Booking a Ski or Snowboard trip to Copper Mountain, A Complete Guide

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Right off the I-70 Corridor and close to the small mountain town of Frisco lies Copper Mountain, a Summit County gem that in my opinion is one of the last ski resorts in the area that still has the mom and pop local vibes. Whether you’re new to skiing or snowboarding or you’ve been doing it for a long time, Copper has terrain for every kind of rider. One of the first times I ever snowboarded at Copper, I linked up with a few shop kids from Gravitee Boardshop, and it did not stop snowing.

We rode through trees, carved around on the main runs, and even took a few laps on the upper terrain. That was a number of years ago, and a lot has changed, as Copper has grown quite a bit due to an increase in popularity over the years. But what I remember is how it felt like more of a home mountain and less of a ski resort with a cookie cutter corporate feel (even though Copper itself is owned by a corporation). Like most larger ski resorts, it’s a mountain you can just keep exploring, especially on deep snow days!

In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, how to get to the mountain, where to buy/rent ski or snowboard equipment, places to eat, and what the mountain is like. Alright lets get into itttt.

Where is Copper

In between Frisco and Vail, Copper will be about 1.5 hours west of Denver depending on traffic. Get off on exit 195 as if you’re driving to Leadville and Copper Mountain will be on the right! Below I listed times and distances from major areas with Denver being the closest airport.

Denver: 1 hour and 20 minutes/77 miles

Boulder: 1 hour and 40 minutes/83 miles

Colorado Springs: 2 hours and 20 minutes/145 miles

Fort Collins: 2 hours and 20 minutes/137 miles

Where to Stay

I personally liked staying close to downtown Frisco because it is a mountain town with a main street that has restaurants, bars, boutiques, and shops. However, if you don’t like driving to the mountain and are looking for more of a ski-in/ski-out experience, I would stay in Copper Village. Rates for lodging will be the most expensive during holiday periods and peak season. I found a nice 1 bedroom a block from downtown Frisco on VRBO that was really comfortable.

If you don’t have a car and are staying in Frisco, no problem, there is a free bus called the Summit Stage that goes to and from Copper mountain with a pick up location in downtown Frisco.

Where to Park at Copper

There are 6 parking lots that I would recommend using, with only two free lots. The main free lot will be Alpine, with the far east lot used for overflow during busier times such as holidays and weekends. These two lots require bus transportation to the mountain, unless you take the ten minute walk to East Village (Walk towards the transportation center with restrooms and you’ll see the walk path to East Village on your left). Copper has three parts to it; East, Center, and West (more info below). Follow the signage to see which part of the mountain you want to go to, as there will be a bus that drops off and picks up at each area.

Paid lots are closer and you’re able to walk to the mountain from these parking areas. Ten Mile, Union Creek, Beeler, and Chapel are all paid. For overnight parking, you can park in the alpine lot, however it will cost $20/night. No restrictions on number of nights allowed with overnight parking!

Is Copper on the Ikon

Yep, Copper will be Ikon, with no blackout dates and unlimited riding. You can also buy just a Copper pass and there will be some free days on the Copper only pass at other ski resorts such as Monarch.

The key when buying a season pass is to do it over the summer before prices go up. I know winter is probably the last thing on your mind in June, but you can save a chunk of money by doing this asap.

How much are lift tickets

Lift tickets are over $200 and you can save a little bit of money if you purchase them at least one day or more in advance online. If you do need to pick up your lift tickets, there will be digital pickup boxes located throughout the resort at each base area. More and more places are streamlining this process to make everything easier and quicker so you can get on the mountain ASAP!

On Thursdays, lift tickets are $99 with Coppers, “Play Forever”

Best places to buy or rent ski and snowboard Equipment

There’s a number of different ski and snowboard shops at Copper and also in Frisco. Best snowboard shop hands down is Gravitee Boardshop in Center Village. They will have an amazing selection of goggles, jackets, pants, boots, boards, and bindings. They also offer rentals, demos (try before you buy), and tuning services. It’s a core snowboard shop with an awesome vibe and the people working there are really helpful as well as friendly. Camp Hale in Center Village will also have board rentals along with jackets/pants, and winter accessories.

