Breckenridge

Breckenridge sits high in Colorado's Summit County, wrapped around a preserved Victorian town that grew from the nineteenth-century gold rush. The ski area spans a series of numbered peaks along the Tenmile Range, with terrain that climbs from tree-lined groomers to open alpine bowls and hikeable ridges near the very top, some of the highest lift-served skiing on the continent. The altitude is a defining feature: the air is thin and the snow stays cold and dry. Below it all, the historic Main Street gives the resort a character and nightlife that few high-mountain resorts can rival.

Breckenridge offers a rare combination of a real, atmospheric town and enormous high-altitude terrain. You can ski wide beginner greens, endless intermediate cruisers, expert bowls and hike-to ridgelines, then walk a historic Main Street lined with bars and restaurants in the evening. The extreme elevation means reliable cold snow and a long season. It suits a broad range of skiers and, crucially, non-skiers too, thanks to the town's shopping, dining and atmosphere. The one caveat is the altitude, which can affect visitors on arrival.

Breckenridge's high peaks build a cold, dry snowpack through midwinter, and the upper bowls and ridges come alive once they are filled in and wind-loaded, offering open, above-treeline terrain and hike-to lines. The lower, tree-lined runs provide sheltered, dependable skiing throughout the season. Deep winter can be cold and exposed up high, while spring brings sunshine, softer snow and one of the longer seasons in Colorado.