10 Things to do in Breckenridge

In addition to the ski resort, the Breckenridge area offers fly-fishing in the Blue River, historic gold mining sites, hiking, mountain biking, and white water rafting in the Colorado River. Here are some of the town’s highlights.

Winter Sports at Breckenridge Ski Resort

Winter activities include skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding with huskies and summer visitors enjoy the Alpine Slide and mountain biking. Four impressive mountains contain 155 trails, 5 terrain parks, and 2 half-pipes.

Bring the Kids to Ripperoo’s Enchanted Forest

The Breckenridge Ski & Ride School offers lessons and activities for children with the aid of their mascot, Ripperoo. There is a themed trail incorporating a magical forest, a dragon, and a castle, and a separate trail for snowboarding. Other activities include skating, swimming, and sledding.

Join the Iowa Hill Tour

The one mile guided hike is a fascinating insight into the history of mining for gold. The trail goes through the mining area and features a miner’s boarding house and various relics.

Pan for Gold at the Washington Gold and Silver Mine

This was a successful working mine in the 1880s and visitors learn about the mine’s history and early equipment is on display. There are lessons on how to how to pan for gold. Open in summer only.

Visit the Red, White & Blue Fire Museum

This museum traces the history of fire fighting in the town from 1880 with displays of equipment and uniforms from the earliest days, including a ladder cart and a hose cart. It is located next to the current working fire station.

Get a Ticket for the Backstage Theatre

A fine example of community theatre, Backstage Theatre has been presenting shows and plays since 1974, some of which have won awards. Past productions include ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and ‘Steel Magnolias’.

Skate at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena

Public skating and public hockey has a home at this arena with two ice rinks. The indoor rink is open all through the year and the outdoor rink is open from mid-September through mid-April. There is a pro shop and a ski rental facility.

Marvel at the Rotary Snowplow Park

This unusual collection features past rotary snowplows, the huge machines that were used to clear snow from narrow gauge railroad tracks. One exhibit is a machine built in 1901 that was used in Alaska.

Visit the Barney Ford House Museum

The museum tells the extraordinary story of Barney L. Ford, an escaped slave who became the first black businessman in Breckenridge and went on to own businesses in Denver. He was a self-educated man who inspired the civil rights movement.

Visit the Edwin Carter Museum

Edwin Carter was a taxidermist who turned his house into a museum with his exhibits of thousands of animal specimens from the Rocky Mountains. He was much admired by scientists and the collection went to a Denver Museum following his death. This museum has interactive displays about his work.