For ski rentals I would recommend Camp Hale, Charter, Rebel, or Copper Sports. If you’re looking to purchase ski equipment, Christy’s in East Village will sell ski’s, boots, poles, and ski gear. Looking to shop or rent in Frisco? Rebel, Epic Mountain Gear, and Pioneer Sports will all rent and sell ski/snowboard equipment.

Just make sure to make a rental reservation ahead of time, especially for busy times such as weekends and holidays! For ski boot fitting, check out Precision or Surefoot at Copper.

Are lessons available

Yep, Copper offers private, group, and youth lessons! Group lessons will be the least expensive option, while private lessons can get expensive. Full and half day options will be available. The one thing, like most ski resorts, is to book ahead of time, this includes lessons, lift tickets, season passes, rentals, dinner reservations etc. Beginner terrain and lessons will be mostly be located on the west part of Copper, with Center village having a small beginner area at the base, as well as East Village having a small area for beginners.

Other lesson options available will be privates at Woodward (Copper’s terrain park), adaptive, and Copper Guides. Copper guides is less of a lesson and more of showing you expert terrain at the resort.

What is the Mountain Like

Copper is pretty unique in that it’s located right off I-70 and is split into three sections; East, Center, and West. What I’ve always liked about Copper is that it’s not too big of a resort that you feel lost and you can ride most of the mountain within a couple days, weather and terrain permitting. It has some really fun upper terrain with bowls and steep runs, but also some fun blues and green runs to cruise around on. It also has one of the best terrain parks partnered with Woodward! The lift lines are never too bad on weekdays and even when the main parking lot is completely full, the mountain never feels overly crowded in my opinion. I cover more in detail each part below with some of my favorite areas to ride.

East Village

With some of the steepest terrain on the mountain, East Village is meant for those who like to go faster. Most of the runs will be Blacks and Double Blacks with a small amount of Blue runs mixed in. Ride over to the Storm King Tbar and drop into Spaulding Bowl or ride Resolution Bowl at the top of the SuperBee Lift.

In my opinion it’s also one of the least crowded parts of the mountain, which is why it can be a great place to start your day during busier time periods such as holidays and weekends. Just know this part of the mountain is for the more advanced skier or snowboarder!

The groomed runs in East Village can get icy at times so make sure your edges are sharp!

I like to take a couple laps on Andy’s Encore and then take the Superbee Lift back up and drop into the Resolution bowl on good to deep snow days. You can lap this area by taking the Resolution lift. Resolution bowl starts out steep with some rocks drops if you feel like jumping off something. A fun lap is Drainpipe to Highline. High line flattens out and is a wide open run right next to the Resolution chairlift.

If you want an even longer run, take Storm King up to the top of Spaulding Bowl and ride the bowl all the way down to the bottom of the Resolution lift. Either stick to the groomed runs, or cruise through trees as you ride to the base of the resolution lift. Spaulding Bowl has a number of different drop areas. Spaulding Ridge will be much steeper then if you were to take the traverse out and then drop.

Center Village

This will be the main area of Copper Mountain, with the two lifts at the base to get you from point A to B being American Eagle and American Flyer. American Eagle will be steeper and allow you to access the East part of the mountain if interested, whereas American Flyer will have easier runs and is the lift you take for accessing the west part of the mountain. American Flyer will also be the blue bubble chair!

Center Village is where you’ll find the majority of rental/retail shops, restaurants, guest services, and bars too.

If you have a family or small kids, the main groomer runs right off American Flyer will be some of the best. Long, but not steep at all in my opinion. Ride through the Woodward family race course towards the top as you ride down.

Once you get to the top of American Eagle either ride the groomer runs or get on the Elevation Lift to take you even higher up the mountain.

From Flyer I like to take the Sierra Lift and ride Jupiter Bowl or the trees on Timber Ridge. Jupiter Bowl is the terrain that is right under Sierra Lift. It’s a quick lap, but a fun one to warm up the legs on when it’s a good powder day. It’s also fun to run a Sierra lap all the way to the base of Center Village.

Take the catwalk dead straight off of Flyer to get to the Sierra lift. Sometimes, if the area is open, you can drop into the trees on the left side of the catwalk to get to the Sierra lift. That lift is quick so be prepared for that when loading onto the chairlift!

