It is said that before skiing came to Breckenridge, a dog could lie in the middle of the street all day and not be disturbed by a single car. Things have changed a lot for this former mining town, which is home to one of Colorado’s largest ski resorts and a year-round destination for tourists and Front Range day-trippers alike.
Skiing and snowboarding remain the main draw. From downtown Breckenridge, you can ride a series of gondolas and lifts that will take you as high as 12,840 feet on North America’s highest chairlift. The Resort boasts five peaks within its boundaries with terrain for beginners, intermediate, and expert skiers alike. Skiers looking for less vertical can enjoy the Nordic trail system right in town or ski Boreas Pass Road, which starts just above Breckenridge. In summer, Boreas Pass Road is passable by passenger car and leads to the ghost town of Boreas where the trains running from Denver to Breckenridge used to stop.
But Breckenridge is not a one-season town. When the snow melts, a world of hiking opens up. Try the Cucumber Gulch, a short trail near the gondola station where you have a good shot at seeing a moose. Ride up one of the chair lifts or the gondola for a thrilling mountain bike descent or just to enjoy the views. Just south of town is the Spruce Creek Trail, a short but rewarding hike to pretty Mohawk Lakes. Anglers and boaters won’t find much around town, but Lake Dillon is only a short drive up the road. For cyclists, there’s a great paved trail that follows Colorado Highway 9 northward.
And no matter what time of year you visit, be sure to sample Breckenridge’s well-known and diverse dining, shopping, and night-life.
Skiing and snowboarding remain the main draw. From downtown Breckenridge, you can ride a series of gondolas and lifts that will take you as high as 12,840 feet on North America’s highest chairlift. The Resort boasts five peaks within its boundaries with terrain for beginners, intermediate, and expert skiers alike. Skiers looking for less vertical can enjoy the Nordic trail system right in town or ski Boreas Pass Road, which starts just above Breckenridge. In summer, Boreas Pass Road is passable by passenger car and leads to the ghost town of Boreas where the trains running from Denver to Breckenridge used to stop.
But Breckenridge is not a one-season town. When the snow melts, a world of hiking opens up. Try the Cucumber Gulch, a short trail near the gondola station where you have a good shot at seeing a moose. Ride up one of the chair lifts or the gondola for a thrilling mountain bike descent or just to enjoy the views. Just south of town is the Spruce Creek Trail, a short but rewarding hike to pretty Mohawk Lakes. Anglers and boaters won’t find much around town, but Lake Dillon is only a short drive up the road. For cyclists, there’s a great paved trail that follows Colorado Highway 9 northward.
And no matter what time of year you visit, be sure to sample Breckenridge’s well-known and diverse dining, shopping, and night-life.
