Fresh powder, daring slopes, and a charming town – there’s nothing quite like a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. If you’ve never been to Breckenridge before, let me just say that this mountain resort has won my heart. With 5 peaks and seemingly endless powder trails, it’s hard to get bored. Breckenridge boasts some of the best skiing in the United States (if not world!). Here you’ll find a wide range of activities including skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, shopping, and dining. Needless to say, there’s enough fun for everyone, including those that don’t feel entirely confident on a pair of skis. Whether you want to take it easy and enjoy a couple smaller slopes and head to the bar for a Bloody Mary, or you want to test your limits and face your fears at the top of any of the peaks, Breckenridge has it all.
As someone who has been skiing for over 10 years, I am embarrassed to say that this was my first trip to the Colorado Rockies. Thus being my first time, I learned a couple (ok, a lot) of lessons. I will share 10 of these lessons with you:
1. You will never have enough layers
I prepared for cold. Breckenridge was colder. When I traveled in January, the temperatures averaged between -3 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills making these frigid temperatures feel exponentially colder. As a northern Ohio native, I am fairly used to the cold, but being on the mountains for an extended period of time can eventually wear on your body.
Even though I wore SO many layers, I had to take frequent breaks in one of the many bars and restaurants throughout the resort (but not complaining!). I recommend purchasing quality gear and base layers that are made for extended exposure to the cold. Wear socks made specifically for skiers, and, if you can swing it, invest in some electric socks and gloves. Since these often come with a hefty price tag, a more cost efficient option would be to purchase some hand and foot warmers from a gas station or large retailer. There are tons of shops around Breckenridge that offer these as well. It may not seem like a big deal, but I have to admit there were a few times on this trip I was worried about the future of my toes.
Oh, and don’t forget a helmet! Not for warmth (though it helps), but for your own safety. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve heard someone say they don’t need a helmet because they have “been skiing forever” or “don’t fall”. Spoiler alert: I’ve seen many of these people fall, though luckily they haven’t been seriously injured. Even if you are totally confident in your skills, you never know when you might hit a stray rock or branch, or another skier might run into you. There are tons of great ski helmets available. I personally use the Smith Holt Snow Helmet, but the Smith website has lots of other great options for good quality ski helmets.
2. If you plan to eat out on the weekend, make reservations
I learned this the hard way. After a fulfilling day of skiing, my group and I decided we wanted to splurge on some good Italian food. After walking in the wrong direction for nearly 20 minutes in the cold, we turned around and eventually made it to our restaurant of choice. Fairly empty, no wait. Perfect, I thought, until we found out that the kitchen was down and they were no longer seating new guests. With all the other available food options, we planned to just walk another block or two and find somewhere else to eat.
What we didn’t know was that on Saturdays, every single restaurant fills up fast. Each place we went to, no matter how big or small, how fancy or casual, had at a minimum 2-hour wait. And it was already 7:00 pm. And we were starving.
After about an hour of walking around, going into every single restaurant we walked past, we eventually found a cafeteria-style barbecue restaurant called Whiskey Star Smokehouse. Not totally the Italian food we had in mind, but it turned out to have some incredible food. With huge portions of chicken, brisket, and homestyle sides such as baked beans, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and candied sweet potatoes, this place ended up being a great find. If you’re looking for traditional dining where you will be served by a waiter or waitress, this is not the place to go as you will need to walk up and get everything yourself, cafeteria style. However, the food was delicious and I think is worth giving a try (hopefully under better circumstances than my experience!). Turns out that sometimes the best things come out of totally ruined plans.
On the subject of eating out, it gets incredibly expensive. I’m sure most people expect this when coming here, but if you have the option to cook in your hotel or bring food with you, I suggest you utilize it. Not only will this save you money, but it will save you time standing in line waiting for a table (see: above). A lot of the hotels on the mountain have kitchens inside the rooms, including the Village at Breckenridge, which is where I stayed. These hotels often come with a hefty price tag, however, so I suggest splitting the cost with a group of people if possible.
