Breckenridge, Colorado, or “Breck” as it is affectionately called, attracts tourists from all around the world all year long. Similar to Aspen, Telluride and Vail, Breck’s big draw is the ski resort and outdoor sports during the winter months.
Breckenridge is among the 12 Top-Rated Ski Resorts in Colorado, 2022. BUT DID YOU KNOW, there are also cool things to do in Breckenridge besides skiing!?
Breckenridge makes the perfect place for summer travel in Colorado for amazing outdoor adventures and family vacations. It is the “IT” place to visit in summer.
Breckenridge may be a former mining town, but you will find that it is now home to a variety of adventures, restaurants, shops, and even saloons!
Breckenridge, Colorado has always been the place to visit for winter adventures and skiing. In fact, according to US News and Travel, Breckenridge is ranked #4 of the best mountain towns in the USA for vacations.
Top 10 Things to Do In Breckenridge This Summer
1. Experience Epic Discovery
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Experience Breck’s Epic Discovery with the Adventure Pass. You’ll get unlimited, all-day access to these fun summer activities:
- Ride the Chairlift
- Mini Golf
- Alpine Slide
- Gold Runner Coaster
- Bungee Trampoline
- Pan for Gemstones
- Ropes Course for Your Little Peeps
- Try the Alpineer Challenge Course
- Gold Summit Climbing
If you don’t have time for an all-day adventure, try the Pioneer Pass for three total uses on adventures you love. If that means you want to ride the Alpine Slide three times in a row, GO FOR IT!
>> Related: My #1 Favorite Crossbody Bag for Travel and Hiking
2. Hike
For all of you hiking enthusiasts, AllTrails.com has ranked the top ten hikes around Breckenridge. These hikes range in a difficulty level from Easy to Hard.
- McCullough Gulch Trail
- Spruce Creek Trail to Mohawk Lakes Trail
- Mayflower Lake to Mohawk Lakes
- Sawmill Reservoir
- B&B to Reiling to Minnie Mine
- Hoosier Pass Loop
- Spruce Creek Loop
- Sallie Barber Mine Trail
- Boreas Pass
- Trollstigen, Southside and Illinois Creek Low Trail
Chris and I chose to hike the McCullough Gulch Trail while visiting for a long weekend. Starting at 11,000 feet this hike is the perfect hike to make you feel as though you are in the WORST SHAPE EVER! It is classified as hard. You will scramble over boulders and hike rocky trails before reaching the Upper Blue Reservoir. There are many hikes in Colorado that are better suited to families and anyone not acclimated to the high altitude in Colorado.
The Hoosier Pass Loop is an easy to moderate hike with almost 700 feet of elevation gain. Follow the 2.8 mile loop above tree line for stunning 360° views of the valley below.
If you have a little more time in Colorado, drive toward Aspen and experience more hikes, ghost towns and adventures.
3. Mountain Bike Breckenridge this Summer
Depending on the conditions and whether or not the winter snow has melted, the trails around Breckenridge are typically open for riders starting in July. One of the great things to do in Breckenridge is to take a mountain biking lesson or two if you are a beginner or think you need a refresher course.
Bike rentals are available.
4. Try an Escape Room
Try your sleuthing skills at a local escape room. Perfect for a slower afternoon and a change of pace. Seriously, you’ll be posting your narrow escapes to Instagram.
5. Explore Nearby Ghost Towns
Plan an adventure to a nearby ghost town. Did you know that Colorado has numerous Ghost Towns that you can visit? Check out Dyersville just 6 miles to the south of Breckenridge in Indian Gulch.
6. Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Frisco Bay Marina
Frisco is a short ten-mile drive from Breckenridge; Frisco Bay Marina is the perfect choice for an afternoon on the water. Dillon Reservoir, a certified clean marina, is waiting for you. It boasts cobalt blue water and fantastic mountain scenery.
Don’t worry about bring all of your gear with you. Rentals are available at the marina for all types of water sports:
- Pontoon Boats
- Power Fishing Boats
- Stand Up Paddle Boards
- Canoes
- Kayaks
- Fishing Boats and Equipment
- Sailboats
Frisco Bay Marina is a popular summer activity, so make your reservations early when you are planning things to do in Breckenridge.
7. Take a Mine Tour
Once word spread that gold and silver had been discovered in and around Breckenridge in the 1880s, hundreds of mines sprang up and people flocked to the area. Seriously, mining was the THING to do in Breckenridge in the late 1800s.
While no longer operating as mines today, a few of the mines are still open for tours.
- Country Boy Mine
- Washington Gold Mine
- Lomax Placer Mine
8. Attend an Orchestra Performance in Breckenridge in Summer
Enjoy a performance with the The National Repertory Orchestra.
Just a note of interest * This unique orchestra is a summer symphony orchestra that provides training for young professional musicians and prepares them for future musical careers. If selected, musicians receive free tuition and housing, a food stipend, solo performance opportunities and the chance to learn under the direction of Michael Stern.
9. Enjoy Scenic Drives
Colorado has scenery and scenic drives that will keep your camera busy for days. And Breckenridge is one of the best places in Colorado for picturesque vistas. Put away the electronics, plan for a day trip, and enjoy the drive.
Are you planning a quick trip to the mountains? Breckenridge this weekend, or any weekend for that matter, is the perfect place to go.
