When you’re visiting Breckenridge CO, you’re at an amazing place for all kinds of sports. It’s truly an outdoorsman’s paradise, and there’s limitless things to do whether you’re visiting in summer or winter. If you’re a climber visiting the area, there’s a handful of places that you can scout for a climbing session while you’re in town. We’ve assembled all the information in one place for you!
Indoor Rock Climbing Breckenridge
Breckenridge Recreation Center
The Breckenridge Recreation Center is the only Breckenridge climbing gym located in town. They have a rock climbing wall that was constructed using a “freeform” method, giving it a wide range of features and a realistic design. The wall has three top ropes, 10 lead climbing lines, and areas for bouldering.
In order to access the climbing wall, you must purchase admission to the rec center in the form of a day pass, punch pass, or some type of membership. Once you purchase admission, you’ll need to sign the online climbing waiver and schedule an orientation to get your climbing pass.
Summit Climbing Gym
Summit Climbing Gym is the only Summit County climbing gym and it’s member owned and operated. It’s a co-op, meaning it’s “for climbers, by climbers.” They aren’t staffed all the time, and they require a top rope test before you can join. If you’re still learning, you can take the “Learn to Top Rope” class at the Breckenridge Recreation Center and bring your receipt to the gym to join. This gym has a really amazing community where everyone pitches in and provides a great experience for locals and visitors alike.
Outdoor Breckenridge Rock Climbing
Epic Discovery
In the summer months of mid-June through early September, the ski resort turns into a summer getaway with tons of activities on the mountain. This includes a rock climbing wall, which is located at the top of the Colorado Superchair ski lift. It’s called “Gold Summit” and is a 40ft wall with 16 distinct routes available.
The views from the chairlift are amazing, and are even better from the top of the rock climbing wall. You can just rock climb, or you can purchase multi-activity tickets for things like the Alpineer Challenge Course, the alpine slide, the Gold Runner coaster, mini golf, and more. You can find more information here.
Bouldering & Toproping In the Colorado Mountains
If you want to hire climbing guides or go on a guided trip, consider Apex Mountain School, Colorado Adventure Guides, and Rocky Mountain Guides. All are very highly recommended. Mountain Outfitters is the only retail store that sells climbing gear and they should also have copies of the Summit Climbing Guide.
Otherwise, here are some of the more popular places for sport climbing in the area of Breckenridge
Swan Mountain & Prospector Campground
Swan Mountain is one of the more well-known bouldering areas and is easily accessible from a nearby parking lot (39.596881, -106.033423). Just follow the trail from the west end of the parking area and in a few minutes you’ll arrive at a 100-foot long wall (39.599321, -106.035993) that offers excellent traversing and smaller boulders. It’s great for beginner climbs and intermediate climbers as well. It’s shaded in the summertime and the boulder problems in the area range from V0-V7 and there are also two 5.8 and a 5.9+ called The Overhang. You can see the Mountain Project listing here. While you’re here, make sure you stop at Sapphire Point Overlook at take in the view, just make sure you’re respecting the National Forest property and maintain proper use.
Keystone/Montezuma Boulders
If you head towards Keystone on Hwy. 6 then continue on Montezuma Rd for about 1.2 miles, you’ll find a parking area on your left. Park there and you’re very close to a large bouldering area. The first sets of rocks are the Hummingbird Boulders, with two bolted routes but they’re mostly climbed as a boulder problem. You can also access Haus Rock and Alpenglow Wall from here. Here’s a larger post on Mountain Project that describes the area in more detail.
10 Mile Canyon
The Tenmile Canyon is steep canyon between Frisco and Copper Mountain. This area has tons of different routes and problems, and is a great place for sport climbing. You should research thoroughly since new routes require a lot of cleaning. There is ample information online and in the Summit County guidebook: here’s a link to an archived guide to the area and you can also find more information on Mountain Project.
Hiking Routes
There’s a second route up Quandary Peak, is a popular 14er located a short drive from Breckenridge, that climbs the south face of the mountain and it’s much more difficult than your average hike. Hikers have reported everything from class three to five, but most estimate it to be a class three.
There are also several 14ers in the state that are considered class 3-4 like North Maroon Peak and Snowmass Mountain (of Maroon Bells near the Four Pass Loop), Pyramid Peak, Capitol Peak, and several more.
Ice Climbing
In the same area as Blue Lakes, you can access the Quandary Ice Crag, which is below the southwest face of Quandary Peak.
There’s several ice climbing areas near Vail including Rigid Designator Amphitheater (which is the most famous ice climbing area in Colorado), Spiral Staircase, and Firehouse Area.
Cover photo by Nate Muncy and Lexie on Mountain Project showing Lexie atop pitch 14 of Royal Flush.
About the Author
Ashley Vitiello
Ashley is an adventurous soul who loves all things nature, especially warm sunshine, hiking, wildflowers, and mushrooms. If she isn’t writing content for Know Nothing Nomads, she’s probably in a forest looking at big mountain views and tiny pieces of moss on the side of the trail.