There’s one gondola at Copper and it’s in Center Village. If temps are frigid, it’s not a bad place to escape the wind as you get shuttled up the mountain. Or if your with some friends or family it’s fun to take the gondola up and shoot the shit, have some laughs, and talk about the day.

West Village

The west side is where you’ll find a lot of great intermediate runs as well as beginner runs. On snow days it’s nice to cruise through West Village even though it’s not steep in areas, you’ll typically find some great powder stashes because most people that love powder will ride the upper terrain. Once filled in, which can vary depending on the season, take the Celebrity Ridge poma and Traverse out to Union Meadows. Union Meadows is a wide open ungroomed bowl, but will have some rocky areas, so be careful. You can ride down Union Meadows, ski through some of the trees, and then pop out on a green run.

Timberline and Woodward Express will be the two main lifts in West Village. It will be these two lifts that service a lot of green and blue runs. I love to snowboard through Jack Straw trees! Also located in West Village will be Woodward! A series of progression terrain parks including Peace Park, which I layout in more detail below.

The backside of the mountain

To access the backside either take lifts Sierra > Celebrity Ridge or Rendezvous. Celebrity Eidge is an old school Poma lift.

The backside has a lot to offer if you’re looking for some technical steeper terrain. In 2019, Copper put in the new Three Bears lift, giving access to new terrain off Tucker Mountain. If you go lookers left off the lift there will be more tree’s and it’s a bit steeper in parts. Head lookers right off the lift and the area consists of wide open bowls. The one downside is it can get pretty windy on the back area of the mountain making the snow more wind blown. It really all depends on weather, but it’s just something I’ve noticed when I snowboard the upper areas of Copper.

Regardless this part of the mountain seems infinite and you could spend a good amount of time in this area. There’s trees, cliff drops, and wide open bowls to explore if that’s your thing. With that being said be CAREFUL in these areas as there is unmarked terrain, potential avalanche areas, and rocks.

Looking to do a hike to access some terrain? Take the Mountain Chief lift up and then hike the Ridgeline on your left. If you go all the way to the end of the hike it’s about 20 minutes, but there’s a number of drop areas along the way.

Is the resort good for beginners

Of course! If you are new to skiing or snowboarding I would recommend West Village as a place to start or progress. The west part of Copper will have the best learning area in my opinion. There will be two good beginner chairlifts (Kokomo & Lumberjack).

Does it snow a lot

It depends on the season, Copper can get some good snow storms through out the season. It’s really hit or miss and depends on the year, weather patterns, etc. At times Copper can also get pretty windy and icy because it’s so exposed at a high elevation. The average annual snowfall is 305 inches.

Does Copper have good tree riding

Yea! If the snow is good, the trees are really fun. There’s a group of trees just past Flyers, the restaurant, that are a lot of fun. Locals call this area Mario, because there is some natural log features to jib around on. Jackstraw glades on the west part of the mountain are fun Low angle trees to ski or snowboard through as well. For steeper tree runs, check out the trees as you exit Spaulding Bowl or 17 Glades on the East side of Copper. .

Steep trees can also be found off of the Storm King Tbar by taking the Lillie G traverse and dropping into a wide open bowl that funnels into Upper or Lower Enchanted forest!

What is Woodward and what are the terrain parks like

Woodward is a company that builds terrain parks as well as skateparks across the country. They also offer summer camps for kids/teenagers looking to progress their abilities. I would say they are some of the best in the business and can be found at mountains such as Eldora, Copper, Mt Bachelor, Killington, and Woodward Park City! You can also find indoor Woodward facilities with trampolines, foam pits, and indoor skateparks. It has really changed the game in terms of progression and just making that side of snowboarding or skiing a lot of fun. Copper has multiple terrain parks including Peace Park (a transition set up with hips, snake runs, small jumps and walls to slash and carve around on. Each park at Copper has it’s own level with Central Park being the most advanced park set up.

Central Park

Central Park will have medium sized jumps as well as a pro jump line. Through out the main park you’ll find medium to large sized rails along with Red’s Backyard (an inspired park set up from pro snowboarder Red Gerard’s actual backyard).

