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Breckenridge Ski Resort is the fourth-biggest ski resort in the state of Colorado, and one of more than 500 in the US. It is located in the Southern Rocky Mountains. The main feature of Breckenridge Ski Resort is the North America’s highest elevation chairlift, the Imperial Express Superchair, topping out at 12, 830 ft (3,914 m) from the base station at 9,599 ft (2,926 m), so the resort’s maximum vertical drop is 3,241 ft (988 m). Another thing is that it is dubbed “Brrrrr-eckenridge” by some, because the cold alpine and wind is a frequent attribute of this mountain. There are 187 trails of 95 mi (153 km) and 35 ski lifts in total. The resort boasts a wide variety of slopes for beginner to advanced skiers, although a majority of the terrain falls in the intermediate category, which makes Breckenridge a great ski resort for families. The ski season lasts from early November until mid-to-late May.
Breckenridge Ski Resort is located in Summit County, Colorado. It is one of the main ski resorts near Denver (81.9 mi / 131.8 km), the capital of the state, as well as Colorado Springs (107 mi / 172.2 km), the second-biggest city.
On a physical map of the country, it is located within the White River National Forest and is smack dab in Colorado’s Mosquito Range and Front Range of the larger Southern Rocky Mountains.
Breckenridge is a fairly accessible ski resort. Most visitors from other states or from abroad will fly into Denver International Airport, which is 103 mi (166 km) from Breckenridge.
The airport offers plenty of rental car and shuttle services, which you can find at Epicmountainexpress.com, Mountainshuttle.com, and other sites. The Colorado Department of Transportation also runs the Snowstang — an affordable bus option from Denver’s Union Station.
From the Denver airport, shuttles are available for hire starting at $44, but if you plan to drive, the route is fairly straightforward.
The trip mostly follows Interstate I-70 from Denver, until reaching the town of Frisco. Once in it, stop to buy any groceries (you’ll have more options here). Then take CO HWY 9 into downtown Breckenridge.
Driver beware: Make sure to rent a 4x4 vehicle and drive with caution. I-70 is known for crashes and traffic so add extra time for arrival and departure. The trip will approximately take you 1:30 hours.
From Colorado Springs, the drive is scenic, less crowded, but takes a bit longer. You’ll need to drive along HWY 24 up through Wilkerson Pass to HWY 9. The road is windy, so be also careful during storms. Again, a 4x4 vehicle is a must. You’ll pass through Fairplay a little over halfway through the drive, which is a great place to stop for coffee and/or gas.
The Java Moose is my favorite for pastries or coffee in the morning.
At the Breckenridge Ski Resort, parking is mostly paid. The best, most comprehensive resource for parking is Breck Park. Payments at the skier lots, North Gondola, South Gondola, Gold Rush, Stables, and Peak 9 / Beaver Run can be made by scanning these QR codes.
The Airport Road lot, 1700 block of Airport Road, is free. There is a shuttle from the lot to the main Gondola. Next to this lot, there is also on-site overnight pay parking available.
Free Ride Breckenridge is an easy, free way to get around town.
Other ski areas, like Keystone Ski Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, and Copper Mountain are all within driving distance. Copper, Keystone, and Breckenridge are all serviced by the Summit Stage, a free county-wide bus service.
The Breckenridge ski season lasts from early November until mid-to-late May. Popular travel times follow normal trends — Thanksgiving, Christmas, President’s Day Weekend, and Spring Break (mid-March). The crowds tend to die down by April and lodging costs usually drop. For snow, the best time to visit Breckenridge Ski Resort is mid-February. But for festivities, early December is notable.
Average annual snowfall at Breckenridge is 353 inches (889 centimeters). Artificial snow making methods are used, but the snow is often light and fluffy, a staple of Colorado’s winter weather patterns. Breckenridge’s high elevation tends to make up for the low percentage of terrain that faces north — but again, that often results in some mean wind.
Breckenridge is a relatively easy mountain to navigate because it is spread out vertically. 40% of its terrain is above treeline.
The resort encompasses the base station at 9,599 ft (2,926 m) and five peaks, starting with Peak 6 (12,589 ft / 3,837 m) and spanning north to south to Peak 10 (13,640 ft / 4155 m). Between there are Peak 7 (12,680 ft / 3,865 m), Peak 8 (13,002 ft / 3,963 m) that the Imperial Express Superchair almost reaches, and Peak 9 (13,198 ft / 4,023 m).
The ski area is close to several mountains higher that 14,000 ft (4,267 m), including Mount Lincoln (14,291 ft / 4,356 m), Quandary Peak (14,268 ft / 4,349 m), Grays (14,278 ft / 4,352 m ), and Torreys (14,279 ft / 4,351 m). These mountains are dubbed “14er’s” by locals and are popular to summit in the late spring, summer, and early fall. In the winter, they are accessed by experienced backcountry skiers and ski mountaineers.
If you’re not staying at one of the base areas, accessing the mountain is fairly simple, although there may be lines during peak hours. The BreckConnect Gondola leaves from the largest parking area near the Breckenridge Station and takes skiers and boarders up to Peak 8. Other access points include the BreckConnect Superchair and Beaver Run Superchair at Peak 9. For those staying in condos along 4 O’Clock Road, you can access the SnowFlake chair and ski with ease. You can also take the town shuttle to Peak 8.
