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Breckenridge Ski Resort
Categories: Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Active Life Ski Resorts, Active Life [Edit]
1599 Summit County Rd 3Breckenridge, CO 80424
(970) 453-5000
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
100 reviews for Breckenridge Ski Resort
100 reviews in English
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Review from Stella W.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012
coming from chicago....i had to rate this a 5 stars!
the slopes were challenging but not overly difficult that you would think you are going to die. I love how long the runs are.
And i love how each level of slopes are in almost separate area. Like the greens are mostly in the base, the blues are mostly on the base of Peak 7, while the upper Peak 7 and 10 are the blacks, so when you are on the blues/greens, you won't be afraid that you would "slip" into the blacks...
My goal next year is to conquer the peak 10 :)
this is def. a place for both beginners and advance skiers. -
Review from Mina W.
1/25/2012 1 photo
Breckenridge was a divinely beautiful place to snowboard. I went for 2 full days last weekend, and loved every minute of it! Peak 10 is pretty amazing, with the black-blue runs in the beginning, mellowing out to the wide-open blues. Lines can get pretty long during peak season, but not so bad as the socal resorts. Prices are hefty. $110 for a full day, $220 for 2 days, you don't get a price break unless you buy more than 2 days at a time. You can buy cheaper tickets online, but MUST be at least 7 days in advance. (Wish we knew that).
The town is very fun and lively, many restaurants/bars to keep you entertained at night. We also encountered several locals, who were extremely friendly and accommodating to us 'tourists'. Many beautiful luxury cabin rentals in the area.
If you're from southern CA and want to get away, and also get some AWESOME snowboarding/ skiing in, go to Breck! (If you're unconvinced, we saw Shaun White and some other pros practicing in the terrain park here!) -
Review from Anna G.
1/24/2012
I used to visit Breck as a kid and loved it. I decided to book another ski holiday with my new hubby. Everything about Breck is still pretty great, except what we went to do HIT THE SLOPES! I will make this short and sweet...There are plenty of beginner and intermediate trails which is good but I don't want to drop $95 on beginner and intermediate trails. The price is horrifying in itself. What's more horrifying? The customer service. They already have you by the youknowwhats when you get there so why should they work for your service?
Heres why Breck. I witnessed a conversation between my husband and lift sales. "Here is my military id for the discount" girl on other side. "Ive never seen this type before let me get my manager" Manager comes out "sir we only offer discounts to active duty and you are a veteran" (a late 20s veteran I might add) customer "I am a veteran and only off active duty because I got hurt in IRAQ" Manager "still can't offer you discount" customer: "fine I will pay full freakin price for 2 days." I left out alot of words but you get the gist. The manager wouldn't budge and the people in line were appalled. He called the customer service line and was told there indeed was a special discount for veterans. (they must have just forgot right) so he was refunded on his 2 day pass. yay. fixed? wrong. Fastforward to day two while scanning his tix he is pulled aside and told that there is something wrong with his pass. The guy calls the lift office and they say "well he was refunded some money so we took day 2 off." Really? We had to take more time out of our 2 freakin day vacation to fix this mess. No apologies no nothing. So, no I will not ski Breck again. Although I do love the town. -
Review from June H.
Aurora, CO
2/4/2012
This season has been bad to say the least. I have been avoiding Breck, because it is too complicated to get around, too crowded, and I would rather ski Keystone. I think if we had more snow it would be a better place. So I still gave it four stars. It is very commercial, and they have designed the ski resort around the many ski in ski outs in their area. That is pretty annoying.
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Review from LI NY Foodie R.
Mineola, NY
2/3/2012
5 stars because its a great town and mountain, and cheaper and not as expensive or stuffy as vail or aspen, but it is smaller.
Big TIP - If you book through Breckenridge, they give you a great deal. Hotel and Lift packages can get you a room and ticket for $1 if you book 3 or more days with lift tickets. Compare travel sites with their direct prices, but keep in mind lift tickets will be close to $100 a day if you buy them at the mountain. I got a studio condo for 4 nights and 3 lift tix for $520 last year in Early December. Late Dec - Feb is very expensive. Go early or in the spring if you want to save.
Stay in a condo! Many are in walking distance of the Gondola that will bring you to Peak 7 and 8. All peaks are accessible from a ride down the mountain at peak 8 follow signs.