As for Preseason, Copper also has one of the best early season terrain parks in Colorado, with the setup being right off of American Eagle. It’s a hike park and it’s a good way to meet people and just hang out and have a good time at the start of the ski season.

Peace Park

Pro snowboarder Danny Davis is the mastermind behind this new approach to a terrain park. Peace Park first started in 2012 where Danny had a park crew build a unique, yet fun set up at North Star California, for a small group of professional Burton Pro riders. His vision continued to grow and each year a group of the best snowboarders would meet up for a week and ride a fun, progressive park that was built just for Peace Park (youtube Danny Davis Peace Park).

The same Peace Park concept was then brought to the general public on a much smaller scale so that the average skier or snowboarder would be able to have fun riding a park that was different. Copper happens to be one of the mountains that has a Peace Park set up, full of unique transitions, wall rides, jumps, and, rails.

Is there any good on mountain dining

Each part of the Mountain will have dining options at the base or on the mountain. There’s a new eating area called Aerie at the top of American. The food is pretty good, with cafeteria style seating on the ground floor and a restaurant that requires reservations on the second floor. Both floors will also have a bar as well as outdoor seating. Aeire has the best views for dining on the mountain! At the base of Center Village there will be Jack’s with a bar and food!

In East Village there is JJ’s Tavern and in the West Village there is more traditional resort cafeteria style food. On the mountain you can also find Flyers, a quick stop for Burgers, Brats, or a drink.

Downtown Frisco

Anytime I visit a ski town, it’s nice to just walk around and see what shops there are, potential places to eat/drink, and maybe take a few photos. Whether your staying in Copper or maybe Breck, I recommend checking out downtown Frisco for an evening after your done riding Copper.

Main Street will be where all of the shops, restaurants, and bars are. Not as big of a town as Breckenridge or Aspen, but it has an old fashion feel and awesome surrounding views. Plus it’s close to other ski resorts in the area such as Breck and Keystone.

Where should we eat

Breakfast

If you’re staying in downtown Frisco, my favorite place is Bread and Salt, but a lot of locals also really like Butterhorn Bakery. Both places will be more classic diner style with Butterhorn having the bakery. These restaurants get busy so be prepared to wait for a table or arrive early.

Coffee shops

Either Camp Hale in Center Village or Rocky Mountain coffee roasters on Main Street in downtown Frisco!

Dinner and Apre’s

Frisco has some great restaurants in the downtown area and also off the beaten path. My favorite restaurant is Pure Kitchen, close to Whole Foods. Their concept is healthy eating with organic farm to table ingredients. They have some really awesome starters, entree’s and cocktails. The music is always really good too! For fine dining and farm to table, I would also check out Frisco Prime, on main street in down Frisco. I listed three other restaurants below that I really like

Peppinos- Some of the best pizza in summit county, Peppino’s is a classic pizza shop that originally started in Leadville in 1998.

Uptown on Main- A nice place to sit down and have a meal in downtown Frisco. Staff is friendly! and the menu is pretty extensive with some great home cooked type meal options. Also a pretty extensive drinks menu.

Prost- German Beer and Sausages. It’s somewhat of a hole in the wall, but worth checking out. Incredible Bratwurst and beer!

Bird Craft- Located inside of Outer Range Brewery, although the menu is small, the food is some of the best in Frisco. It became so popular that they stopped doing online orders, so you have to order at the counter! The Food will be mostly Thai inspired chicken with a few non-chicken items. Definitely worth checking out!

Cielo Oaxaca- If you like Mexican food this will be the best in the county. The food taste like the food you would find in Mexico! , The staff is incredibly friendly and atmosphere has an authentic vibe to it.

For Apres’ at Copper Mountain I would recommend either Sawmill Taphouse, Ten Mile Tavern, or Eagle BBQ all located in Center Village. The Sawmill Taphouse is a pizza spot and connected to the main restaurant is a small hang out area that sells pizza by the slice, a locals favorite. If you have a sweet tooth, stop in at Sugar Lips for coffee, ice cream, or mini donuts with different topping choices.

Bars, Breweries, and Night Life

Looking to grab a drink somewhere after being on the mountain all day? My favorite place is Outer Range Brewery. It has a cool lounge upstairs as well as the main bar downstairs, along with outdoor heated seating. In downtown Frisco there’s Moose Jaw, which has food and feels like a dive bar along, Highside Brewery with a barbeque menu, and Ollies which also has a bar and food.