Speaking about the slopes, let’s deal with markings first. From Peak 6 to Peak 10, the mountain uses standard piste designations: green — beginners / easy; blue — intermediate; black — difficult; double black — most difficult, and double black extreme — expert.
If you are a beginner, head to peaks 8 and 9. Not only is there a lot of ski-in/ski-out accommodation, but riders will find that it is easy to check in for lessons, since Breckenridge ski school is based in this area of the mountain. Some beginner favorite slopes include Swinger and Twister, Lower Lehman, and Red Rover.
For true beginners, book a lesson and practice at Rip Rid’s chair, the bunny hill zone.
Intermediate skiers can check out Peak 7 and Peak 6. Peak 7 is full of intermediate pistes with a mellow pitch. Ski Angel’s Rest, Lincoln Meadows, or Monte Cristo to access the Zendo Chair and reach the Kensho Superchair to Peak 6. Ski Peak 7 on mid-week days, and head to Peak 6 on the weekends when crowds really form in the mid-mountain area. While Peak 6 is more removed from the rest of the mountain, the top of the Kensho Superchair can be very windblown.
If you’re an intermediate skier looking for a bit more of a thrill, venture off into the trees along Deja Vu. Lap Kensho again or Lost Horizon and Monte Christo to grab a bite to eat at the base of Peak 7.
Every beginner and Intermediate slope is groomed nightly.
Advanced to expert level skiers will be able to find their groove at Breckenridge Ski Resort as well. The top of Peak 6, 7, and 8 and all offer hike-to terrain extreme and double black terrain. Whales Tail is a classic route between Peak 8 and Peak 7. Peak 10 is exclusively black terrain and is usually much less crowded than the rest of the mountain. Powder stashes can often be found in the trees off Blackhawk, but snowboarders will loathe the long cat track at the bottom. The Burn is also a great spot for well-spaced tree skiing. 6 Chair is also a classic area for powder and well-spaced tree skiing over near Peak 9. When the conditions are right (that is, not too windy) ride the Imperial Superchair on Peak 8 to taste the alpine, although Imperial Bowl is often windblown. Horseshoe bowl is a favorite and its T-bar can run in more unfavorable conditions. But ski with caution, I’ve watched friends sail through rocks (and break gear) in the middle of the bowl.
Overall, my favorite spot is lapping the E Chair. I’m a sucker for moguls and this chair has them. Windows is my go-to run on the mountain. Steep and narrow trees drop into a gully with a stream. Control your speed, or else you’re in for an icy swim.
For those who plan to venture out of bounds, Breckenridge Ski Resort has several backcountry gates. Chat with the ski patrol about the exact locations. Though, Peak 6 and Peak 10 are popular spots. At the top of Peak 6, hike and enter a gate to ski the famed Sky Chutes. The Ballroom zone is another easy to access area off the top of Falcon Chair over on peak 10.
A reminder: backcountry terrain is not avalanche controlled nor is it part of the resort. Only leave the resort through designated gates. Ducking ropes is illegal. If you don’t have a beacon, shovel, and probe (and know how to use them) don’t go. Read up on backcountry safety, take a class, and maybe skip the Breck gates on this trip.
The surrounding area has summit huts provided by several renters, including the 10th Mountain Division and Summit Huts.
Breckenridge is a pricey place to ski if you buy your pass at the last minute, so plan ahead. Expect to pay over $200 for a day ticket, but if you buy a day pass early, you can save up to 15%.
Skiers who plan to hit the slopes for multiple days should opt to buy the Epic Pass. The pass system grants you access to resorts across the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Depending on your pass options you will have access to resorts at around $900 and below:
Overall, if you plan to ski multiple days, the Epic Pass pays off. It usually goes off sale before mid-December and has the best prices every spring for the season ahead.
Vail Corp, who owns the resort, limits ticket sales for Breckenridge and other areas, so buy in advance to ensure a chance to ski.
Before or after skiing, visit the Breckenridge official tourist office to get more information about the town itself and the state of Colorado in general:
Breckenridge Tourism Office
111 Ski Hill Rd., Breckenridge, Colorado (CO), 80424, USA
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
+19704532913
There are 12 on-mountain restaurants at Breckenridge Ski Resort. The TBar Restaurant is considered the main one, it is located at the base of peak 8, which is a central, and a perfect place to meet friends easily, although the lodge is almost always crowded.
Downtown Breckenridge, the Crepes a la Cart stand is a must stop. The long lines are worth the wait. For drinks separately, check out the Breckenridge Distillery for complimentary tastings or the Rocky Mountain Underground (RMU) for beers. Families should checkout Downstairs at Erics for pizza and arcade games.
To stay on the mountain, you can choose between the Gravity Haus at the base of Peak 9, the Grand Colorado on Peak 8, or Crystal Peak Lodge at Peak 7 for luxury and ski-in / ski-out service. Try the Beaver Run resort for a classic, family-style stay at the base of Peak 9. Downtown Breckenridge, there are River Mountain Lodge apartments for an affordable option or the Mountain Thunder Lodge for a more luxury stay.
Breckenridge Ski Resort has a rich entertainment program consisting of a variety of events throughout the ski season. As elsewhere, the largest and most popular events are from the start of the winter to Christmas and New Year's Eve. Here are some après-ski ideas at the resort in the first half of the season:
Among the best spring events in Breckenridge is the Pond Skim Contest, my favorite by far — you can try out your hand at skiing from the snow to the water in your skis.