Note: I snowboard
As for the mountain, lifts are very organized, and most are bottom to top. There are few mid-mountain lifts. Trails are wide and have great variety, except that there are no big hairpin turns or anything like that. A lot of snowboarders like those big sweeping turns and hairpins, but there are none on the main peaks. Peak 7 is all blue and has nice rolling hills and drops. I hit some blacks on Peak 9 (American) that weren't too steep for a black. So if you're experienced, you should have no trouble. The Bowls up top and Peak 10 Blacks are much harder and LONGER. Navigating peak to peak is fairly easy even if you can only ride blue trails. Upper Bowls are challenging. If you are unsure, it means you're not ready. -
Review from Jeena E.
11/19/2011 5 photos
Breckenridge Ski Resort is... well it is Breck! It is massive, amazing and wonderful!
Breck celebrates its 50 year anniversary this year and I hope to get to Breck again this season to help celebrate. Breck was the first resort I snowboarded in Colorado and introduced me to the greatest snow on earth, Colorado's legendary "champagne snow".
This resort itself is MONSTROUS. The lifts combined capacity is 40,000 people an HOUR, there are over 600 groomed ACRES to ride and the Four o'clock trail alone is 3.5 miles long. Breck is like 4 mountains in one lift ticket as you have access to peaks 7 through 10 (my favorite being 8) and you can easily ride from one peak to another. I have been to Breck over 10 times and have maybe explored 60% of the resort, it is really THAT big. Any winter outdoor enthusiast would be absolutely stunned at the views from the four summits this resort boasts.
Any resort this size will have trails for every ability and this is a great mountain for first timers as the snow is soft and many of the intermediate trails are quite forgiving in comparison to say Northstar at Tahoe or some of the Blue Squares at Key. The terrain park here may leave a bit to be desired for those with madd skillz, you would be better served at Key's A51 park. But if you just want to drop in to the pipe or rock a couple of jibs, it will do the job...
We had the Epic pass last season and enjoyed unlimited boarding at Breck, Keystone and A Basin, along with access to Beaver Creek and Vail. Without the Epic pass or a buddy with one, get ready to shell out a Benjamin per lift ticket. Ouch. Vail Resorts is infamously expensive and with them owning Vail, Breck, Key, A Basin, Beaver Creek and Heavenly at Tahoe, they are nearly impossible to avoid if you are a serious skier or boarder.
Breckenridge is the largest of the triple crown of Summit County and a "must have" notch on any serious boarders belt.Listed in: The Great Outdoors!, Getting Mile High.
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Review from Phil T.
Colorado Springs, CO
1/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Breckenridge is our second favorite mountain to go to for skiing/snowboarding, next to Vail. We love Peak 7 for the long, rolling runs and Peak 10 offers more of a challenge when we are feeling up to riding the steeper trails. Peak 8 and 9 are fun as well, but can get crowded with lots of beginners.
An ideal day in Breckenridge would begin with a breakfast burrito and coffee to get the day started. Head up the Gondola to Peak 7 and spend the morning riding the Wirepatch, Angels Rest, and Monte Cristo. When lunchtime hits, ride over to the base of Peak 8 and grab a beer and a bite to eat at the T-Bar. Or, head over to Beaver Run at the base of Peak 9 and do the same. After lunch, make a few runs on Peak 10 to finish out your day of skiing and boarding.
When you're done skiing/boarding, be sure to head into town. Downtown Breckenridge is a ton of fun with lots of shopping and local eats. Of all the places you need to walk into, it's Mary's Mountain Cookies. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. If you are up early and looking for a good breakfast, the Blue Moose is the place to go. Make sure you have cash, though, as they don't take credit cards.
Overall, you can't miss with Breckenridge. Have fun!!! -
Review from Thomas C.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
LONG LINES. EXCELLENT SNOW. LONG LINES. I went early in the season so only about 15% of the resort was open. I would love to be back when the place is in full swing. But the 15% that was open was still a blast. This place is as massive as ski resorts get. Easy access from the interstate. Plenty of rental cabins nearby. Efficient RFID lift ticket system was quite nice!
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Review from Fiola K.
San Diego, CA
1/13/2012
Just the nicest staff!! Super helpful and so many great options. The skiing is great, food is pricey, but your on a mountain. I had a great week and will defiantly be coming back in the Summer!!
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Review from Joe N.
Venice, CA
11/8/2011 35 Check-ins Here
I am an avid skier and should also preface this review by saying I lived in Breck for a few seasons - it definitely has a place in my heart. Breckenridge is one of the few true ski towns - not just a tourist village on the side of a mountain. The restaurants, bars, entertainment, and public services support both the vacationers and the robust contingent of locals.
