One of our favorite things to do in Breckenridge in the summer is hiking. With the beautiful mountain scenery and plenty of trails to visit, this Colorado town is a hiking paradise. In the winter, you can still visit many of the trails with snowshoes.
There are tons of hiking trails in Breckenridge, but we’ve managed to narrow it down to our five favorites. Most of these Breckenridge, Colorado, hikes are easily accessible and can be reached with a simple drive south on US 9.
Ready to get started? Lace up your hiking boots, here are our five favorite Breckenridge hikes (plus some we want to try next time)!
COOLEST PLACES TO STAY IN BRECKENRIDGE
- Best for Activities: When spring wildflowers begin to bloom, warm weather adventures kick into high gear. Hike, bike, golf and fish your way through the summer months until the aspens shimmer gold. Grand Timber Lodge features a restaurant, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center and bar, along with movie theaters and a family fun center. You’ll never run out of things to do here!
- Best for Dining with a View: Sevens Restaurant is conveniently located inside the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 and offers a family-friendly, casual dining experience, along with spectacular mountain views. You’ll also find a spa, outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and movie theater here.
- Best Tried and True Hotel: The Residence Inn by Marriott Breckenridge has a variety of amenities, great views of the Rocky Mountains and an excellent location on the vibrant Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. You’ll find this comfortable, log cabin style lodge is convenient to ski lifts, shops, bars and restaurants.
IOWA MINE TRAIL
One of my favorite Breckenridge hiking trails with kids was the Iowa Hill Mine Trail, because it had old mining equipment along the way that kept the little ones interested and moving. In the summer, it is an easy hike — just a 1.2-mile loop.
We love this trail…it’s easy to see why it’s one of the most popular trails for families in the area. There’s a bit of a climb to start, but it ends by going downhill — always good.
We loved it so much, we revisited the same hike in the winter, only with snowshoes and a guide from Breckenridge History. During our guided tour, we learned stories about the area and the miners who worked the land. Our guide let us into a miner’s boarding house, showing us how the men lived before skiing was even a thought.
MCCULLOUGH GULCH TRAIL
The McCullough Gulch Trail is a moderate hike located off County Road 851. This was my oldest child’s favorite Breckenridge hike.
This 2.5-mile, out-and-back trail leads you past sculpted mountains to an glacier alpine lake, a waterfall, and beautiful views. We saw marmots and pikas within the rocks (but no mountain goats), and we also saw an active miner’s cabin along the route.
The pictures we took of this hike didn’t do it justice. The mountains all around made you feel small and insignificant and coming upon the waterfalls and lake was like discovering a paradise lost. My middle son took more than 100 pictures! It was just that gorgeous.
This is one hike we are determined to revisit again. Bring water — this is a high altitude hike. This hike gets busy on the weekends, so try to build it into your itinerary for mid-week.
Note: Visitors to Quandary Peak and McCullough Gulch Trail areas will now be required to reserve parking online or use the free shuttle from Breckenridge. There is no parking at McCullough Gulch Trailhead.
SAWMILL CREEK TRAIL
We did several hikes while we were in Breckenridge — some were self-guided, and others were guided hikes, like the Sawmill Creek Trail hike, which we did through the Town of Breckenridge’s Recreation Department. There are several groups that do guided hikes and each has their own angle. We felt this one through the town was one of the best hikes we did while in Breckenridge.
The Town of Breckenridge’s hike focuses on flora and fauna. Our leaders were very knowledgeable about the area and we learned several new plants including fireweed, a pretty purple flower that loves the disruption in the soil. It’s the first to bloom after fire – hence the name.
We also learned how to tell the difference between spruce, pines, and fir trees. Our guide, a retired science teacher, asked us to “shake hands with the trees.” The “friendly” fir is soft and you can’t roll the needles. The “spikey” spruce’s needles roll. The pine tree needles come in pairs. More than five years later, my boys still comment on the ‘friendly’ fir.
If you’d rather go it on your own, pick up a trail map from the Breckenridge Welcome Center. You’ll find the trailhead for this hike by going toward the Snowflake Lift at the Ski Resort, near the intersection of Four O’ Clock Road and Kings Crown Road. Along the way, you’ll enjoy views of the Tenmile Range.