10. Eat Eat Eat
Eating is a top activity for many anywhere in the world; it is one of the highlights of things to do in Breckenridge. Here are the top 10 ranked restaurants from Yelp for you foodies out there:
- The Canteen Taphouse and Tavern
- Twist
- Hearthstone Restaurant
- Rootstalk
- Bird & Cow
- Aurum Food & Wine Breckenridge
- Blue River Bistro
- Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant
- Tin Plate
- Yo Mamas Cantina
Those restaurant suggestions are just the tip of the “mountain” for the amazing restaurants in Breckenridge. Chris and I have also enjoyed:
- Whiskey Star Smokehouse
- Crepes a la Cart Bluebird
- Myla Rose Saloon in Blue River, Colorado (about 10 miles from Breckenridge)
- Picnic lunches
How do You Get to Breckenridge, Colorado from Denver?
If you plan to fly into Denver’s International Airport, Breckenridge, Colorado is approximately 80 miles from Denver along the I-70 Corridor in the Rocky Mountains. You’ll drive past Silverthorne and Frisco before reaching Breck.
Where to Stay in Breckenridge in Summer
There are plenty of apartments, vacation rentals and hotels within Breckenridge. The trick is finding the one that best suits your needs.
On our recent trip to Breck, we stayed in Blue River about ten minutes outside of Breckenridge. It was quiet, the views were outstanding, and we even spied a mama moose and her baby as we drove.
Check out Booking.com for all of the places available for your next trip:
Gear to Bring
Electronics & Camera Gear
- Canon 6d Mark II
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
- Portable Charger
- iPhone
- Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones
- Apple Watch
Basic Adventure Gear
- Sunglasses
- Oboz Hiking Boots
- Merrell Hiking Boots Men
- Hiking Poles
- Backpack
- Camelbak Pack and Reservoir
- Travelon Crossbody Bag
Snacks
I love the Built Bar protein bars and granola bars. I highly recommend them for snacks for all of your outdoor adventure activities in Breckenridge this summer… or anywhere you’re traveling.
Bonus * Use Code SJTRAVELS at checkout for 10% off your Built.com purchase.
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Wrapping Up: 10 Best Things to Do In Breckenridge in Summer
According to studies by Destination Analysts, people worldwide are ready for travel and outdoor experiences. In their words, “summer demand is healthy.”
You might be thinking, “YES, WE ARE SO READY FOR TRAVEL!”
In 2021, approximately 77% of American travelers reported that they planned to take leisure summer trips. If you are looking for an epic mountain town to visit, discover the many things to do in Breckenridge, Colorado in summer.
Whether you visit Breckenridge over the 4th of July with family and friends to watch the parade and enjoy the festivities or you plan to hit the trails with your mountain biking buddies, Breckenridge has something for everybody.
I love Breckenridge, it’s such a beautiful place no matter the time of year. Last time I was there I did the ghost and abandoned mining towns, which was so much fun! I’ll have to check out some of the hikes you mentioned. I’m sure they’ll kick my butt, but that’s ok.
The hikes are beautiful, especially in the Fall.
I like the idea of visiting ski resorts in off season. So would definitely put Breckenridge on our travel plans for Colorado. That Adventure Pass has so many fun days. It will keep us engaged for many days between exciting hikes. Good thing there are some great options for food!
Sounds as though you need to start exploring Colorado.
Always wanted to try mountain biking and this looks like a great place to do that. Looks like it is beginner-friendly as well, so extra points for that haha. Other things on this list look fun as well! Thanks for sharing!
Mh husband is big into mountain biking and loves being able to take gondolas up the mountain and zoom down.
Colorado is on my list of US places to visit, but I had never heard of Breckenridge before. It sounds lovely and I love that fact that there are ghost towns nearby. They fascinate me, as we don’t have many (if any) here in Canada
There are a number of ghost towns in Colorado
So many cool things to do in Breckenridge, Colorado in the summer. Would love to hike and explore here!
Now that you have hiked all of Minnesota, you need to start working on Colorado!
I’ve never skied, so I haven’t been to any of the popular destinations in Colorado. That being said, I really ought to go to Breckenridge to explore the “non-skiing” options. I would love to check out the nearby ghost town.
It is pretty great place to visit in the summer.
Looks like there is a ton of outdoor adventures in Breckenridge. My kind of destination! I would take advantage of the hiking, and my husband loves mountain biking. Great overview for those planning a getaway here.
My husband goes mountain biking every chance he gets!
What a place to hike! Never realised what a paradise it is summer! Thanks for sharing.
Paradise is a good description.
Summer is a great season for visiting Breckenridge. I have been to Colorado once and look forward to visiting again!
I love summer in the mountains.
Thanks for sharing this, the hiking looks like it would be so much fun! There are a lot of fun things to do and the scenery looks amazing!
I love the combination of hiking and taking pictures along the way.
Taking a mining tour and eating are right up my alley! It looks like there are more things to do than I realized.
It is always a good time for a meal!
I would love to try mountain biking in this area. Colorado is high on my us travel list; it looks so beautiful.
Colorado is one of my favorite states!
This is so 100% up my alley, I could definitely use some of this Breckenridge air!
You would love it.
Looks like there are lots of fun things to do in Colorado. I’d love to check out some of their hiking! Thanks so much for sharing. Saving this for later!
Agreed. My husband and I have explored a lot of the hikes in the area.