Snowboard Destination: Breckenridge, CO

BY POWDERHEADZ TEAM

Breckenridge, CO – Located about 80 miles (128km) southwest of Denver, Colorado, or about a 2-hour drive from Denver International Airport (DEN), Breckenridge Ski Resort is one of the most visited Ski Resorts in the Western Hemisphere. It’s owned by Vail Resorts, Inc., which owns and operates a plethora of other ski resorts such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone, Park City Mountain Resort, and Whistler Blackcomb.

Breckenridge Ski Resort offers over 180+ trails with 32 lifts across 600 acres of groomed runs and 1061 acres of alpine bowls and off-piste glades.

How to Get There

There are multiple ways to get to Breckenridge. The best way to get there is flying into Denver International Airport (DEN) and taking an airport shuttle to the resort. By Car, you drive straight from Denver International Airport on I-70 to exit 203 in Frisco and take CO-9 South all the way to Breckenridge, CO. You can also fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) which is 63 miles west of Breck or Colorado Springs Aiport (COS) which is 110 miles away.

But if you’re here for a week or more, rent a car so you can ride the 7 mountains within an hour drive from Breckenridge. If you have an Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass, you’ll have access to Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, or Vail. Sometimes you need a change-up from the same mountain, and we recommend you trying the other mountains for a different flavor of riding. Before heading out to any of the resorts, be sure to pay attention to weather and traffic reports.

Tips and Tricks

Account for the altitude. The Breckenridge base is at 9600 feet and the Summit barely kisses 13000 feet (12998 feet if you like specifics), which means you’ll get exhausted a lot faster than you normally would, unless you’re a mountain goat. Walking up a flight of stairs can get you winded, so be sure to be drink plenty of fluids (beer doesn’t count) while your body acclimates itself. Don’t bum rush into a hard day of riding. Take it easy for the first day to ease into it or you’ll run the risk of getting Altitude Sickness: shortness of breath, nausea, and general weakness.
- If you do find yourself gasping for air, there are a few spots in town that offers oxygen: 24-hour Oxygen, Alpine Oxygen, and The O2 Lounge.
The city of Breckenridge offers more fare than your typical ski resort. It’s a full fledged town that has a plethora of bars, restaurants, spas, and stores. And Breck Free Ride is a free bus system that will get you all over town with over 8 routes and a stop at nearly every street corner.
There’s a ton of options when it comes to renting ski and snowboard equipment. We found that Christie’s in Denver on University Blvd. was the easiest and most knowledgeable. Also, they have multiple locations at Breckenridge so if your boots are too tight and you need to change something, you can visit one of the other locations.
There’s a lot of terrain to navigate at Breckenridge, but luckily you can break it down pretty easily.
- Peak 6 is for the Intermediate-Expert Crowd. Ride in the wide open bowls or through the trees.
- Peak 7 is for those who are trying to graduate from Beginner to Intermediate.
- Peak 8 is Homebase for Breck. There’s something for everyone on this Peak and perfect for groups with a variety of riding abilities. Be warned that it’s also one of the busiest areas. Expect the longest lines here.
- Peak 9 is where you come to learn how to ski or board. It’s the family area so it’s also one of the slowest areas on the mountain. You’ll be wanting for more if you’re anything above an Intermediate Rider.
- Peak 10 is not for the faint of heart. It has easily the most complicated terrain and expert trails that Breck has to offer. You can ruin relationships if you take an inexperienced rider up here.

Breckenridge, CO: At a Glance

Location	Breckenridge, CO
Nearest Major City	Denver, CO
Vertical	1036 m (3398 ft)
Top Elevation	3962 m (12998 ft)
Base Elevation	2926 m (9600 ft)
Skiable area	2908 acres (1177 ha)
Runs	187 21 – Beginner 58 – Intermediate 45 – Intermediate 63 – Advanced
Lift system	32 total 1 gondola 4 high-speed six-packs 6 high-speed quads 1 fixed-grip quad 1 triple chairlift 6 double chairlifts 1 gondola 4 high-speed six-packs 6 surface
Lift capacity	46800 skiers/hr
Snowfall	89.9 m/year (354 in.)
Snow-making	617 acres (250 hectares)