The mountain itself competes with Vail for number of annual skier visits - the locals might say this isn't the best achievement. Who likes crowds, right? But Breckenridge also boasts some of the most diverse terrain for any single resort in North America. Plenty of groomers and bumps for beginners and intermediates, like any major resort. Steep groomers, forests full of trees for the advanced skiers. And above treeline bowls and steeps for the kings of the mountain. Sure Vail is bigger and Keystone has longer runs. But they don't have the T-Bar! -
Review from Tommy S.
Breckenridge, CO
12/8/2011 1 photo
Breckenridge is my favorite Ski Resort in the world! And I am an avid skier and have skied the world!
The Good:
Peak 8 - a beautiful peak with the Horseshoe Bowl at the top.
The Town - not a purpose built resort.
Close to DIA - Denver International Airport.
Right Off I-70
It is the most beautiful resort, in-between the Continental Divide & The 10 Mile Range.
12Sunnyslope Resort: http://www.VRBO.com/28....
The Breck Recreation Center.
Main Street shops, bars and restaurants.
Grand Lodge @ Peak 7.
The Imperial Lift.
One Skihill Place at Peak 8.
The Gondola from the town & parking lot to the SLOPES!
The Slopes.
Terrain Parks.
The Goldminer/Victorian atmosphere.
The hiking trails in the summer.
The Blue River running thru the town.
The Colorado Pass. The summit county ski pass.
Beaver Run Resort and lift.
The County Seat of Summit County, Colorado's best county!
The movie theater.
The Nickolas Golf Course.
Vail Resorts - operator of the Lifts.
The 14er, Quandary Mountain.
Colorado Highway 9.
The annual snowfall of over 300".
Vail, Keystone, A-Basin, Copper & Loveland Resorts Nearby.
#1 skier count in North America.
The Bad:
Mud Season - The Month of May
The Ugly:
FerrellGas Propane Company, but they are in Frisco, anyway. Don't use them even if your life depended on it.
My second best Resort: St. Moritz in Switzerland. -
Review from Jenny B.
1/13/2011 3 photos
Finally I got to come here and experience one of the better slopes of Colorado. This resort is definitely a great place for intermediate, a lot of blue runs and although there are some green parts, they're NOT flats like those catwalks.
However, for those who like terrain parks, Breckenridge doesn't offer much. I saw an area for half pipe and jumps, but not that many, probably I didn't venture much into other Peaks, than just Peak 7, 8 and 9. For all mountain riders like me, I'm loving this resort and I can see myself coming back here at least once a year.
I was pretty skeptical at first because CO hadn't snowed for at least 2 weeks, I was worried the snow was gonna suck. Boy, I was wrong, the powder were still there, the based were still thick and not icy. How do I know this? I fell a few times and I wasn't hurt at all, that's how good CO snows are, even after awhile of no new snow, it's still great.
Yes, admission is pretty pricey at $96 a pop, but if you have a friend who has a Summit Pass, you can get by with Ski-with-a-friend for $80 and for those with Season pass, I think there's buddy pass for a day for just about $69 or $59. Once in a while they have Colorado-4pack, which means you can get 4 day tickets if you know you're going to be in CO during snowboarding season by summer, you can buy those for less than $200. If you really want to strike a good deal and enjoy this mountain, keep reading those snowboarding forums, it'll be worth it.Listed in: Best Snowboard Terrains In and…
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Review from Julie F.
3/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Huge mountain with 4 peaks. In our 1.5 days there we covered all peaks; sorta disappointed we didn't make it to the peak of 8 (T bars scared us away) but we experienced some great runs in the bowls and had an awesome times. I do agree the lift lines are really long on the weekend (we went on Sunday) but if its a great sunny day with fresh powder you'd have to expect it.
Tip: Buy your lift tickets in advance (7 days) and there's a discount. We bought 2 4 day tickets for $285! That's about $70 a day compared to over $100 at the window. Ticket at Breck is also good for boarding at Keystone. We did half day at Breck and half at Keystone (keystone has night boarding). -
Review from alex t.
1/21/2011 6 Check-ins Here
THIS RESORT IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! I could probably board for weeks and still never be able to cover the entire resort!!! The snow is also AWESOME! So fluffy and we were getting a fresh layer each day we boarded. Lift tickets are expensive ($104 @ the ticket office!), but compared to other smaller and local resorts I've been to, it's worth the money!!! I bought a 2 hr ticket (2p-4p) for $47 the next day and got a good 5 runs but could've done more if i weren't waiting for newbies. :P
The runs are long and there are so many trails you can take. I stayed at peak 7, 8 and 9 most of the time and went to the IMPERIAL EXPRESS (12,500 ft elevation) which was BREATHTAKING and awesome to ride down (be careful of the rocks tho! scratched my board up real bad, but it's my fault for not seeing the orange poles!).