3. It helps to have some ski experience, but you don’t have to be an expert
While a variety of slopes are available at Breckenridge, I recommend getting at least a little skiing or snowboarding under your belt at a smaller mountain prior to going. There are smaller, easier hills here, but in my opinion to get the most out of what the mountain has to offer it’s better to not be in a constant state of panic going down the slopes (or worse, hurting yourself). That’s not to say you can’t learn to ski here, as there are lessons available for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. I just feel that if you are going to spend the money to go to Breckenridge, it’s useful to be able to go on more than a few slopes.
That being said, though I’ve been skiing for over a decade, I in no way consider myself an expert, so don’t skip out on this amazing trip because you think you have to be skiing or snowboarding at an Olympic level. Not every slope is a double black diamond, and you have so many options at each of the peaks to stay within your own limits while still challenging yourself. I typically stayed within the blue range of skill, but hit a few black diamonds as well once I gained more confidence on the slopes.
4. Prepare to walk
The charming ski town of Breckenridge is made for walking. While you can take a car through these streets, finding parking is incredibly challenging (if not impossible) and expensive. You will also have to navigate all of the pedestrians walking along the streets and sidewalks of the city. I don’t think walking is necessarily a bad thing, though, as I feel it adds an extra specialness to the trip, allowing you to immersive yourself in this quaint mountain town. Every day feels like Christmas here, with strings lights adorned throughout and snow-covered roofs galore. Honestly, you could spend a whole day going up and down the streets of Breckenridge exploring all of the little shops it has to offer.
Be warned, though — it gets incredibly chilly (see: never enough layers), so be prepared to wear a lot of your winter gear as you stroll along. I recommend investing in some good boots that will keep you warm and work well in the snow. You’ll thank me later. I wore my pair of trusty Sorel boots that proved themselves worthy while walking around in the cold and snow. They aren’t the cheapest boots, but ultimately I feel that a nice pair of boots is worth the money to avoid being miserable walking around town.
5. Start early
I’m all about maximizing my time. I like to get up and go explore every minute of a trip, so if that’s not you, take this tip with a grain of salt. I’m also the person that never skips breakfast (lest I’ll be cranky all day), so I’d advise that if you want to go out for breakfast, get there right when the restaurant opens as they tend to get busier and have longer wait times the later in the morning it gets.
I recommend The Blue Moose. Admittedly, the name is really what lured me in, but it’s also the only breakfast restaurant that opens at 7:00 am. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy your meal and still get to the slopes when they open. This charming diner carries a variety of breakfast options, offers a signature cinnamon roll appetizer, and even has a menu of alcoholic “breakfast” drinks.
I know getting up at 7 in the morning isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I totally get if you aren’t rushing out the door first thing. Just keep in mind that the slopes close at 4:00 PM every day, so it’s best to start earlier to hit everything you want. Plus, the earlier you go, the less crowded the trails are. As the day progresses, you could be waiting half an hour or more just to get on one of the main lifts, especially on the weekend. This can prove to be less than ideal if you only have a few days to spend at Breckenridge. If you start at some of the more popular lifts early in the day, you can head towards the less crowded areas as it gets later.
6. Buy an EPIC pass
This may be one of the most important things I learned on this trip — and the biggest money saver! I lucked out on this one without even realizing it until I got to the ski resort. The cost of lift tickets is nearly double the price, if not more, of buying an EPIC pass. The pass also saves you 20% on food, group lessons, and rental gear at the resort. I paid around $350 for a 4-day EPIC pass, while a friend who joined our trip last-minute had to pay around $700 for the same amount of days since the EPIC passes were no longer available.
On that note, buy an EPIC pass in advance, as they sell out fairly quickly. When available, you have the option to purchase a one to seven day pass or a season pass if you plan on spending more than seven days on the mountain. Just beware of any holiday restricted dates so you don’t get turned away when you arrive. If you’re a college student or in the military, you can enjoy even more discounts on tickets so I recommend checking out the EPIC website to take advantage of those deals!
7. You will probably get lost (but there’s an app for that)
I consider myself relatively savvy when it comes to directions, but Breckenridge definitely had me questioning myself a few times. With so many different slopes and cut-throughs and peaks and lifts, it becomes challenging to go the planned route while trying to read a sign going 30 mph down a mountain. I lost my group (or they lost me?) several times throughout the trip. The good news is it gave me the opportunity to explore new trails while attempting to meet with my fellow skiers and snowboarders.
