A cozy ski town nestled in the mountains, Breckenridge, Colorado feels like it’s straight out of a Hallmark movie. Visiting in October — the off-season — we knew our itinerary would be slightly limited. Nevertheless, we still found that there was plenty to do! We enjoyed a busy 24-hour adventure. If that’s not for you, simply spread these activities out over a relaxing few days. And of course, if you happen to be visiting in the on-season, add skiing or a summer scenic gondola ride to this list!
Logistics
The best affordable airport near Breckenridge is Denver International Airport. Without traffic, Breckenridge is just under two hours away. To save some money and because we were going to be doing other local day trips, we stayed in the nearby town of Dillon. Our Airbnb had a great view of the water and we’d definitely recommend it! If you would prefer to stay in Breckenridge, they do have some affordable hotels, VRBOs, and The Bivvi Hostel. Though we didn’t utilize them ourselves, Breckenridge does offer free public buses. We found parking in Downtown Breckenridge to be easy. There was cheap street parking and lots that were free for 2 hours. THIS guide is super helpful!
House of Vibes Coffee and Curio
There are two spots in Silverthorne, a town 20 minutes from Breckenridge, that I did want to mention. The first is House of Vibes Coffee and Curio. A coffee shop with laidback vibes yet an Instagram-worthy aesthetic, I wish I could have spent hours here. I enjoyed my vegan chorizo breakfast sandwich and am still dreaming about my orange clove latte. My partner ordered a sweet corn cold brew that was unique and surprisingly tasty. For only $1, you can also snag a tarot card from their vending machine which was super fun! Of course, the spooky decorations in October were a nice touch.
The Pad Hostel
The other spot in Silverthorne I wanted to mention was The Pad Hostel. We stopped by The Pad Hostel for a drink and enjoyed a hot toddy by the outdoor fire pit. Guests were super friendly and engaging and the hostel has nightly events. There are bunk rooms as well as privates that seem to be quite affordable. It’s a great place to meet other travelers and I’d highly recommend it for solo adventurers. We would definitely consider staying here in the future.
Sapphire Point Overlook
On your way into Breckenridge, make a quick stop at Sapphire Point Overlook. Sapphire Point Overlook is a stunning viewpoint of the Dillon Reservoir. The walk to the main view point is quite flat and only a few hundred feet. The most intense hiking here is an easy 0.6 mile loop trail that takes you through the evergreens. It won’t be the most memorable part of your day, but the payoff is beautiful and requires little effort.
Unravel Coffee
Because no trip is complete without a bewitching bean brew, head to Unravel Coffee. Unravel Coffee feels like a cozy ski chalet complete with furs, flannels, and a fireplace. Our coffees were well-balanced and there was plenty of seating to spread out in. Right upstairs, the vibe continues at Cabin Juice, a restaurant and bar with links to the coffee shop below. We were told we were allowed to enjoy our coffee up there as well. In lift-themed seats under antler chandeliers, any day can feel like ski season!
Downtown Breckenridge
While most people come to the Rockies to enjoy nature, Downtown Breckenridge deserves some of your time. Downtown Breckenridge is your quintessential mountain village without the ostentation of other towns in the area. Don’t get me wrong, we loved Aspen and Vail, but Breckenridge was refreshingly relaxed. The town was family-friendly, felt safe, and completely cozy. Many of the buildings have frontier style facades that date to the Victorian Era. Considering the area’s history with the gold rush, it’s relieving that they’ve hung onto this bygone architecture. One of our favorite parts of our day was simply walking around downtown with the crunch of leaves under foot. In need of a souvenir or two? There are plenty of shops with various price ranges.
Breckenridge Welcome Center
As you enjoy a walk around town, don’t forget to stop by the Breckenridge Welcome Center. Right in the heart of the village, this free museum was surprisingly empty. Many visitors seemed to only be using the public restroom, but just around the corner were some awesome exhibits. The museum at Breckenridge Welcome Center is full of the area’s history. From indigenous peoples, to the gold rush and then ski boom, there is something to interest every traveler. Make sure you visit the upstairs deck which has a placard pointing out the different mountains within view.