MOGULs...wtf why do these exist!? hardest thing to board over, but I was getting it the 2nd time I was stuck going down some moguls.
There are Breck staff every where to ensure your safety. One gentleman let me know that if I were to sit in this area to wait for my friends, someone could be boarding/skiing, not see me and yeah...it'd be bad! advised me to move to the side while I waited for my buddies to come down.
The staff at the lifts are VERY nice. They greet me and ask me if I'm enjoying myself and if it's what I expected each time I slide back into the lift queue. Why are Coloradians soooo awesome!?
Btw last time you can get on a lift is 4:15p! Guy let me on even after that!!! awesome! Thank you Breck, I will definitely be back! -
Review from Cat P.
12/23/2010 1 Check-in Here
This was my first time snowboarding in Colorado and this was the only resort I checked out, but it was definitely a great experience! I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was an enjoyable day! The snow was awesome (nice, soft, and powdery for me to land my tush onto), it wasn't too crowded, and the workers were all pleasant.
Just a tip, for any clueless newbies such as myself, when getting onto the bunny slope chair lift, the floor moves (you stand on a little conveyor belt that brings you forward), and then you get on the chair left. Hard to explain but when you're there, you'll see it. Just slide on, let the floor move you up, and then sit your booty down on the chair. It took me like 3 tries to get it right, without me falling, or having the workers stop the lift, or having them pull me forward themselves. haha.
Anyway, good snow day! Can't wait to come back! =D -
Review from Kathryn C.
Temple City, CA
2/27/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Hiking up to Peak 8 summit was one of the most amazing and challenging experiences EVER. And just riding down Whale's Tail from the top made the hike totally worth it, even though the drop in was a little scary!
Breck is divided into 4 peaks:
Peak 7 - Easy peasy rolling blue runs, my favorite being Wirepatch. Try Ore Bucket (black) if you want some tree runs/terrain.
Peak 8 - Top half is where all the awesome bowls are. Chair 6 on pow days is a MUST. Bottom half offers all types of runs + 2 parks. My favorite runs were Spruce, High Anxiety and Rounders.
Peak 9 - Very similar to the bottom half of Peak 8 except the runs are more wide open.
Peak 10 - I LOVE LOVE LOVE Peak 10. There are great blue/black runs where you can go balls out and bomb down the mountain. Added bonus because it's usually less crowded.
If you go on a weekday, you'll totally feel like you're the only one on the mountain! -
Review from Cathy N.
San Jose, CA
12/13/2010
Out of the 3 ski resorts that I was able to visit on my trip, Beckenridge was my absolute favorite!! The minute I got off the first lift, I fell in love instantly.
The snow was so soft and powdery and the runs were nice and wide - great for carving and learning new skills! Since we came on a Monday, it wasn't crowded at all and you can get on the lift anytime without any wait. Oh and the view...one word...breathtaking. I found myself stopping every so often to just lay on the snow and breath it all in. It was just so gorgeous up on the mountain. Sigh. I felt like I wanted to lay there forever.Listed in: Time to Terrorize the Slopes!
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Review from Dave T.
11/16/2010
So I've only snowboarded once, near L.A. Moved to Denver, bought gear....was this a mistake?
I headed out to Breckenridge this past Sunday. I was geared up to the tee. Not sure how many hundreds of dollars of stuff I was wearing. Not sure if the investment was sound, or if I shoulda tried skiing. Would I like it? My first lesson out at Mt. High was terrible. What I did learn I made a fun time of it, but was that all it was?
The ride on the Gondolas was pretty ominous. Where are we going? I thought we were already close. Where do I take a lesson, I need a refresher?
WOW! I'm actually not bad at this. The excellent half day lesson got me not only on my feet in seconds, but actually good enough to thoroughly enjoy it. The instructors there are amazingly friendly and nurturing. Not the 12 year old at Mt High with a rushed agenda. It was definitely worth every step it took to get here. Although I cannot compare Breckenridge to too many other resorts I will call it a favorite.
Bring on the blues, the blacks, the double blacks, ....I'll create my own, a red maybe!!!
The area itself, the lines, the parking, not bad. I know some factors out at the resorts vary day by day, but Breckenridge might be a place I would make it a point to go to even if I have to crawl on my elbows.
Great and unintimidating place to learn and master snowboarding, the gondola trip back proved more fun minus the cloud of doubt.
DT -
Review from Brenna P.
This is one of my favorite ski areas in Colorado. I've been skiing here several times off and on for about 10 years now. It never gets old. There are quite a few easy beginner and intermediate runs to keep the nonchalant skier entertained for hours.