The only two late night Bars at Copper are Mulligans and High Rockies Whiskey and Wine bar. Mulligans will be open until 2am on Fri and Sat with a DJ and a late night food menu!

What should we pack

There’s a number of things to make sure you have when taking a ski or snowboard trip. Whether you pack these or purchase them when you arrive. Below is a small list of items I recommend having for a winter trip to Copper Mountain

1. Ski or Snowboard Socks- You’ll want a ski specific sock when going skiing or snowboarding, something with Merino wool, polyester, or a synthetic blend is what I would highly recommend. AVOID anything with cotton or wearing two socks at once. You’re feet will get colder because cotton and two socks at once will not wick moisture or sweat.

2. Goggles- Having a good pair of goggles is key. Oakley, Smith, Dragon, Anon and Giro are some top brands that make a great product allowing you to see when riding on the mountain. Plenty of Shops in Copper or Frisco will sell good goggles. Some will come with only one lens that work for most light conditions while others will come with two lenses, one for sun and one for Clouds.

3. Base Layers- Base Layers are going to be just like socks, avoid anything with cotton! I think Burton makes some of the best base layers, which you can find on Burton.com. I personally like their AK base layers.

4. Jacket/Pants- The key with ski or snowboard pants is to make sure they are waterproof and breathable.

5. Helmet- Protect your dome! Comfort is the most important part when buying a helmet. It should be snug, not tight and you can find the correct size by measuring around your head in centimeters with a soft fabric tape measure. It’s best to go into a store and try a few different styles on. craniologie in breckenridge will have the biggest selection of helmets and be the closest to Copper Mountain.

6. Gloves/Mitts-

7. Sunscreen/Chapstick- Make sure to either pack this or buy some when in Colorado. It’s a must, even on cloudy or snowy days.

8. Winter Footwear- A good pair of winter boots or footwear is much needed when walking around Colorado!

That’s it for a trip to Copper Mountain. Whether you’re whole vacation is at Copper Mountain or it’s one of the resorts you plan on riding during a trip to Colorado, I hope this guide helps! If you’re looking for other places to take a ski or snowboard vacation, check out Brighton in Utah!

Best Ski Resorts in Colorado, A complete guide to Breckenridge Ski Resort

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in.

Skiing and snowboarding can be dangerous activities, please ride within your ability levels and respect others around you

Interested in taking a ski or snowboard trip out west? Honestly there are so many amazing resorts, but one of my favorites is Breckenridge in Colorado. The mountain is located right in the town and has a lot of different options for people with different ability levels. You’ll find a number of beginner/intermediate runs as well as steeper more technical terrain at this resort. Which, in my opinion, is what makes Breck so unique. Although people like to hate on the resort every now and then, “It’s too flat, too crowded, too windy, etc", catch Breck (shortened nick name for the area) on a powder day or sunny blue bird day with no wind or crowds and you’ll see what makes this place so special!

What draws so many people to the town itself is the historic home like feel with surrounding mountain views of the resort and ten mile range. It’s pretty magical when driving into the town with mountain peaks all around. In this post I’ll be going over where to stay, best times to visit, things to know, where to ride, places to apres’, and recommended ski/snowboard shops. Alright lets goooo.

History of Breckenridge and the Resort

Originally Founded in 1859, Breckenridge started out as a mining town. The Late 1800’s brought gold prospectors to many western parts of the United States and towns across Colorado. If you venture out a little bit from downtown to places like Boreas Pass Road (Sawmill Museum) or past the Wellington neighborhood (Country Boy Mine/Wellington Mine) on French Gulch Road you can see old mines as well mining runoff.

You can also walk through the Breckenridge Visitor Center to read up on the history, look at old photos, and also see the progression from a mining town to a ski town. It’s cool stuff, even if you aren’t a history nerd. You’ll even notice a lot of the original buildings are still in town, which is part of the historic district. This history is what gives Breck that unique feel when riding the resort or hanging out downtown.

