Locals will tell you – we came for the winter, but we stayed for the Breckenridge summer! There is plenty of summer fun to have in and around Breckenridge, and the free bus will pick you up in front of the condo and drop you in various places throughout town. For a map of the free bus, click here. BUT – we highly encourage walking to town! It’s less than 5 minutes, the weather is beautiful, and burning a few extra calories means there’s room for another local microbrew, glass of wine, or a crepe (see our page on food here).
During our personal trips, we have our go-to adventures. Here are of some of our favorite summer activities (and checkout our kids’ favorite activities here!).
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Mountain climbing and hikes
- Fourteeners (mountains with a summit higher than 14,000 feet) are abundant throughout Colorado. None of them are “easy,” but definitely worth the effort. Check out 14ers.com for a list of all the 14,000+ ft tall peaks in Colorado
- A great option from Breck (especially for first timers) is Quandary Peak. It is only a 20 minutes drive to the trailhead and offers amazing views of several other 14ers (Cameron, Lincoln, Democrat, and Bross)
- Blue Lakes is another hike that departs from basically the same place as Quandary. Much easier hike, but still rewarding views if you have little ones walking with you.
Driving
- Mount Evans is about an hour away from Breck and is stunning – and definitely the easiest way to get to the top of a 14er! We have driven to the top of Pike’s Peak and we personally like the views from Evans much better. Pike’s Peak is a bit too “touristy” for us, and Evans is taller! Please remember to take some cash to pay for your pass. $10 gets your car with up to 10 people to the top. Visit the Colorado DOT website for more info.
- There is a wonderful drive across the Boreas Pass and the Continental Divide that is packed with wildlife. From the condo, just cross over Highway 9 at the stop light and you are on Boreas Pass Road. You can either turn around at the top or keep going until you hit 285. If you go to 285, head south/west on 285 until you get to FairPlay. Then get back on Hwy 9 for the return trip to Breck. While you are in Fairplay, have a stop at the Brown Burro Cream & Steam for some of the best ice cream we’ve ever had!
Peak 8 – Breckenridge Ski Resort
- The Gondola is open for free rides to the base of Peak 8, then hop on several ski lifts that will take you up into the mountains. Views are amazing. Take your rain coats… the weather can change quickly and you don’t want to be stuck at the top without a jacket. Trust me.
- The Breck Fun Park is loads of fun, but very expensive… like Six Flags expensive. You can normally save a little bit by buying tickets in advance, but not a lot. Depending on the weather, you might consider doing the a-la-cart instead of the all-in-one pass. If there is lightening, everything shuts down and your all inclusive ticket doesn’t get you on anything. If it is beautiful day, the lines get so long that you might only get to ride each thing once or twice. We go almost every year, but only because the kids beg.
- Downhill bike riding is available on Peak 8… rent a bike or bring your own, they attach it to the ski lift, and then ride it back down. Excellent time for the more adventurous.
Fishing
- We use Mountain Angler on Main Street for fly fishing guides. You can find them at their website and at 311 S Main Street in Breckenridge
- Mt Evans Trout Fishing – highly recommend this place if you have little kids with you. It is a stocked pond very close to Mt Evans; we normally drive to the top of Evans and then stop here on the way back. Our kids love it here and we try to go once a year. Be warned – you keep what you catch, so only fish if you (a) like to eat fish and (b) like to cook fish! Don’t worry – the condo has all the pans you need to cook your catch!
Boating
- We love boating on Dillon Reservoir. It is a fairly quiet lake which makes it ideal for novice boaters. The Town of Frisco operates a Marina and their prices are very reasonable. Rental options include motor boats, sail boat, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and many others. Check out their website here.
Bicycling
- Whether you brought your own bikes or rent from one of the may shops on town, there are tons of great places to ride. The Town of Breckenridge has interactive maps available here.
Gold Mines & Gold Panning
- Our kids love gold mines, but mom is the one that loves it the most. It is interesting to see the ingenuity of simple technology applied to make mining easier, learn about blast monkeys, and – of course – play in the water panning for gold.
- There are several places very close to the condo, and many within driving distance.
- The Country Boy Mine (www.countryboymine.com) is probably more up your alley if you have younger children with you; it has a shorter lesson and the kids won’t get bored.
- If you are looking for something a bit more academic, we recommend the Washington Gold and Silver Mine (342 Illinois Gulch Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424). We learned a lot on this tour, but it is a little too much for young kids.
Geocaching
- This is a new activity for our family – up until this year, our kids were a little too young to be interested. With over 300 caches within 10 miles of the condo this can be a fun way to spend an afternoon outside. We use Geocaching.com and the corresponding iPhone / Android apps, but there are many others.
Whitewater Rafting
See our blog post about whitewater rafting here!
- Rafting the Arkansas River is a great way to spend a half-day, day, or overnight trip. There are lots of options for rafting, so it is hard to point to any one company. However, when we raft, we typically use Noah’s Ark rafting in Buena Vista. We like them because they are friendly, well priced, and have multiple options for different skill sets. You can find them by clicking here.