My favorites are Peak 7 and Peak 9. Peak 7 is full with blue runs and is not as crowded as 8 or 9. 8 Consists of some easy greens and blues and the bunny hill (which I spent plenty of time on when attempting to snowboard for the first time!). Peak 9 has both blue and green runs, but it's pretty busy most of the time. I don't dare go to Peak 10 since it's all black and I'm only a casual skier.
My only qualms about this resort is that the new Grand Lodge on Peak 7 has no lockers in it. They say it's this way because "it's for members." Seriously? This means I have to lug my cooler through the gondola to Peak 8 and ski back and forth in order to have access to my belongings. That's just silliness, if you ask me!
Expect to pay about $90/day for skiing in the Spring season this year if you buy your tickets here. -
Review from Leah S.
Englewood, CO
1/2/2011
On top of the beautiful scenery and diverse runs, I love that Breckenridge has affordable apres-ski options. We made a bad decision and went to Breck when it was -14 outside. After two runs, we parked it in the T Bar, a new-ish bar at the bottom of Peak 8. Honestly, I could have stayed there all day sipping a Stella and eating shredded chicken quesadillas.
This is one of those places that people who are cooler than me hate because too many people have discovered it. I'm not going to fight popular opinions- I love Breck!Listed in: Places for Playing Tour Guide
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Review from Kent T.
Littleton, CO
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Nice place to ski if you're one of three things:
1- An expert double black diamond skier. You'll dig their Peak 8 and Peak 9 "Summit" areas with steep inclines and challenging terrain.
2- Learning to ski. It's expensive, but the place is filled with plenty of instructional groups. The runs are fairly short and the "bunny hills" aren't that steep.
3- A Texan. Sure, it's a common joke among locals, but this place is FILLED with visitors from the Longhorn state.
For me, I felt like I spend 7 hours of skiing: with 5 of those waiting in line or on a lift. Like I said, the runs seemed incredibly short. I'm used to the long and winding runs of places like Keystone or Winter Park, where you can spend about almost an hour to get down the hill, if you'd like. Top-to-bottom, I felt like my longest run was maybe 15 minutes at "Breck".
Parking is also an issue. Breckenridge has done their best to address this, as they've proliferated the entire town with ski-shuttle-buses and parking lots. Just don't expect to park anywhere near the slopes if you arrive after 9am.
"Breck" is definitely more of a resort. Lots of bars, restaurants and lodges. If you want a vacation weekend (or live in Texas and want to ski), visit it. But if you just want to SKI, go somewhere else. -
Review from Eliza M.
2/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
totally great place to ski. avoid the weekends if you can, you pay for parking-- but if you carpool with 4+ people, you get a discount! Try to get over to peak 9 and 10, less crowded! As always, on mountain food = wicked expensive.... but tons of awesome skiable terrain!
oh, and the greens are VERY easy on peak 8, great if you're learning. :) -
Review from Scott A.
Charlottesville, VA
3/6/2011
For my 100th Yelp review, i am happy to cover something as epic as Breckenridge. Everything about this place is polished and designed for the skiers, and the mountain did not disappoint. Four peaks of pure skiing pleasure, well maintained runs, enough real estate where i never felt crowded by other skiers and even got to have a great 5 minutes of shredding powder in pure solitude.
I would say that expert skiers will probably have an even better time here than i - the looks of the double blacks were intimidating as hell, but i bet they would rule if i was able to handle them. The lift to the summit totally beats the hell out of the t-bar too, and getting a lift that high on a mountain must be considered modern engineering marvel.
Despite probably losing a ligament in my knee during a gnarly yard sale (after which I was offered assistance by multiple passers-by and ski patrol guys) this place will always have a place in my heart as the perfect spot to start what i am assuming is my last spring break ever - what a great way to start winding down the 22nd grade! -
Review from April C.
1/13/2011
The only other place that has just as superior customer service is Disney World. The staff at Breck is so helpful and friendly. It is a little pricey compared to my last snowboarding trip in Vermont, but this resort is so much bigger.
I would recommend you to purchase your lift tickets at least seven days in advance online to save some money (the more days you buy, the more you save). More than half our group were beginners, and they all had a blast taking their lesson together.
The free shuttles make it a breeze to get around. It's a great place for a large group. We had 14 of us on this last trip. -
Review from Ryan M.
Rolling Meadows, IL
10/11/2010
This is the second favorite I have been to in Colorado. The ski town here is very very cool, it looks like its made up in a movie.
