Breckenridge is a charming mountain town about 80 miles west of Denver. It has an elevation of 9,600 feet and generally has about 300 days of sunshine. It’s most known for being a ski destination, but summer offers a variety of outdoor activities while spring and fall are generally quieter, but still have a lot to offer. I’ve had the opportunity to visit both in October and in May, and while both were off-peak times, Breckenridge still stunned with its beauty and many things to do. Here are my recommendations:
Walk through the Historic District
Main Street and the neighboring blocks in Breck feature many cute shops and restaurants. You’ll find souvenir shops, traditional brands (like Columbia and Burton), as well as local shops featuring interesting gifts and wares. Restaurant-wise, the town offers a variety of cuisines. You’ll find barbeque, burgers, an Irish pub, Italian, pizza, crepes and more. Check out the Visitor’s Center for an exhibition about the area (and bathrooms).
Did you know there is a 15-foot wooden troll sculpture named Isak Heartstone in Breckenridge? He’s located on the Trollstigen Trail. Isak was created by a Danish artist. The walk is very short and easy. You can walk there from downtown Breck, or paid park is available in the lot right behind the ice rink. (By the way, pop into the ice rink to see if there are any upcoming games or activities taking place or just to go for a skate.) The troll is pretty unique and makes for a great photo opp. There are some trails in the vicinity as well, but they don’t really go anywhere all that exciting.
Check out the Railroad Park
Before or after you visit the troll, check out the Railroad Park next to the ice rink. This is worth seeing. You can read about the history of the railroad in the area. Operating during heavy snow in the old days was quite interesting. There is also a nice playground for children nearby.
Visit Frisco
Downtown Frisco is scenic and fun for a stroll. It has some shops and lots of restaurants. There is also a little museum to peruse. I found that it was easy to find parking and well worth a few hours.
Hikes/Walks
Sawmill Trail
One of the hikes we enjoy most is walking along the Sawmill Trail. It’s a lovely 1.3 mile trail that goes along a nice creek up to the Sawmill Reservoir. You can go up and back the same way or come back down via a street in a local neighborhood (just be respectful). I really enjoyed walking through the forest, gazing at the creek. Honestly, the most difficult part of this trail is getting there from town. That’s more of an uphill walk than anything else, but the trail is not bad it all. It’s family and dog-friendly. Once you get up to the reservoir, it’s nice to take a break, and look at the beautiful mountains. We saw a moose up there one time we went. There are also other nearby trails too.
Blue River Recpath
Looking for something relatively flat but pretty? Check out the Blue River Recpath that goes between Breck and Frisco. It’s a 9.5 mile trail used by walkers, runners, and bikers. It’s very scenic. In fact, walking back toward Breck, it is so scenic with the gorgeous mountains in the distance. We did a walk from Breck about 2.5 miles one way and then turned back. (We didn’t want to walk all the way to Frisco.) We saw many people fishing. There is a gravel trail and a paved bike path. We walked the gravel trail closer to the river, but still encountered bikers on the gravel trail.
Rainbow Lake and Peaks Trailhead
This one is near Frisco and is an easy hike out to a lake. In my opinion, it is not as scenic as the Sawmill Trail, but it does offer some nice scenic views and parking was easy to find. The hike is about 1.5 miles long and doable for families and doggies.
Dillon Nature Preserve Trailhead
Dillion has a lovely lake and if you want to see some nice lake views and get in a little workout, this is the place to go. You can do as much or as little as the various trails in the area offer. We started from the parking area and headed up hill and came back down to get some lovely views of the lake. I recommend this one if you want lake and great mountain views.
Tastings
Visit the Breckenridge Distillery
Want to sample local whiskey, gin, vodka, or aquavit? This little Distillery in downtown Breck right next to the river and main park/square area offers tastings. You can get a few samples for free or do a full, organized tasting. They also offer tours at their Airport Road location as well as a restaurant.
Go Wine Tasting
There are two options. One is Carbone Winery on Main Street. This is located further down as you first come into town. They offer happy hour and several tasting options. Continental Divide Winery is located at the opposite end of Breckenridge at Main Street Station near Maggie Pond. I was not a huge fan of the wine, but the staff was friendly. If you want to try it, be sure to pick up a BOGO coupon from the What to Do in Breckenridge magazines in various newspaper stands around town.
Other Ideas and Tips
If it is in-season, take the gondola up the mountain for breathtaking views and hiking opportunities. Unfortunately, visiting in off-season meant the gondola wasn’t operating. Hopefully next time!
Breck has parking lots to pay to park. There is also a robust system that is free and dog friendly that goes all around town.
Honestly though, just sitting by the river with coffee is so relaxing. We did this every day and I wouldn’t trade that relaxing time for anything. The mountain views are stunning.
