The Rocky Mountains provide an endless variety of winter activities in Breckenridge, Colorado. While the town is most famous for its world-class Breckenridge Ski Resort, visitors will find that non-ski activities abound as well. With over 300 inches of snow falling on the surrounding mountain peaks each winter, activities like snowmobiling, dog sledding, Nordic skiing, ice skating, fly fishing, sledding, and sleigh rides will keep your party active. , while only scratching the surface of it all. that Breckenridge has to offer. Those looking for a little “warmer” activities will find terrific day spas, shopping and cultural centers.
Breckenridge is a snowmobiler’s paradise with an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters offer both guided and unguided snowmobile tours and rentals, allowing guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiles provide motorized access to the glades and bowls that abound in the area, with postcard-style photo opportunities at nearly every corner of the trail. Adventurous riders can opt for “high adventure” tours where guides will show you how the locals ride, accessing Breckenridge’s deepest powder.
Those looking for a little more seclusion and tranquility can appreciate nature through a guided dog sledding tour. Dog sledding tours through the Middle Fork Valley of the Swan River let you explore some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests, as well as historic mining camps and ghost towns that once populated the area. Siberian Husky dog teams are eager to show you around as they creep through pine and poplar trees over rolling terrain.
The Breckenridge area is home to incredible opportunities for Nordic skiing, a favorite local activity. Visit one of three local Nordic centers or blaze your own trail on a field trip. The Army’s 10th Mountain Division maintains several backcountry cabins throughout the area that can be rented by the night or by the week, providing a home base for the ski tour of your choice.
Enjoy one of Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks for a morning or afternoon skate with your family in a winter wonderland. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL-sized ice rinks and hosts open skating every day. Maggie Pond, located at the base area of Peak 9, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rental is available at both locations for skaters who haven’t brought their own gear.
Winter does not mean the end of the fly fishing season in the Breckenridge Highlands. The area is home to several gold medal rivers, streams and lakes where highly trained guides can hook you with trophy-sized fish. Those brave enough to endure the frigid winter temperatures will find uncrowded fishing grounds, surrounded by amphitheaters of rugged snow-capped peaks. Huge hungry trout are waiting to take your fly on almost every cast, with knowledgeable guides putting you in prime position to catch them.
Families looking for adventurous sledding options will find the Breckenridge area offers several. While Breckenridge Ski Resort doesn’t offer an all-mountain tubing hill, its nearby sister resort does. Tubing at Keystone Resort takes place during the day and at night, which means that a tubing adventure doesn’t have to interrupt your day of skiing. The town of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a sledding hill that slides down with a generous incline and long run. Bring your own sled or buy one at a local supermarket. This public park offers free sledding, while Keystone Resort charges for its hill.
Finally, the dinner sleigh rides provide an evening event for the whole family, complete with handmade Santa-style sleighs and mighty Belgian draft horses. Sleigh rides take place on Breckenridge’s Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, or through the wilderness of the Swan River Valley, with a star-filled sky lighting the way. Hearty meals are served in lodges warmed by roaring fires and charming local mountain hospitality.
Whether you’re an expert skier or a novice just learning to link turns, be sure to get to know more than just the ski area when you visit Breckenridge. The area’s winter activities are second to none, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy Colorado’s famous powdered champagne. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, a corporate group, or on your own, Breckenridge Colorado’s activities are well-suited to the needs of any group.