the Cavendish banana, is a threatened clonal monoculture crop that could vanish within... Read more
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Being Blue Without Being Blue
Nature is full of an almost infinite array of colors but some are more unique than others. Apart from the inanimate sky and water, the color blue only some animals and flowers have the privilege of possessing this color. Blue color holds different meanings in various cultures. While it is... Read more