The Rocky Mountains provide an endless variety of winter activities in Breckenridge, Colorado. While the city 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 going. , while only scratching the surface of everything. that Breckenridge has to offer. Those looking for activities a little “warmer” will find phenomenal day spas, shopping and cultural centers.
Breckenridge is a snowmobiler’s paradise with an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters provide guided and unguided snowmobile rentals and tours, allowing guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiles provide motorized access to the clearings and bowls that abound in the area, with postcard-like 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 of the Swan River Valley allow you to explore some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests, as well as historic mining camps and ghost towns that once roamed the area. Siberian Husky dog teams are eager to show you these places as they inch their way through pine and aspen 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 week, providing a home base for the ski tour of your choice.
Enjoy one of Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks for morning or afternoon skating with your family in a winter wonderland. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL-sized ice surfaces and hosts open skating daily. Maggie Pond, located in the base area of Peak 9, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rentals are available at both locations for skaters who haven’t brought their own gear.
Winter doesn’t mean the end of 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 jagged snow-capped peaks. Huge hungry trout are waiting to take your fly on almost every release, with expert guides putting you in prime position to catch them.
Families looking for adventurous sledding options will find that the Breckenridge area offers several. While Breckenridge Ski Resort doesn’t offer a mountain tubing hill, its nearby sister resort does. Tubing at Keystone Resort takes place day and night, which means a tubing adventure doesn’t have to interrupt your day of skiing. The city of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a downhill sledding hill with a generous incline and a long run. Bring your own sled or buy one at a local supermarket. This public park offers free sledding, while the Keystone Resort charges for its hill.
Finally, dinner sleigh rides provide an evening event for the whole family, with hand-built Santa-style sleigh rides 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 how to link turns, be sure to see 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 traveling with friends, family, a corporate group, or alone, Breckenridge Colorado activities are well suited to the needs of any group.