With four peaks there is endless amounts of trails to ride on. This is also a very good place for families because there are a lot of runs good for beginners. By far my favorite run is Four O'Clock. It starts near the top and goes all the way down to the town! It better be your last run, because there is no chairlift at the very bottom.
If you are just beginning to snowboard or you have gone only a few times, this is the perfect place for you. After a full day of green runs you will definitely be ready to tackle some blue ones!Listed in: Snowboarding
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Review from Susan s.
7/11/2010
Breckenridge Ski Resort,
You popped my snowboarding cherry. I took two introductory classes with Scully, and I fell in love instantly. The slopes were the perfect place to learn how to "shred the gnar" and I've been addicted ever since. Can't wait for the fresh pow pow, and I will be back again and again!! -
Review from Prakit D.
10/16/2010
I visited Breckenridge in both summer and winter. Breckenridge was where it all began for me in Colorado, the resort where I had my first snowboarding lesson. In summer, we went mountain biking, hiking, and whitewater rafting. There are various options to choose from whether you are first-timer or looking for challenge.
The ski town is pretty sweet and has its own character. The slopes/mountains however are just average. For beginners, this is definitely a good place to start as they have lots of green circle trail. Breckenridge also has great ski schools. The resort is more suitable for families than adventurous skiers/snowboarders. To sum it up, I had very enjoyable time at Breckenridge as my first visit in Colorado. -
Review from Jillian R.
Lebanon, NH
1/15/2011
The snow is awesome. Nice, wide trees. The weather is awesome, but the top is pretty windy. Grooming is outstanding!!
Add it to your bucket list! -
Review from Fabien H.
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2010
Breck was my first experience skiing in Colorado, and it did not disappoint. The resort has a wide variety of terrain, which was great as I came with a group of 130 with abilities ranging from "I've never seen snow" to "what's the fastest way to the top?".
We were hit with a bad snowstorm during our first two days, which made access to the top essentially pointless. However, the conditions were still bearable and what's better, we were getting fresh powder at an incredible rate!! The best part was the third day, when the skies cleared up and we were able to see the gorgeous mountain that lay before us. I spent the whole day at the top of the hill in the powder. Imperial and Chair 6 were the best spots we found on the mountain (Chair 10 was closed, so I never got to go over there).
The convenience of the resort is also something I want to point out. We stayed at the Mountain Thunder Lodge which was a ski-in, ski-out resort. This means that we took the gondola to the mountain, which was walking distance, and skied literally back down to the hot tub at the end of the day.
The town is also very nice. It has a great mountain-town feel, especially around the holidays when it's decorated to the max! And unlike some of the other Colorado towns, it's a lot more low key and not about how much money/bling you have to show off...
Three days on the mountain, and I didn't get bored... I definitely give a thumbs-up to Breck! -
Review from Katie W.
Austin, TX
1/4/2011
I've been snowboarding/skiing Breckenridge for years, and have enjoyed watching the resort grow. The four mountains offer a variety of terrain to please any level of skier, and the new TBar and Sevens Restaurant are great additions to the apres ski options on the hill.
I've always had positive experiences at the ski school and have never had trouble getting a beginner or intermediate spot last minute. Also, the Gold Runner Coaster is a fun new attraction behind the Peak 8 ski school and offers an option for friends who don't ski. There's also easy access to the hill up the gondola, and the bus system runs free, all over town, on time.
It may not be as 'fancy' as some of Vail Resorts' other places to ski, but the different options and laid back vibe is fantastic for a group with different interests, and gives everyone plenty to explore. (Plus, the snow was unmatched this season) -
Review from Jessica C.
Cupertino, CA
3/22/2010
I think I credit Breck for the place where I finally ended the falling leaf technique and learned to carve. Mostly because I was trying to keep up with the awesome snowboarding guys I was with.
Even though the snow wasn't that great this year, I loved the really long runs that would force me to improve, unlike the places in California where the runs seem sometimes like a 1 minutes or less to do.
Fond memories of the T-bar where Jason L. made sure I stayed on instead of falling, which I intended to because that bar lift was forever.
Alas I didn't try to hike to the top for the view, the altitude and walking in the snow would have just done me in. If only a lift went up there. -
Review from Wendy L.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2008
My first time skiing in Colorado - Breckenridge Ski Resort! I wasn't sure how many days I was going to ski so I didn't buy my lift tickets in advance (my friends were able to get lift tickets at the discounted price of ~$75 per day); instead, I got a 3-day lift ticket for $83/day. Wow, expensive.