Read More: 23+ Epic Things To Do in Breckenridge in Summer
BOREAS PASS
The Boreas Pass Trailhead used to be a railroad line, although I don’t see how they could get a rail car through the pass in winter. As it is, the trail is closed to road traffic in winter and becomes a back-country ski destination.
Boreas Pass is a great family hike as you can drive up the dirt road to the ranger station for great views and hike as high as you like. The pass sits along the Continental Divide. We waited out a storm before our hike and when we got out of the car, my son watched the puddles running both east and west. Pretty cool.
In order to get the trains through in winter, drift fences were built along the track to keep the snow away. You can still see the tree stumps from the trees they cut to make the fence. It looks like the Oncler came through cutting Truffela trees. I fully expected to see the Lorax pop out of the many trunks dotting the landscape.
It is easy to see the tree line from here too. This is an easy to moderate hike that is 6.6 miles, but you can drive most of it.
GOLD RUN TRAIL (PRESTON GHOST TOWN)
The problem with Colorado hiking trails is there are several spurs and it’s hard to stay on the intended path…and that’s if you can find the trailhead. The Gold Run Trail can take you from the trailhead into Breckenridge, or you can circle back to the parking lot. We opted to be safe and go on a guided hike with the Breckenridge History.
Not only did we hear great historical information about the mines and the Preston Mill Ghost Town, but we had a delicious lunch and didn’t have to worry at all whether we were on the right trail or not. My kind of hike.
The 10.5-mile trail starts as a jeep trail and is also a favorite for mountain bikers. However, there is plenty of room for hikers and it’s fun to explore the mill and town remains.
BRECKENRIDGE HIKES – TRAILS WE’VE YET TO TRY
MOHAWK LAKES TRAIL
We did not do this popular, moderately demanding hike off Spruce Creek Road that leads through pine and aspen forest, along a mountain stream, to one of the most impressive waterfalls in Breck — Continental Falls. However, now that we know about the Mohawk Lakes Trail, it’s on our list for next time.
Looking for even more hiking? Take the Spruce Creek Trail to the Mohawk Lakes Trail. While you’re in the area, check out the Crystal Lake Trail too.
Local Tip: Best to do mid-week, this trail is popular on the weekends.
Other hikes we’d like to try next time are…
- The Blue Lakes Trail is a 1-mile, heavily trafficked out-and-back trail that’s considered great for all skill levels.
- The trail to Quandary Peak is 6 miles south of downtown Breck in the White River National Forest. Quandary Peak is one of Colorado’s most popular 14ers, due to its dramatic views, accessibility, and relatively easy climb.
- The Hoosier Pass Loop is a 3-mile roundtrip hike with an elevation gain of 180 feet and it’s easy to find as the trailhead starts by the parking area.
- The Burro Trail is a connector trail that’s on the easy side of moderate. This 5.9-mile trail will take you along a creek, through forests, and offers beautiful vista views.
BRECKENRIDGE HIKES FAQ
What are some of the best hikes in Breckenridge?
Some of the best hikes in Breckenridge include easy ones like Burro Trail, the Hoosier Pass Loop, and the Sawmill Trail. The Blue Lakes Trail and McCullough Gulch Trail are popular moderate hikes, and Wheeler Pass and Quandary Peak are popular difficult trails.
Is Breckenridge a good place to hike?
Yes, Breckenridge, Colorado is a great place to hike! With hundreds of trails for every skill level, offering all different types of terrain, this is the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the mountain scenery.
What is one of the hardest hikes in Breckenridge?
If you’re looking for a hiking challenge in Breckenridge, consider hiking to the highest point at Breckenridge Ski Resort, Peak 8 Summit. You can hike from the valley floor to the ridgetop, traveling through beautiful terrain before reaching the summit at 12,840 feet!
MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO COLORADO
- YOUR COLORADO VACATION
- ALPINE SLIDE: Breckenridge Alpine Slide & Epic Discovery (Sort Of) Theme Park
- BRECK HAPPY HOUR: Breckenridge Happy Hour Deals that Work for Families, Too
- BRECKENRIDGE SKI RESORT: Why We Love Breckenridge Ski Resort (+ 25 More Things To Do In Breck In Winter)
WHERE TO STAY IN BRECKENRIDGE
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