Blue River Rec Path
Another must-do for the downtown area is the Blue River Rec Path, or Riverwalk Trail. This is an easy paved trail along the banks of the Blue River. It’s not very long and there are plenty of benches to just relax and take in the scenery. You’ll likely stumble upon this path as it weaves through the center of town. There are many extensive hikes in the Breckenridge area. As we were not adjusted to the altitude and wanted to see as much as we could within a day, shorter paths such as this really allowed us to stay on the move without tiring ourselves out. If you desire something more intense, this trail does meet up with others. I suggest downloading the All Trails app to see all of your options!
Isak Heartstone Statue
Speaking of short, relaxing trails — you can’t leave Breckenridge without visiting the Isak Heartstone statue! As you can probably glean from the photo, Isak is a rather large troll nestled in the woods. We were able to get free short term parking at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena parking lot, but are unsure if that is available during the on-season. The path to the Isak Heartstone Statue is only 0.25 miles. If you wish to extend your visit to his magical woods, there is an easy 1-mile loop beginning at the Illinois Creek trailhead. This 15-foot cutie is quite popular, so expect a short line to get your photo op.
Washington Mine and Milling Exhibit
While there are mining tours that take guests into the depths of the earth, the Washington Mine and Milling Exhibit is an alternative for those who don’t fancy being below ground. There is a small parking lot off of Illinois Gulch Road and the exhibit is an easy self-guided tour. As a completely free attraction, this is an easy add-on to any itinerary. We were two of only four people visiting the reconstructed site. Informational placards explain the different equipment and what life was like for miners. My favorite bit described miner’s superstitions, including tommyknockers. It was especially fun to read about these troll-like creatures after just having visited Isak Heartstone. You should only need about 20 minutes for this stop.
Boreas Pass Road
Sometimes it’s nice to give your feet a break and take the scenic route via four wheels. Boreas Pass Road is a popular back road for breathtaking views of the region. The road is 22 miles long, crosses the continental divide, and connects the town of Como to Breckenridge. It’s known to be particularly beautiful in autumn as parts of the journey are lined with aspen trees. Here’s the catch — it’s not an easy road to drive. Being pretty narrow and made of dirt, we didn’t make it very far before turning around. We still had some great views but it wasn’t worth risking our rental car to continue on. If Boreas Pass Road is high on your Breckenridge bucket list, I recommend a four-wheel drive vehicle. There were people parking below and doing a partial hike up the path, so that’s something you could consider!
Blue Lakes
Speaking of difficult roads, my next rec will also be for those with high clearance vehicles. While we made it in a Prius, the drive to Blue Lakes trailhead was riddled with deep potholes. It wasn’t one of our smarter choices. Once you’ve made it to the trailhead, it is just a short walk up a service access road with views the whole way. These two alpine lakes are right at the base of Quandary Peak, one of Colorado’s famous fourteeners. Pack your binoculars! The higher elevation means you may be able to see mountain goats, though we weren’t so lucky. It can also make you out of breath faster and more likely to burn, so don’t forget sunscreen! The dam along the upper blue lake has a fence, but you are able to get to the water if you walk down to the right hand side.
Sawmill Reservoir
Continuing our trend of short yet rewarding walks, our final outdoor adventure of the day was Sawmill Reservoir. Being here right at dusk created a beautiful reflection of the mountains onto the pond. It’s an easy 1.3-mile loop around the water with very little elevation gain. Sawmill Reservoir is close to town and has free parking. We were lucky enough to see a mother and baby moose in the adjacent neighborhood on our drive in. Based on other All Trails reviews, moose frequent the area, so keep your eyes peeled!
Tin Plate Pizza
We’ve come to the conclusion that there is no post-outdoor adventure day meal option better than pizza. Located in a cabin just two blocks from Main Street, Tin Plate Pizza has both indoor and outdoor seating. To try something unique, we opted for the white pizza. At $27 (when adding gluten-free crust), it was more than we’d typically spend, but it fed us both. And can I just say, what the heck are they putting in this pizza?! It definitely became one of the top five we’ve ever had! The space was cozy and the service was quick.
Horseshoe Breck
I’ve got to be honest — we were a little disappointed in the nightlife scene in Breckenridge. There were definitely options for dive/sports bars or fancy restaurants that served drinks, but not so many places in between. We opted for a drink at Horseshoe Breck. It had a great interior but was really more of a family-friendly restaurant vibe. Nevertheless, I had a cider and my partner enjoyed a margarita. Some other spots in town to consider looking up would be Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, Downstairs at Eric’s, Breckenridge Tap House, RMU Breckenridge, Tavern Underground, or The Gold Pan Saloon.
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