Breckenridge (United States)
Breckenridge in short
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Height: 2925 metres
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Beautiful ski resort centre
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Lively ski resort with good apres-ski
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Famous for its deep powder snow
Breckenridge has a characteristic Wild West feel to it. The original main street of this Colorado town is extremely well preserved, and it's true that the 'clapboard' houses would not be out of place in a Western. Indeed, some of them date back to the 1800's, when Breckenridge played an important role as a gold rush base camp. The village lies in the Rocky Mountains at an altitude of almost 3000 metres above sea level and visitors are advised to watch out for altitude sickness on their ski holidays in Breckenridge.
Today, Breckenridge has retained its strong sense of community. The village has a thriving arts scene and, as night falls, Breckenridge turns into a lively place with a vibrant après-ski and nightlife scene. The varied Breckenridge ski area has approximately 150 kilometres of pistes for all levels, from gentle nursery slopes to challenging chutes. The higher you go, the more challenging the slopes are. On average, Breckenridge gets 300 days of sunshine and more than 3 metres of snow every year. Breckenridge is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Denver International Airport, which has direct flights to London.
Ski area
The ski area at Breckenridge is spread across 5 mountain peaks, with a total of 187 pistes including North America's highest lift-served terrain. The peaks, called Peak 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, have abundant terrain for all levels. About 60% of the runs here are situated below the treeline, which helps protect against the strong winds that can sometimes be found up top. Like pretty much every North American ski area, at Breckenridge it's common to find fresh powder on ungroomed pistes, even blue and green pistes. Breckenridge offers plenty of personalised guided lessons to help you gain the knowledge, confidence and skills for safely skiing off-piste.
Snowboarding
With four different fun parks and a 22' superpipe, Breckenridge is a mecca for snowboarders. The Freeway on Peak 8 is the absolute highlight. The jumps and obstacles here are sure to thrill even the most experienced freestylers. Highway 9 and Frontier have some easier features so beginner and intermediate freestylers can get their foot in the door without being too intimidated. Lastly, Park Lane is the locals' favourite. Take the 5 Chair and you'll be able to check out the skills of other freestylers while deciding whether you dare join their ranks!
Hiking and cross-country skiing
In a more low-key note, Breckenridge offers several dozen kilometres of trails for winter hikers, snowshoers and cross-country skiers to explore. The rustic Breckenridge Nordic Centre is situated in the forest between the city and Peak 8.
Kids: First tracks on skis
Both the childcare and the children's ski school in Breckenridge have an excellent reputation. The instructors are known for their good teaching methods and positive attitude. Children from two months are welcome in the excellent local childcare facilities and ski lessons start for kids aged three. If the kids are tired of skiing, take them to visit an authentic old mine or try out dog sledding through the winter wonderland that is Breckenridge.
Nightlife in the Breck
After a day's skiing in Breckenridge, you will certainly not get bored. Après-ski starts at one of the bars located at the base of the mountains, where you can enjoy a cold pint while watching the skiers and snowboarders go by. The problem will be choosing where to continue your après-ski - between Park Avenue Pub, the Brewery, Gold Pan Saloon, the Liquid Lounge among others. Just like the mountains of Breckenridge, the choice of entertainment is huge! For a real local experience, visit the Breckenridge Distillery or Breckenridge Brewery and taste the local spirits and beer.
Photo gallery of Breckenridge
Weather in Breckenridge
Today
Wet snow with some sunshine
Frost line
2786 metresRain
4 mmTomorrow
Wet snow with some sunshine