I've mostly skied in California, so the sheer size of Breckenridge is overwhelming with four peaks filled with runs. I didn't dare go over to Peak 10 (mostly black diamonds) and stuck mostly to Peak 7 and Peak 9 (mostly Peak 9 which tended to be less crowded than Peak 7). The blue/intermediate runs I went on were definitely what I would consider classic blue runs - no moguls (unless you wanted to do the optional moguls on the sides of some runs) and some steepness. The runs are long which makes for great skiing, but the lifts are also very long (and freezing).
One of the greatest things about this resort is that if you're staying just off of Four O'Clock Run Road as I was, you can ski right home (and almost ski out of your condo). The number of lifts and runs is truly amazing - the lifts look like a lift superhighway.
For food options, I would definitely skip the Vista Haus at the top of Peak 8. The selection isn't very good, and the food seems considerably worse/more expensive than the other restaurants at the resort. Instead we ate at the "beach" restaurant (there's an outdoor patio area) on Peak 7.Listed in: A Weekend in Breckenridge
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Review from Derek D.
Stevensville, MD
11/5/2006
I must admit I am a bit biased after having worked at the mountain and lived in town for 2 years. While teaching snowboarding there I achieved a long time goal of 100+ days on snow in one season. The mountain is diverse and accommodating for all levels of riders/skiers.
They usually have the first and best park and pipe in the county and host at least one large snowboard competition a year.
The town offers everything you might expect from a resort mountain destination. Great restaurants, at least 2 dozen bars in town and incredible views. -
Review from Bobby T.
Updated - 2/22/2010
Guess what, Breckenridge? You even suck on powder days! I should maybe even go so far as to say you ESPECIALLY suck on powder days! See that one star up there? It's for the powder.
You claim a base of 70+ inches, yet I ran over unmarked rocks on every run...including groomers. My run down Peak 7 had face shots, but also gouges in my skis. My run down from the Tbar was fun, but now my skis are in need of serious repair. I guarantee you those rocks were showing just last Wednesday, but did you ever think to get out there and throw in some obstacle markers? Methinks not. And what's up with your wide open highway trails having bumps in them? Don't you guys groom those? Then why were my knees pistoning up and down like Alexandre Bilodeau on his gold medal run? On a fucking green run at the bottom of Upper Lehman?
I still contend that Breck has the worst layout of any mountain anywhere. By the time I had taken 2 runs I had already ridden 5 lifts. It took me an hour to get from Peak 7 over to Peak 10 to meet up with friends. I overheard a guy that lives in Breck saying that Breck has the same number of skier visits as Vail, but half the lift capacity. No wonder the lines are stifilingly long!
Here's the only way you could get me to go to Breckenridge again: On a Tuesday or Wednesday after at least 8 inches of snow has fallen, and Breckenridge pays me $100. Then it might be worth it. Otherwise, I'm avoiding it at all costs, and you should too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/2/2010
I fucking hate Breckenridge!
Longest lift lines in CO? Check
Most traversing of any mountain… Read more »
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Review from Kmberly B.
Denver, CO
12/24/2008
Breckenridge ski resort is NOT the place to go for local snowboarders. It's full of tourists, ski schools and catwalks. The mountain is a good size and there are separate peaks for different levels of riders, but I feel though the runs are great for beginners, the catwalks and the lines take away from that. However, this is the perfect spot for skiers and families because of the easy open terrain and the surplus of little warm up cabins.
I will give Breck credit for maintaining an amazing super pipe. If you aren't into riding the pipe or you aren't quite at that level yet, it's still incredible to watch!
This mountain is definitely not the best for serious snowboarders but the town makes it worthwhile for sure!Listed in: Snowboarding Mountains
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Review from James W.
Boulder, CO
Breck is a pretty decent big resort, and it runs smoothly, like the big business that it is. I've been riding breck the last 7 seasons, and agree with some of the comments and disagree with some of them.
The trails are def overrated here - some double black areas might not even be a hard blue at Whistler or even some steeps in the NE. Most of the peaks finish with a long flat run, so it's good for beginners and families skiing/riding together. But there are spots for the more advanced, esp. after a dump. Not too many drops, cliffs, or even kickers on the side of trails like some other resorts, tho.
This place is best on a weekday, to avoid the crowds, and there's something for everyone:
- mellow cruising on Pks 7 & 9
- shorter runs on Pk 8, with areas of tight trees, and their famous big park & pipe
- steeper trees on the sides of 9 & 10, and a little bit of 8
- hike to terrain on 7, 8 & 9
- easy trees on 7
Getting between peaks is not as hard as some say if you've got some wax on your board - only the cat track fr. 8 to 9 can get rough. F*ck, nothing like traversing 5 miles to get to a bowl at Vail or Blue sky:
- Easy to go bet. 9 & 10, fr. 9 to 8 (SuperConnect chair), fr. 7 to 8.
