Discover Winter’s Wonder in Breckenridge / Summit County

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The beauty of Breckenridge and surrounding Summit County is unsurpassed in the winter.  As much as I love Breck in the summer, even I must admit that the sun shining on the snow-covered mountains in every direction is pretty tough to beat.

Skiing/snowboarding is certainly the biggest winter attraction.  But there is so much more to do!  Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, tubing, sleigh rides, dog sledding, spas, snowmobiling on the Continental Divide, ice skating, scenic rides on the gondola, and shopping are just some of the activity opportunities in the area. Of course, sitting somewhere sipping a warm beverage and gazing out the window is mighty nice as well.

For a quick introduction to the area, read Beautiful Breckenridge – Overview

 

Downhill Skiing and Boarding

Breckenridge is one of the premier resorts in the Rocky Mountains and offers five distinct peaks, 2900 skiable acres, 35 lifts (some of which you can walk to from town), and 187 trails.  It is enough to keep a person entertained for many days, never doing the same run twice.

Peak 8 proudly features The Imperial Express Superchair, the highest lift in North America (servicing expert and extreme terrain only).  At 12,840 feet, it’s like a whole new world up there.  Throughout the resort, your every whim can be fulfilled (as with all the major resorts in the area), with a plethora of on-mountain restaurants, bars, lodges, and rental/gear shops. Winter/Spring season on the ski mountain generally runs from late November to late April, as conditions permit.

If you plan to ski/board in Breckenridge (or partner resorts, discussed below), follow these tips: As far in advance as possible, purchase your Epic Day Pass for the number of days you think you’ll be skiing/boarding.  Prices are far better this way. With your Epic Day Pass, you can also go to beautiful Keystone (about a 25-minute drive or ride on the Swan Mountain Flyer free shuttle), famed Vail (a 45-minute drive), and posh Beaver Creek (an hour’s drive, but they give you free cookies at the bottom of the mountain at the end of the day, so it’s worth it!).

There are several different types of passes. If you plan to ski more than four days total at these locations, check out the Epic Local Pass, as it might be more cost-effective and also get you access to a smattering of locations in the Midwest and East Coast for the season.  If you’re going all in this winter and taking multiple ski trips, you can purchase the ultimate Epic Pass and gain access to scores and scores of resorts in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan.

All of the passes include 20% off for on-mountain food and group lessons, which can really add up in savings. Passes are only available when you purchase them by early December. After that, daily lift tickets must be purchased, and the cost is significantly higher.

For substantially lower cost and some pretty amazing views, consider Loveland (in Clear Creek County) just past the Eisenhower Tunnel to the east, about a half-hour drive from Breck.  Though it has fewer runs and services than the resorts listed above, it is a delightful and scenic place to spend a day or two.  (And it happens to have one of my favorite retail shops.)

Gear rental – We are partial to Blue River Sports, unless you are taking lessons that include your gear, particularly for kids.  If you, like us, have your own boots, most places will give you a little discount.  Blue River Sports is a 5-minute walk from the base of Peak 9, and even closer to the Breck Free Ride shuttle to Beaver Run at Peak 9 and to the base of the gondola (servicing peaks 7 & 8). It is a fraction of the price of the mountain-owned shops right at the base and offers better customer service and shorter wait times.

We suspect many shops in town that are not located right at one of the bases of the resort offer similar such service and prices, but Blue River is tried and true for us.

Some companies actually come to your hotel or rental home and outfit you, such as Black Tie Skis.  They charge a premium, but it sure sounds convenient! 

Lessons – Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper Mountain, and Vail all offer outstanding ski/snowboard lessons for kids, teens, and adults.  Our kids, daughter-in-law, and now little grandson all learned in these programs. It’s undeniably expensive, but if you want to have a great time, you simply need to learn how to get up and down the mountain.  So it’s a worthwhile investment.  Jeff learned to ski at 35, and a good friend of ours learned at 56.  You’re never too old to learn – just be prepared to be humble.

If your group has two or more people at roughly the same level, it might make sense to get a private lesson.  Otherwise, the cost is prohibitive, and a small group lesson is the way to go.

A little word to the wise:  We’ve witnessed again and again that trying to teach friends or family members to ski (other than young children) is tough, and can even be a challenge to the relationship.  In our opinion it is more than worth it to open up your wallet for a day or two of lessons.  Your whole group will have more fun both on and off the mountain.

With the proper pass, it is fun to even hop to a different mountain each day of your trip if you wish. Keystone even offers lighted night skiing, so if you have one of the Epic passes, and also have the energy, you could ski Breck, Vail, or Beaver Creek during the day and then Keystone at night.

Christmas/New Year’s – This is the busiest time of the year at Breckenridge.  Prices are even higher than normal, there are crowds everywhere, and parking can be frustrating.  But forget all of that.  It is absolutely magical and if you can experience it once in your life, you’ll remember it forever.  

Any day of the winter, Breck is a fairytale scene from a fancy snow globe.  But during this season, it’s even more stunning. Nearly every building on Main Street is decked out in lights, decorations, and huge lit trees. Music plays everywhere.  Don’t worry for a moment about cooking if you don’t want to – most restaurants are open on Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, and are full of jolly and enthusiastic staff to make your holiday all the more special. (Do remember to tip well!)

There are festivals and fireworks over the mountain tops.  On New Year’s Eve, there is a torch-light ceremony, where hundreds of people ski/board down the mountain in a line just after sunset, carrying torches.  It’s free and you can see it from nearly anywhere in town.  It’s so special, a lump is forming in my throat while I type this.

Skiing/boarding on Christmas Day is an outstanding experience, as it is not too crowded, everyone is animated and festive, and you might just see Santa (or several)!  

If you visit during this season, be sure to book your lodging many months in advance, and get restaurant reservations several weeks, or even a month before you arrive.

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

Are skiing and boarding not your thing?  No problem! Be careful, though, or like me, you might fall in love with snowshoeing and/or cross-country skiing and have to stay longer to have time to do it all!

The Nordic Center also has a cozy lodge with a huge fireplace, hot cocoa, adult beverages, and snacks, as well as a small, upscale shop, in case you need some gear.

Are you ready for the next level?  Here are some ideas for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on ungroomed trails: AllTrails Snowshoeing  (Be sure to get the free All Trails app and download the trail you’re taking before you venture out so you can check conditions and be sure about directions.)

More Winter Activities

The Rec Center: Have you recovered from the altitude? Are you ready to work out / attack a rock-climbing wall / swim and sit in a steamy outdoor hot tub / let the kids unwind with a water slide?  Then it’s time to get a day pass and head to the Rec Center on the far north end of town.  It’s an excellent gym and well worth the money if you enjoy this type of thing. 

Shopping:  Craving a shopping spree?  You’ve come to the right place!  Downtown Breck has tons of shopping options, but that’s just the beginning.  Frisco, just nine miles north, also has a vibrant downtown with many independently owned shops and boutiques. 

If you’re looking more for national brands, head a few miles east to Silverthorne and the Silverthorne Outlet Mall.  It’s laid out in three “villages” with cute walking paths along the Blue River to travel from one village to the other. Shops include Banana Republic, Carter’s, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew, Le Creuset, Pearl Izumi, and William Sonoma, to name just a few.

Silverthorne has many options for lunch or dinner, if you turn it into an all-day event. Sauce on the Blue is close by, and always a good option.

 

Did you have such a wonderful trip that you’ve decided to come back in the summer? Check out our other posts: Summer Fun in Breckenridge, Favorite Hikes Around Breckenridge, and Where to Eat in Breck.