The ski resort was founded in December of 1961 on Peak 8 by Bill Rounds, Sigurd Rockne, and Trygve Berge. The resort opened with one double chair and one T-bar. By 1984 Breckenridge became the first resort in Colorado to allow snowboarders. In the 80’s and 90’s Breck hosted a number of world cup events for skiing and snowboarding and by the late 2000’s they started to host Dew Tour, a freestyle ski and snowboard event, which lasted for 11 years!

Over the years Breck continues to expand and grow, which I think is just always the natural path with most ski areas, even though there can be backlash from locals for all the added expansion. I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of it either, but Breck still has that mountain charm that can’t be found in too many places.

Where is Breckenridge and How do you get there

Located on Highway 9 in between a town called Frisco and a small town called Blue River. The downtown area of Breck is mostly located on a street called Main Street with shops and restaurants as well as neighboring side streets close to Main Street. There is a north side of Main Street and a South side of Main Street, which is helpful to know when figuring out your way around town. The resort can be seen from town and is on Ski Hill Road, about 1.5 miles from downtown Breckenridge. In 2007 a gondola was built from the town to the resort, to shuttle skiers up to the mountain quicker. However, busses still run up Ski Hill Road to the base of the mountain.

There are different shuttles that run to Breckenridge from Denver International airport, with the two main ones being Peak One Express and Epic Mountain Express. Shuttles are a great way for transportation if you only plan on skiing or snowboarding Breck and maybe Keystone on your vacation. Shuttles can either drop you off at your rental property/check-in location or at the Breckenridge transportation center for a cheaper price. The town of Breck has a great public transportation system and it’s also easy to walk everywhere too.

I-70 is the main freeway to access highway 9, however in the winter it can get pretty busy so there is also route 285 if I-70 is closed or has too much traffic. Below I’ve listed times and distances from major areas in Colorado. Please note mountains passes can get pretty snowy, slick, and dangerous. Please have good tires, extra blankets, food, water, etc when driving to the mountains. Times below are estimations.

Denver International: 2 hours/105 miles

Boulder: 1 hour 55 minutes/87 miles

Colorado Springs: (Taking US 24 W to Highway 9 driving through Hartsel, Fairplay, and Alma)- 2 hours 11 minutes/106 miles

Fort Collins: 2.5 hours/140 miles

What is the town like

I love the downtown area of Breck with shops and restaurants lining the streets. Most everything will be on Main Street with a few restaurants located off of Ridge Street, the next street over that runs parallel to Main. Parking is paid on Ridge and Main, but if you go up to Harris street, there’s two hour free parking. After 8pm parking will be free!

If you’re looking to grab a photo with your significant other or family, I think the best place in town to do that is the central square, right next to the visitor center. Breck also has workshops, an arts district, concert venue (the River Walk Center), information center, a movie theater, rec center, and a library all in town. So if you are looking for things to do outside of skiing or snowboarding, check those places out!

Does Breckenridge Get a lot of Snow

It really depends on the season to be honest. There are seasons where the snow doesn’t stop and then there are seasons where Breck only gets a small amount of snow storms. With that being said, the average annual snowfall is 300 inches or 762 cm.

Where to Stay in Breckenridge

There are soo many places to stay in Breckenridge and I can imagine it being somewhat overwhelming if you’ve never been. A few things to consider when looking for lodging are.. ski-in/ski-out, close to town, on a bus route, parking, and amenities (hot tub, community pool, gym, restaurant-on-site). A common misunderstanding with ski-in/ski-out is that you can ski right back to your place or hop out your back door onto the slopes. Although this is the case for some properties, this usually just means the lift is within close vicinity from your place.

What I like about the lodging is everything is fairly close to either the mountain, downtown, or both. Public transportation can shuttle you to the mountains. From condos, to private homes, town homes, and bed/breakfast there is just about every lodging option available. I stayed in a nice 1 bedroom right off Ski Hill Road, close to downtown, walkable distance to the Gondola, and I booked it through VRBO. The building had an old school feel to it, but the unit itself was recently remodeled.

Other great places to consider staying are One Ski Hill Place, Main Street Junction, Placer Ridge, and Los Pinos. Rates will vary through out the season with Holidays being the most expensive, especially Christmas!