The other good news is there’s an app made specifically for this dilemma. The app is called Slopes, and offers a free and premium version. Both versions allow you to create an account to add your friends and see where everyone is at all times. Both versions also give you the ability to track your stats going down the slopes, provide you with ski condition reports, and allow you to connect with the Apple Health app. The premium version gives you access to trail maps while offline, so even without reception you can see where you are and find your way back. It will also tell you where you skied the fastest and compare your stats with those of your friends. Premium is $29.99 for a year, but you can get a week pass for $17.99 or a day pass for $3.99. The year pass does offer a 7-day free trial, which is what I did, so I got all the premium features for free during my trip! Just don’t forget to cancel your subscription before the 7 days is up. There are similar apps available, but this is the one that I personally used and can vouch that I had a good experience with.
8. Plan for several days if you want to see it all
With 5 peaks and over 2900 acres of trail, there is so much exploring to be had at Breckenridge. Though more time consuming, one of my favorite aspects of skiing here is that all the slopes are incredibly long and take awhile to get from top to bottom. If you can, I recommend setting aside several days at the resort to hit all the slopes you want to ski, enjoy some of the many restaurants the slopes have to offer, and venture out into town. The city at the base of the mountain offers tons of dining and shopping options. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything or paying for an expensive meal, I recommend at least strolling along the sidewalks to see how the city comes to life at night. If you have time for a day trip, explore the city of Denver or go play with some of the wolves at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center located an hour and a half from Breckenridge.
However, if you only have a few days to enjoy the mountains, it can be useful to stay at one of the on-site hotels. This is the part of the trip where I splurged, but would only recommend doing if you are going with a large group of people as I did. We stayed at The Village at Breckenridge, a ski-in ski-out condo that allowed us to walk out of our room directly to the ski lift. It gets pricey, but if you are only staying for a few days and split the room amongst a larger group of people, the cost is worth it. If you don’t have a lot of time, the ski-in ski-out option saves TONS of time in driving to the resort and trying to find parking, making it ideal for a long weekend in Breckenridge. The other perk is you are within walking distance of tons of shops and restaurants located in Breckenridge, allowing you to see more of the city during your stay.
Bonus: the Village has suites with fireplaces and complimentary firewood, offering a perfect way to warm up and relax after a long day out in the cold. Aside from the Village, there are tons of other ski-in ski-out resorts throughout Breckenridge, but I recommend booking far in advance if you can as these tend to sell out months ahead of time.
9. You will most definitely face some fears
I’m talking about you, Peak 6. If you’ve never been skiing or snowboarding in the Western United States, you’re in for a shock. You will experience some of the most incredible views, but chances are you’ll be scared at least once during your adventures. My moment was the top of Peak 6, which was absolutely astounding, but I think I almost wet myself going down. At over 12,000 feet can you really blame me? Just the lift alone made me uneasy (and don’t get me started on how I felt at the top)! Despite this, it was arguably one of my favorite parts of the trip and the most exhilarating. The views were breathtaking (or perhaps it was the altitude?), and I felt so proud of myself afterward.
I encourage you to try out a variety of trails and challenge yourself (within reason to your skiing abilities) while you’re here. It doesn’t have to be Peak 6, just whatever feels challenging and adventurous to you. I think it makes the trip that much better and gives you the confidence to try new trails you may not have had the courage to do prior. Maybe try some moguls, or go on that slope you’ve been eyeing that you’re on the fence about.
10. You will never want to leave
As I’ve said, Breckenridge, Colorado has won my heart. When the dreaded day came to pack up and go home, I was already missing this snowy mountain town. With so much to do and see, and so many adventures to be had, it’s hard not to want to stay in Breckenridge forever.
Writing this post in April, I know the ski season is nearly over, but it is definitely not too early to start planning for next year! While this was my first trip to the Colorado rockies, it most certainly will not be my last. If you were on the fence about going before, I hope this post gave you a better idea about what to expect and hopefully encouraged you to give Breckenridge a try!
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