My favorite summer and winter Summit County activities

Summit County, Colorado, is such an incredible place to visit and explore! I’ve been lucky enough to call this little mountain town home for the last 12 years and have gotten to explore so much as a local photographer. There’s no shortage of fun and unique activities, no matter the season.

Sitting at over 9,000 feet, Summit County has something for everyone: it’s dog-friendly, kid-friendly, and the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Whether you’re here for outdoor adventures, incredible mountain views, or the cozy small-town vibe, you’re in for an amazing trip!

Summit County is made up of 5 unique and cute little mountain towns, each offering its own charm – Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Keystone.

• Breckenridge: The most popular town with a cute Main Street, ski resort, tons of food and bar options, and a plethora of outdoor activities and things to do.
• Frisco: A smaller, quieter version of Breck, with a cute Main Street and near Lake Dillon.
• Silverthorne: A growing commercial area with lots of new restaurants popping up and nearby trails.
• Dillon: A quieter lakeside town with summer activities and concerts.
• Keystone: A resort ski village with a quieter vibe than Breckenridge.
• Copper: Low-key ski resort village right off I-70.

• Summer activities in Summit County
• Winter activities in Summit County
• Tips for planning your trip

Things to do in the summer in Summit County

As they say, come for the winter, stay for the summers! Summers in the mountains are short but incredible. It’s my favorite time to soak up all the sunshine, camping, hiking, or a fun happy hour. Here are some fun summer activities in Summit County to check out!

Note that summer starts a little later than the rest of the US and doesn’t really start until June. April and May are known as ‘mud season’, which can have fewer crowds, but also some business closures and not as many outdoor activities, while the snow is starting to melt.

1. Free Gondola Ride at Breckenridge

Riding the Gondola is such a unique experience that you must do when you visit Breckenridge, and it’s free! It’s the perfect thing to do for adults, and the kids will love it! It takes you from the downtown Breckenridge area to the base of Peak 7 or 8. Peak 8 has a ‘fun park‘ with lots of fun things to do for kids *and adults* like an alpine slide and a mini coaster. The gondola is closed seasonally during mud season, May & October

Personally, some of the activities seem a little overpriced, so I prefer to ride the gondola and grab a drink (bloody mary) at T-Bar.

Keystone also has a Gondola ride, but you do need to purchase a ticket, whereas the Breckenridge Gondola ride is free.

2. Explore around Breckenridge

Breckenridge Main Street is a magical experience in itself! It’s the perfect stretch to walk around and do some window shopping. Main Street will have the most stores and restaurants, but also check out the restaurants on Ridge Street.

Frisco is another one of my favorite towns in Summit County with a similar vibe to Breckenridge, just a little smaller and less busy.

3. Spa day at The Infinity Spa on Peak 8

The Infinity Spa at Grand 8 is one of the best spas in Breckenridge and Summit County! It’s one of my favorite places to go for a treat yourself day or a little staycation. Plan for a little extra time there before or after your services so you can use the grotto with an indoor hot tub, sauna, steam room, and cool plunge pool.

Instead of driving up, I would recommend taking the gondola up for a fun experience (if you’ll be done before 4, when the gondola closes).

4. Mining tour or gold mining at Country Boy Mine

Breckenridge is full of history and was a big mining town in the 1800s, with lots of mining remnants left behind. Country Boy Mine is an old mine founded in 1887 and a short drive from Downtown Breckenridge with lots of cool mining history! They have mining tours and gold mining. It’s perfect for both kids and adults!

Book a guided gold mining tour – includes gold panning

5. Check out The Breckenridge Distillery

The Breckenridge Distillery is one of my favorite places for a cocktail, especially sitting outside in the summer! It’s worth popping in for a Breckenridge souvenir, their Distillery tour, and their restaurant is one of the best!

They also have a tasting room on Main Street for a quick trip, but I love the main location on Airport Road.

6. Rent a boat or kayak on Lake Dillon

One of my favorite summer activities is spending the day at Lake Dillon. Both Frisco and Dillon have a marina where you can rent a boat or kayak. While the water’s not warm enough to swim (swimming is actually illegal), it’s such a gorgeous spot to spend the day in the sun! You can either rent your own boat at the Marinas or do a guided kayak tour if you want someone to show you around!

Book a guided kayak tour of Lake Dillon

7. Get a crepe

If you see people standing in a long line in Breckenridge, it’s probably for the crepe cart on Main Street! Sometimes the wait can be crazy, but it almost feels like that’s a part of the experience.

8. Go fly fishing

Fly fishing is such a fun Colorado experience and perfect if you love to fish! Check out any of the fly fishing shops in the county or sign up for a guided trip! This is such a fun way to get out in nature and get a unique Colorado perspective tucked away in nature.