- From 8 to 7, only the last part of track might frustrate a bit.
Most years the snow is good at breck, and after some pow, ride the Imperial Express, hike a bit and drop into the peak 8 & 7 bowls. You're at almost 13,000', so try not to look like you're suckin wind. Alternate with the T-bar and stay clear of all the mayhem and lift lines down lower. Can u get up early? Everything WILL get tracked fast on a weekend.
Staff and service are pretty good, shuttles plentiful, food not horrible or insanely overpriced, and pay parking less than Keystone ($5/10/20 vs. $20/25 @ Key.). It's definitely not the lowkey experience of Loveland, or the massive impressiveness that is Vail's bowls, but it offers a lot more to more people than Loveland and a chunk of time closer to the Metro area than Vail or BC. -
Review from Peter M.
1/5/2010
If you are prone to give this mountain more than three stars it means one of three things:
1. You are from a state that does not have good skiing.
........................or .................
2. You are a beginner, and love the nearly flat bottom half of the mountain.
........................or .................
3. You are a snowboarder who loves groomers and mediocre terrain parks.
Breckenridge is not a bad hill, but it's in the middle of the beginners / vacation / tourist mecca that make up the collection of ski areas which causes traffic to deadlock on the mountain roads for 50 miles.
If you catch it on a non-windy day with short lift lines, it is a good hill for many. Advanced skiers will find the mountain less challenging than some of the steeper mountains, like Arapaho Basin, and advanced bump skiers will be disappointed by the offering.
On the plus side, Breck offers one of the best 'after ski' towns in the Rockies, second (in my humble opinion) only to Aspen. there's plenty to eat, shop, and do following a day on the hill. -
Review from David N.
1/12/2010
So this is my first time snowboarding so I have nothing to compare to but OMG this resort is AMAZING. The views from up here were breath taking.
Lift tickets are expensive: 92 a day but I figured this is about what it costs.
They have many different levels of slopes here. I started out on green but was able to move up to blues and the lifts are designed well to bring you back up so you can check out the other slopes.
They have a lot of people constantly around to ensure your safety. I had cramps and had to be carried down the hill. I was glad they were constantly patrolling.Listed in: Denver: Tour Guide
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Review from Linh N.
2/4/2010
Second to Vail, Breckenridge has the most acreage of skiing/boarding in the U.S. In about 5 years, they're going to expand to become the largest ski resort per acreage in the U.S.
I can vouch for that. Breck is humungo. It took us a couple days to explore the entire place. They have 4 different peaks, with black diamond bowls at the very top. 29 of 31 lifts open. Little wait lines on Mon/Tues...moderate wait lines on Sunday. Wide runs. Lots of blues. Fairly "graded" runs when it comes to assigning a difficulty level. A trail map at every peak off the lift. Directions along the runs. And a terrain park over at peak 8. Many food options at the bottom and top of the lifts. And...amazing snow.
One nice thing about Breck is that there's a lot of condos and timeshare places that are ski in/ski out. We were lucky that we stayed at a place nearby so we could just walk there. If you do plan to drive and park there, they have frequent buses and a gondola that can take you to the park for free ($5 for gondola on weekends).
Having been to several resorts in Tahoe and Mammoth, I think Breck is the best place I've been to for snowboarding so far. I'll stand by this statement until I discover otherwise. -
Review from Rob W.
Torrance, CA
2/25/2009
Breckenwind, my old home away from home. Admittedly haven't been in a little while, but I still get questions, so I figured I'd write about my experiences from 10 years ago.
Back then this was the skiers mountain, not the snowboarding mountain, b/c a good number of the arial an mogul ski team live here, so there used to be some great mogul lines here and at A-basin, which obviously isn't so friendly to boarders and frankly, speaking as a boarder/skier, should really be avoided while on a board. They're a pain in the ass anyways on a board.
Used to be that it was hard to find steep terrain, although, there are some nice steep cruisers here, but once they opened up peak 6, life changed for the better. I'd still recommend heading over to A-Basin for the steeper stuff. Its still no mammoth when it comes to steeps, but the powder is softer at least & its got way more bumps.
Finally, can't help but compare the general vibe to adjacent Vail and Aspen. Much more of beer and pot smoking town than a hard drug town when it comes to the locals. The tourists are tourists, but they're obviously a lot more down to earth than the shi-shi vail & aspen gapers.
Also, at the time, this had the best handicap friendly classes. i think that most mountains have caught up, but i'd call it a pioneer in that respect.
