4 Summer Days in Breckenridge
Breckenridge, Colorado is an alpine town with a gold rush history. In the summer, the tall vibrant pine trees grow in thick patches all across the layers of mountains. Big puffy clouds fill the sky and sometimes they turn into spectrum of menacing blues and rain. In this blog post, I’ll give you a great list of to-dos for summer activities if you have 4 days to explore around Breckenridge. If you are love nature and adventure this is a great area to travel to.
If you prefer to do a day trip from Denver try the Denver: Full-Day Breckenridge Mountain Explorer Tour to explore Red Rocks Amphitheater, viewpoints of the Continental Divide, and charming Breckenridge.
To Stay
Stay near historical downtown at one of these highly rated accommodations:
4 Day Itinerary Summary
Go Find the Breckenridge Troll
Grab lunch at Breckenridge Brewery & Pub & Wander Downtown Breckenridge
Check Out the View from Sapphire Point
Make dinner at your cozy Airbnb or at one of the many restaurants surrounding the Dillion Reservoir
Hike Lower Mohawk Lake Trail
Raft the Arkansas River
Visit Leadville, an Old Mining Town
Hike Iowa Hill
Ride the Breckenridge Gondola
Day 1
Go Find the Breckenridge Troll
Start your trip with a quick with a short .25 mile nature walk to see the 15-foot tall wooden Breckenridge Troll. This troll was created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo as part of the annual Breckenridge International Arts Festival. Now there’s a proper trail that leads you to this magical creature. This is a great activity for kids and adults alike.
Tip: It gets crowded so go early morning
Grab lunch at Breckenridge Brewery & Pub & Wander Downtown Breckenridge
Downtown Breckenridge is a quaint little town with 1880s and 90s Victorians. There are a plethora of adventure and tourist shops, and a few good breweries.
We ended up going to Breckenridge Brewery & Pub. It has your standard all American fare like burgers and mac n’ cheese, but with a great selection of craft beers to choose from.
Check Out the View from Sapphire Point
Sapphire Point Overlook sits at an elevation of 9,500 feet, with a stunning view of Dillon Reservoir. This is a great spot for photos, and there are loads of cute little chipmunks running all over the place.
Make dinner at your cozy Airbnb or at one of the many restaurants surrounding the Dillion Reservoir
Dillon Dam Brewery - A family-friendly sports bar and restaurant, complete with a selection of beers and a scenic view.
Red Mountain Grill - A cozy lodge offering robust American cuisine with a touch of Southwestern flair.
Bistro North - This establishment boasts an upscale dining experience featuring chef-inspired modern American fare, meticulously crafted cocktails, a curated selection of artisanal wines, and hospitable, attentive service.
Day 2
Hike Lower Mohawk Lake Trail
The hike to Lower Mohawk Lake is a beautiful experience as you walk through tall lush pine trees high into the treeline. This 6.5 miles round trip is challenging but as you ascend the mountain the views get better and better. It was cloudy and then rainy the day we went so we didn’t make it all the way to the lake (so close, though!). Mohawk Lake is a gorgeous Alpine Lake, so clear and a vibrant turquoise color. It looks absolutely breathtaking from what I’ve seen in photos.
Tip: Beware of thunder storms above the treeline, it can be very dangerous
Day 3
Raft the Arkansas River
Ready for real adventure? The Arkansas River has some hefty white water rapids. We booked the Brown’s Canyon National Monument Half Day trip with Performance Tours. This was a nice trip for both us and our nieces and nephew. Just enough action, but not so much that you feel like you could get thrown out of the book (no guarantees though).
Tip: This was a far drive from Breckenridge, if you want to raft closer you can book with
Visit Leadville, an Old Mining Town
Leadville is a former silver mining town just under an hour away from Breckenridge. Mining started here in 1859. Now there are several preserved mines and museums in the area, and the main street is full of interesting vintage shops, beautiful Victorian architecture, and several restaurants. My favorite place to visit was the legendary Silver Dollar Saloon that has been around since 1879. We stopped in some lunch and whiskey.
If you love history, there are also several museums in Leadville you can visit like the National Mining Hall of Fame, the Healy House Museum & Dexter Cabin, and the Heritage Museum.
Day 4
Hike Iowa Hill
This short hike has a lot of educational information and preserved mining machinery to see along the way. There’s also the Iowa Hill Boardinghouse which is a beautiful log cabin. This is a great hike if you enjoy historical info and it’s also great with a family since there are interesting things to stop and look at, and it’s pretty short.
Ride the Breckenridge Gondola
The Breckenridge Gondola is what takes skiers and snowboarders up to the mountains in the winter. In the summer, there are many other activities you can do at the top like mountain-biking, mini golf, a 2,500 foot coaster, an alpine slide, and even some gemstone panning. Visit the website for a full list.
I hope this helps you plan your trip! Do you have any more recommendations for Breckenridge in the summer? Leave them in the comments below.
Looking for some cute hiking clothing? My favorite hiking clothes are from Vuori. They are super soft, quick dry and comfortable.
Are you planning a trip soon? These are some of my favorite sites for finding places to stay, book tours, and more:
Booking.com for the best hotel deals
Get Your Guide to book a variety of tours and activities
Expedia for flights, hotels, rental cars and more.
Herschel for nice luggage that’s made to last