9. A historic walking ghost tour

A historic ghost tour is such a popular and fun Breckenridge activity! You’ll often see these tours walking around downtown with the guides dressed up in Victorian outfits and sharing spooky tales of Breckenridge’s haunted buildings and ghosts.

Book a guided ghost tour of Breckenridge

10. Go for a bike ride!

There are so many types of bikes you can rent, from mountain bikes to electric bikes! If you want something more adventurous or an adrenaline rush, go mountain biking or check out a guided mountain biking trip. There are many great trails to choose from, from beginner to expert.

If you’re looking for something calmer, cruise around on the bike path. Google Maps will show you hills and elevation gain, so be sure to check that out before committing to an intense workout!

The bike shop, Ridden in Breckenridge, is a great place for bike rentals. They do a fat bike beer and distillery tour if you’re looking for something fun and easy.

11. Visit the Breckenridge Troll – Isak Heartstone

Isak Hearthstone is a life-size troll sculpture on a trail in Breckenridge, and it’s such a fun sight for kids or adults! It’s a short hike (5 minutes), and it’s one of our favorite things to do in Breckenridge when we have visitors.

Parking is a little tricky in the area, and the town recommends taking the Breck Free Ride bus (free) to the Ice Rink Lot or walking from downtown.

12. Go Hiking!

There are so many amazing hikes around the county for all levels. Alltrails.com is my favorite app to find a hike in the area that I want to explore. I usually will opt for a ‘moderate’ hike. The ‘hard’ ones I save for a day I really want to get after an adventure, and I usually like something a little more strenuous than ‘easy.’

13. Check out one of the festivals

Summit County’s festivals are so fun to check out! While they can bring a larger crowd, they are so much fun if you like a good party or are looking for something lively to do! Oktoberfest in Breckenridge is one of the most popular. Keystone also hosts lots of fun summer festivals.

Things to do in the winter in Summit County

Winter in Summit County is bustling with people on ski trips, but you don’t have to go skiing to love with the town or find something fun to do! Late November/December to late March is typically a full-on winter wonderland where snow and the cold stick around, with many sunny days in between.

1. Go ice skating on Keystone Pond

One of my favorite things to do in Keystone in the winter is going ice skating on Keystone Pond! It will usually freeze over in December and will be open to rent ice skates.

2. Ski or snowboard one of the many mountains

Take a ski or snowboard lesson check out the multiple resorts in the area! Breckenridge, Keystone, A-basin, Copper, and Vail are all a short drive from each other!

If you’ll be going multiple days, I recommend looking into a season pass to compare the pricing and buy in advance. Day passes can be pretty expensive, so sometimes it makes more sense for a season pass.

3. Free Gondola Ride at Breckenridge

Riding the Gondola is such a unique (and free) experience that you must do when you visit Breckenridge! It takes you from town to the base of Peak 7 or 8, where you can watch people ski down the slopes. My favorite is to grab a bloody mary and food at Robbie’s. Their deck overlooks the slopes, and it’s perfect if you want a little break from skiing or snowboarding.

The gondola is closed seasonally during mud season, May & October

Keystone also has a gondola ride, but you do have to pay. If you have an epic pass, it’s included in your pass.

4. A stroll down Breckenridge Main Street

Breckenridge Main Street is a magical experience in itself! It’s the perfect stretch to walk around and do some window shopping or eat at some incredible restaurants.

Frisco is another one of my favorite towns in Summit County with a similar vibe to Breckenridge, just a little smaller and less busy.

5. Spa day at The Grand Lodge on Peak 8

The Infinity Spa at Grand 8 is one of the best in Breckenridge! Treat yourself to a day of relaxation with their spa services. Plan a little extra time in your schedule to hang out there. They have a grotto with a hot tub, sauna, steam room, and cold plunge.

6. Try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at The Nordic Center

Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing are classic Colorado winter activities! I’m not an expert at any of the above, but they are such fun activities to try with your friends and family for the day!

A group of us went to The Breckenridge Nordic Center for cross-country skiing and laughed the whole time. It was a little nerve-wracking to get the hang of, but so fun to try something new.

7. Go dog sledding or snowmobiling at GoodTimes

GoodTimes in Breckenridge is such a unique winter experience and easily one of my favorites! They offer dog sledding or snowmobiling in Breckenridge. The dog sledding is an experience like no other, and I didn’t realize it would come with such a thrill!

