Travel to Breckenridge with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Breckenridge is Summit County’s oldest and largest ski resort town, with a rich historical heritage that dates back as far as the mid-19th century, and has been well preserved by locals.

Originally founded as a gold-mining village in 1859, Breckenridge was introduced to alpine skiing in the 1960s. Since then, despite the ski resort’s rocketing stardom and prolific development, the original Victorian buildings and historical points of interest have been fiercely protected. Breckenridge today is a delightful melting pot of old and new, with one of Colorado’s largest national historic districts juxtaposed with a myriad of modern lodging facilities, restaurants, entertainment venues and shops.

Breckenridge resort’s vast ski area is made up of almost 150 trails traversing four interconnected mountains. Of the total number of trails, 14 per cent cater to beginners, 26 per cent to intermediates, 22 per cent to advanced skiers and 38 per cent to experts. A system of 27 lifts, including the first double-loading six-passenger chairlift in North America, provides transportation to the ski routes, of which the longest is close to six kilometres.

Breckenridge’s mountain assets are not only for skiers to enjoy. The ski resort also offers extensive snowboarding facilities, with four terrain parks, three half-pipes and a super-pipe. Breckenridges Freeway Terrain Park is a boarder’s dream come true, and has been repeatedly voted one of the best in the United States by numerous snow-riding magazines.

The ski season at Breckenridge runs from November to May. The resort is located in the central mountains of Colorado, less than two hours from Denver, and can be reached by road transportation via highway 9, or by flying into Denver International Airport or Eagle County Airport.

Skiing in Breckenridge

Considering the outstanding quality of Breckenridge’s skiing and village amenities, the resort’s overwhelming popularity is hardly surprising. Breckenridge features a massive ski area spanning 817 hectares and four interconnected mountains, and a vast array of off-slope and après-ski facilities that keep visitors coming back for more.

Skiing in Breckenridge is the ultimate winter experience, with the choice of 146 trails geared for all ability levels. Beginner trails make up 14 per cent of the total slope area; while intermediates, advanced skiers and experts are allocated 26 per cent, 22 per cent and 38 per cent respectively. Long distance fans have a ride of almost six kilometres on which to strut their stuff, and boarders have access to four fabulous terrain parks and four pipes.

Breckenridge’s off-slope offerings match the high standard of skiing, with an abundance of enticing shopping, dining and nightlife. More than 400 shops, galleries, spas, eateries, bars and clubs provide visitors with ample amusement below the mountain. Additionally, Breckenridge invites guests to take part in telemarking, ski-blading, dog-sledding, snowshoe tours, snowmobile tours, ice-skating and hockey, or to work up a sweat at the resort’s fully-equipped recreational centre.

Breckenridge offers the widest variety of lodging options in Summit County, from ski-in/ski-out units to accommodation located a stone’s throw away from the town’s restaurants and bars. Guests can choose from a huge range of accommodation styles and budget brackets, including luxurious hotels and condos, modest apartments and dorm room facilities.

Après-ski in Breckenridge

Breckenridge resort offers just as much off the mountain as it does on the ski slopes. The town is permeated with tempting restaurants, shops and galleries, and a profuse selection of nightly entertainment venues, from laid-back bars to raging nightclubs. Lodging is located both on and off the mountain, and visitors can choose from a huge range of options to suit all preferences and budget allowances.

To make your skiing holiday as relaxing as possible, Breckenridge has all the facilities to ensure maximum convenience, including a childcare centre, a medical centre, business amenities, laundry facilities and much more.

Breckenridge’s recreational centre offers free-weights, cardio equipment, aerobic classes, racquetball and basketball courts, two climbing walls, an indoor pool, a kiddie pool with slide, two hot tubs, a sauna and a steam room. Additional winter activities offered by the resort include: telemarking, ski-blading, dog-sledding, snowshoe tours, snowmobile tours, ice-skating and hockey.

With three other ski resorts in close proximity to Breckenridge, alternative slope options are in easy reach, ensuring that you never tire of skiing in Summit County. Of these, Keystone is most conveniently accessible, being connected to Breckenridge by free direct shuttle service and interchangeable lift tickets all season long.

Transportation to Breckenridge

Breckenridge ski resort is located in Summit County in central Colorado, less than two hours’ drive from the city of Denver. Methods of transportation to the resort include driving, taking a shuttle bus, or flying into one of the nearby airports and utilising road transportation to complete the journey.

If you are driving from Denver, take I-70 west 136kms to Frisco (exit 203). Turn left on to highway 9, and continue along this highway south for just over 14kms until you reach Breckenridge, where highway 9 becomes Main Street. At the southern end of town, turn right on to South Park avenue, on which the ski resort’s main entrance is located.

If you are driving from Colorado Springs, take highway 24 west to Hartsel. From Hartsel, take highway 9 north approximately 64kms, over Hoosier Pass, to Breckenridge. As you come into Breckenridge, go to the second set of traffic lights and turn left on to South Park Avenue. Drive for about a block and turn left into the resort’s main entrance.

If you opt for air transportation to Breckenridge, Eagle County is the closest airport and Denver International is the closest international airport. Colorado Springs Airport is also located within driving distance of Breckenridge.

Colorado Mountain Express shuttles provide door-to-door service to Breckenridge from both Denver International Airport and Eagle County Airport. Additionally, taxi services provide transportation to the ski resort, and upmarket transfers in private sedans, SUVs and executive vans are also available.

click here for a travel insurance uk quotation