While Breckenridge is known world-wide for its mountain as a superb skiing/snowboarding destination, there’s tons of things to do in Breckenridge winter in the town and surrounding areas that cater to non-skiers and families as well, or even summertime activities if you want to visit in the spring or summer. Even if you find yourself not wanting to strap into some bindings and hit the slopes, there’s sure to be something to do that can fill your time in beautiful Breckenridge. To help you out, we’ve assembled a list of our favorite things to do in Breckenridge in the wintertime that aren’t skiing or snowboarding. If you aren’t that experienced in Colorado winters check out some tips on how to hike in cold weather including how to keep your water bottle from freezing and what to wear in winter
Things to Do in Breckenridge Winter
1. Dogsledding
Spend some time getting to know the local pups that run for Good Times Adventures by mushing your own team of Siberian Huskies through a beautiful snowy forest. Start by checking in at the office, then meet your dogsled team before heading off on an adventure. You’ll have a guide on a snowmobile who will help you coach your team and assist trading off mushers, riders, and observers.
2. Snowmobiling
Good Times Adventures also offer exciting snowmobile trips that guide you up to Georgia Pass and the Continental Divide, all the way up at 11,585 feet above sea level, which offers unparalleled views of Swan River Valley and beyond. They get new snowmobiles every year and keep the guide-to-guest ratio low, which allows them to provide superior customer service and personal experiences that will make memories that last forever.
3. Cross Country Ski, Snowshoe, Fat Bike
Winter hiking or snowshoeing is a great winter activity and is a fun way to get active while enjoying some fresh air. You can find your own hikes, such as Sallie Barber Mine or Peaks Trail, or you can visit one of the local Nordic centers for groomed trails and even lessons.
Breckenridge Nordic Center
The Breck Nordic Center offers 20,000 acres of groomed trails accessible to both snowshoeing and cross country skiing. They offer cross-country ski lessons for people of all ages and they also have self-guided or group-guided snowshoe adventures to experience the forest and learn about local history.
Gold Run Nordic Center
The Gold Run Nordic Center, which is also located in Breckenridge, also features snowshoe adventures and cross-country skiing. In addition, they offer Fat Bike rentals for on-site winter trail riding.
Scenic Snow Cat Tours
The Breckenridge Nordic Center also offers scenic snow cat tours where you can experience the magic of a winter forest from the comfort of a heated, all-glass cabin. This is a great option for getting outside while staying warm and comfy!
4. Ice Skating and Hockey
At the local Stephen C West Ice Arena, you can participate in daily open skate sessions as well as open hockey games. Group lessons, private lessons, and equipment rentals are available on site. Got a sports fan in your group? Feel like a local and attend a game for the Breckenridge Vipers, the town’s local ice hockey team.
5. Snow Tubing (Frisco Tubing Hill & Keystone) & Carter Park
The Frisco Tubing Hill and Keystone Tubing Hill offer the one-of-a-kind experience of tubing down groomed hills upwards of 1,000 feet high. Their hills offer a tube lift to save you the trouble of hiking uphill, making this activity something easy that the whole family can enjoy.
For free tubing (and no lift), rent a saucer from a local shop and tube down the hill at Carter Park, just a few blocks off Main Street.
6. Sleigh Rides
Experience a winter sleigh ride behind magnificent horses that take you to a heated tent in the woods for dinner and evening musical entertainment. There are three companies that offer slightly different experiences, so check them out and see which is right for you and your family: Two Below Zero, Nordic Sleigh Rides at the Gold Run Nordic Center, and Breck Sleigh Rides.
7. Gold Mine Tour (Country Boy Mine)
Venture 1,000 feet into Summit County’s only open gold mine and learn about life and death in the mine and mining history of the Breckenridge area. Country Boy Mine was voted Best in Breck in 2019 and on top of mine tours, and they also offer gold panning and axe throwing.
8. Escape Rooms
Mountain Time Escape Rooms and Escape Room Breckenridge both offer private escape rooms for your group and have multiple different rooms with varying scenarios and difficulty levels. With all activities being indoors, this is a great inside option for those cold wintery days in the mountains.
9. Sip & Sample: Distillery Tour, Winery Tour, Beer Flight
There are multiple places in Breckenridge for tasting fine alcohols and brews such as The Breckenridge Distillery, Carboy Winery, and Breckenridge Brewery.
The Breckenridge Distillery has a tasting room on Main Street in downtown Breck, but they also have a restaurant and bar on Airport Road just north of town. They make their own bourbon, vodka, spice whiskey, spice rum, gin, and more. The restaurant books up well in advance, so make sure you make reservations.
Carboy Winery has a restaurant and bar upstairs, but the magic happens down below in their 2,000 sq ft basement winery. Take a tour downstairs and finish the day upstairs with a flight of their house wines.
Breckenridge Brewery is a great restaurant and bar located on the south end of Main Street in Breckenridge. While most of their beers are now brewed in Denver, this original location (open since 1990) offers special brews at this location only on top of their popular favorites. Try one at a time, or sample their brews with a flight and a burger.
10. Axe Throwing
Try your hand at learning how to safely and effectively throw an axe and hit the bullseye with the axe guides at Mountain Axe Breckenridge. Safety is their #1 priority, so you can count on your instructor to teach you how to throw an axe and keep you safe while doing it.
11. Breckenridge Rec Center
Looking to hot tub, swim, or even work out? The newly-renovated Breckenridge Recreation Center offers day and week passes so you and your family can enjoy racquetball, rock-climbing, group fitness classes, swimming, hot tubbing, and their superior weight and cardio rooms.
It’s true that Breckenridge has world-renowned skiing that should be enjoyed (or at least attempted) while you’re visiting. But if you find that the mountain isn’t in the books for your whole trip, there’s no doubt that there’s still lots to do. Breckenridge is full of history and its status as a year-round travel destination means there’s something to do for everyone in your group.
FAQ
Is Breckenridge a fun town?
Breckenridge is an amazing and fun place to visit in the winter or summer time, and there’s tons to do! The town is a quaint mountain town with tons of history that dates back to the gold rush, and there’s an energy about the place that makes it fun to explore and enjoy.
Is the Breckenridge alpine slide open in winter?
No, the alpine slide and coaster are not typically open in the winter time and are summer only activities. If you’re looking for a similar and fun experience, pop over to nearby Copper Mountain, which does have a winter time alpine coaster that’s super fun!
Is Breckenridge good in January?
January is a great time of year to visit Breckenridge for winter activities. By this time in the season, the mountain has typically gotten enough snow that most terrain is open and the other winter activities are able to operate at full capacity. Plus, January gets good snowfall and is a slower time than the Christmas holidays and New Year.
Will I get altitude sickness in Breckenridge?
It’s possible. Because of the high elevation of 9,600 feet, up to 40% of visitors can experience symptoms of altitude sickness, ranging from light to severe symptoms.
About the Author
Derek Vitiello
My goal with my writing and Know Nothing Nomads as a whole is to share my passions of hiking, camping, and a love of the outdoors with our readers. Making the difficult and uncertain feel more approachable to people that might not know enough to feel comfortable taking their first steps into the wilderness is a driving factor for me. When I’m not writing you can find me on a trail, in a forest, or next to a river with hiking shoes on my feet and a fly rod somewhere close by.