8. A sleigh ride dinner

A trip to Golden Horseshoe (right next to GoodTimes) is an experience like no other and on the top of my list! They offer sleigh rides through the trees and a mining camp theatre dinner, which is honestly such a unique, fun night for friends. Keystone, Breckenridge Resort, and Frisco also offer sleigh ride dinners and experiences.

9. Go snow tubing

It took me a few years to try tubing, and I didn’t realize how fun this was! It’s perfect for kiddos or adults looking for a little thrill and laughs. There’s a tubing hill in Frisco or at Copper Mountain.

10. Go sledding

If you want a little more thrill, check out the extreme sledding at Country Boy Mine, or if you’re just looking for a classic sledding hill, Carter Park is a popular spot in Breckenridge.

11. Get a crepe

If you see people standing in a long line in Breckenridge, it’s probably for the crepe cart! Sometimes the wait can be crazy, but it almost feels like that’s a part of the experience.

12. Check out The Breckenridge Distillery

The Breckenridge Distillery is one of my favorite places for a cocktail! It’s worth popping in for a Breckenridge souvenir, their Distillery tour, and their restaurant is one of the best!

They have a tasting room on Main Street, but the main location on Airport Road is my favorite.

Ridden, (a bike shop in Breck) has a Fat tire beer & distillery tour that you can even do in the winter!

13. Check out one of the festivals

Summit County’s festivals are so fun to check out! While they can bring a larger crowd, they are so much fun if you like a good party or are looking for something lively to do! There are many festivals in December, like the lighting of Breckenridge, a dog parade, or Ullr fest. In February there’s the international snow sculptures.

14. Visit the Breckenridge Troll – Isak Heartstone

Isak Hearthstone is a life-size troll sculpture on a trail in Breckenridge, and it’s such a fun sight for kids or adults! It’s a short hike (5 minutes), and it’s one of our favorite things to do in Summit County when we have visitors.

Parking is a little tricky in the area, and the town recommends taking the Breck Free Ride bus (free) to the Ice Rink Lot or walking from downtown.

15. A historic walking ghost tour

A historic ghost tour is such a popular and fun Breckenridge activity! You’ll often see these tours walking around downtown with the guides dressed up in Victorian outfits and sharing spooky tales of Breckenridge’s haunted buildings and ghosts.

Be sure to bundle up and bonus points if you bring hand warmers and foot warmers! It’s all outside and can get chilly in the winter!

Book a guided ghost tour of Breckenridge

Tips for planning your trip

• Layer Up: Weather can change quickly, so pack layers for all the conditions. You’ll want layers for any season!
• Seasonal Closures: Some restaurants and shops may close during mud seasons for cleaning and renovations. If you have something on your bucket list, be sure to check the availability.
• When to visit: Plan for larger crowds during major events and holidays. Book ahead of time and make reservations for popular restaurants.

Getting to Summit County

Summit County is roughly 2 hours from Denver International Airport and 1 1/2 hours from Denver. While it’s a bit of a drive, there are many ways of transportation to and from DIA. 

Renting a car

Renting a car to drive to Summit County is one option, as there’s so much to see, do, and explore! If you’re coming in the winter, be sure to rent a 4-wheel drive SUV or an all-wheel drive vehicle that will handle snowy and icy conditions.

Note that snow can come as early as September and as late as June. If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the snow, there are a few other ways to get around!

Take a shuttle or other transportation

There are plenty of local shuttle companies that will pick you up from the airport and take you right to Summit County. Once you’re in Summit County, there’s free bus transportation roughly once an hour around Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, and Keystone. Breckenridge also has a town bus, Breck free ride that runs every 15 minutes.

While we do have Uber or Lyft, don’t rely on this as your main source of transportation. We don’t have many drivers in the area, and sometimes the wait time is pretty lengthy and costly.

When should I visit Summit County?

Being that Summit County is around 9000ft, the weather is so different than the rest of the world! Be sure to take into consideration the weather in Breckenridge. Any time of the year can be amazing, as long as you’re prepared!

• Summer (mid June–August): Warm days (70s–80s) and cool mountain nights. Great for hiking, boating, camping, and being outside
• Fall (September–Early October): Leaf peeping season with yellow aspens and weather cooling down
• Winter (December–March): Cold tempertures, prime skiing and winter activites. Expect large crowds during holidays and weekends
• Off season (April–May & Late October–Mid November): mud season with melting snow, and mixed weather, fewer crowds, seasonal closures and sometimes better deals.

Where to stay in Summit County?

There’s no shortage of places to stay in Summit County! There’s anything from cute cabin rentals in the woods on Airbnb to giant mountain homes to split with a group of friends on VRBO or a local rental company.

Check out the towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone, or Dillon, which are all within a 30-minute drive of each other and offer their own unique charm.