Where to Rent or Buy Ski and Snowboard Gear

There’s a lot of shops in Breck that sell ski and snowboard gear as well as outdoor clothing. I’ve listed some of my favorite shops below. Most stores will have knowledgeable staff for ski and/or snowboard equipment. You’ll be able to find pretty much everything you need for a day on the mountain or mountain environment , if you don’t ski or snowboard. Most shops below also rent equipment. It’s best to make a reservation ahead of time (can be made through the shop’s website). Shops will be able to set you up with the right equipment based on experience, riding style, and your weight/height. Make sure to show up early the morning of or the afternoon/evening the day before you plan on riding, to pick up your equipment.

I’d have to say my favorite snowboard shop in Breck is Underground Snowboards because of the local shop hangout vibe and knowledgeable friendly staff. The home like feel of a locally owned shop will never get old, makes you realize why you got into snowboarding or skiing in the first place! The best shop if you need goggles or a helmet will be Craniologie because they have a large selection and in-depth fitting process. For Ski’s either Slope Style, Racer’s Edge or RMU. For ski boots the best place in town will be Racers Edge, just make sure to book an appointment ahead of time.

The ski and snowboard shops listed below should also have a demo program which is a try before you buy rental set up for those looking to try out equipment before it is purchased. The shop will usually let you apply 1-2 days of rental credit towards the purchase of skis or a board.

Local Snowboard Shops

Underground Snowboards

Mountain Wave

Base Mountain Sports

Local Ski Shops

Blue River Sports

Slopestyle

Carvers

Alpine Sports

Racers Edge

Helmets/Goggles

Craniologie

Branded Stores

Burton

Patagonia

North Face

Columbia

Breck Sports

Helly Hansen

Outdoor Clothing/Winter Footwear/Backcountry

Mountain Goat

Underground Snowboards

Epic or Ikon Pass at Breck and are lift tickets expensive

Breckenridge is managed and operated by Vail Resorts therefore the pass you’ll use will be the Epic. Other passes under the Epic umbrella that work are the Epic Local (unlimited at Breck and Keystone with no black out dates) and Summit Value (unlimited at Breck and Keystone with black out dates at Breckenridge). To learn more about season pass options check out the post, What season ski pass should I buy?, Everything you need to know about the Epic and Ikon Pass. If you plan on riding 3 or more days, buy a season pass early!

Lift tickets at a resort like Breckenridge can be pretty expensive at the window (typically 200+/day) and will go down in price the more days you book in advance. Holidays and peak times will raise prices for lift tickets. If you decide to not buy a season pass, purchase your lift tickets ahead of time on Breckenridge.com. Lift ticket offices will be at the base of the gondola, base of Peak 8, and also at the Base of Peak 9. If you’re looking to pick up your tickets the day before, offices typically close by 4pm.

Best time to snowboard or ski the resort

Resorts in Colorado typically open in early to mid November and Close by Mid April. The cool thing about Breck is that it opens mid November, but stays open until May, weather depending. A few things to consider when deciding what time of year to ride the mountain are; price, terrain open, and crowds. With ski resorts you have an early season, mid season, and late season. Unfortunately snow varies each year so it’s hard to determine how much of the mountain will be open ahead of time when planning a trip, unless you book last minute. My best advice if you can swing it, is to avoid holidays, spring break, and weekends. If you plan a trip during those times, expect traffic, lift lines, grocery lines, and restaurants being booked up.

Nightly rates for lodging are also much cheaper during none-peak times as are lift tickets. The best times to come out and ride Breck are January (Not MLK weekend), February (not Presidents weekend), and April. Early April is a great time to come out because the mountain is practically empty, lodging is cheap, days are longer, and sometimes amazing snow storms roll in, mixed with blue bird days. January and February are also good because by this point the entire mountain is open and there’s a chance of a good powder day.

Can you take a lesson for skiing or snowboarding at Breck

Yep, Breck offers Private along with Group lessons for kids and adults. If your new to snowboarding or skiing I’d recommend taking a group lesson. Group lessons will be on Peak 8 and Peak 9, where the terrain is less steep and you’ll be able to learn the fundamentals. Private lessons will be much more expensive! but instructors can take you all over the mountain, providing a more unique experience.

Are there good Terrain Parks

If you are looking to get into the terrain park, I believe Breck offers lessons for that style of riding too. My advice for that would be to start small and work your way up in the terrain Park. There’s a Large sized park on Peak 8 called Freeway and two parks on Peak 9, an intermediate (American) and beginner (Eldorado). The main park will have jumps, rails, boxes, sometimes a hip as well as transition.

The beginner park usually has a couple very small jumps with small boxes mixed in. The medium sized park his going to really be a progression park with intermediate rails, boxes, and jumps. Make sure to wear a helmet if you ride in the terrain park!

Xander Hitting a jump in the terrain park off Peak 8

What is the Mountain like

Peaks

There’s no back side to Breck and the resort has 5 different Peaks to ski and snowboard on; Peak 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Each area is unique in its own way with Peak 8 being the centralized base area. What I and many other skiers and snowboarders love about Breck is the variety of terrain it offers for different ability levels. There’s something for everyone. The resort has plenty of blue and green runs, but also steep, above tree line terrain and bowls.

10

This will be the farthest peak on the left if you are looking at the mountain and typically will have the smallest lift line. The runs here will be a bit steeper and will only be blacks and double blacks. Ride down Crystal or Centennial for less technical more wide open runs. Runs such as Mustang and Spitfire are really good on powder days, but are un-groomed and hard to ride if the snow isn’t great.. Tree Runs are amazing on Peak 10 too! Be prepared for a small cat walk at the bottom If you rode through any of the terrain on the right side of Peak 10.

FYI, If you plan on going through the gate at the top of Falcon Chair, make sure you have the proper tools, knowledge, and a partner.

9

This peak will have a lot of beginner to intermediate runs with a small amount of advanced terrain. It’s honestly great for families or people starting out. There will be a couple learning areas and two main chairlifts, Mercury and Beaver Run. Quicksilver lift is a beginner lift that can have very long lines at times, but if you’re new to the skiing or snowboarding it’s the only way to get up the mountain your first go. After that, if lines are long I would get on A Chair as a beginner.

E and C chair, although much slower chairs will access steeper more advanced runs off 9, with hike-to-terrain off of Mercury lift. Some of my favorite runs are Volunteer and Upper Lehman! To get over to Peak 8, just hop on the Super connect chairlift.

8

Probably the largest Peak on the Mountain, Peak 8 is pretty awesome to say the least. It has groomers, above tree line open bowls, the highest lift in North America, the main terrain park, and even a T Bar. This is a peak you can really dial in your riding because of the endless options. It also has a learning area for lessons and some green runs off chair 5 for those looking to improve from the magic carpet.

The two main chairlifts for intermediate runs will be the Colorado Superchair as well as Rocky Mountain superchair. I would say the Colorado superchair is a good lift to take if you’ve never been to Breck and need a quick warm up. Colorado Superchair can also get lift lines, be prepared for a lil wait or take the Rocky Mountain Superchair. to get up the mountain quicker or over to Peak 7.

Advanced areas off of Peak 8 will be accessed by lifts; T Bar, Imperial, and 6 Chair! FYI for these areas to open there has to be a good amount of snow coverage, which can take anywhere from Mid December-Late January.

You can also hike right off of Colorado Superchair up to contest bowl. It’s an easier-ish hike but does take about 30 minutes to get all the way up to the Ridgeline of Contest Bowl. It’s also typically one of the first upper Alpine bowls to open up! Just make sure to watch out for rocks, small cliff drops, and closed terrain.

6 Chair

This is a good place to start if you want to start riding some more advanced terrain as they are all single black runs. The terrain isn’t too extreme overall and the runs are pretty open with good tree riding mixed in. The lift itself is an old two seater that is pretty quick when your loading it, so be prepared for that.

Lookers left from the chairlift will have more intermediate runs such as; Lobo, Hombre, and Solitude with the right side of 6 chair being more advanced with runs such as Adios and Psychopath. I really only ride 6 chair if its good snow or spring riding. When there’s deep snow it’s a fun place to get a couple laps in.

Imperial Chair

You can get to the base of imperial from 6 chair. The terrain up here is all double blacks and above tree line, so make sure you have good experience to ski or snowboard this part of the mountain. If you want to experience the top of Imperial, but not ride anything extreme, you can take the groomed Imperial Ridge run down to the base! This will be the tallest lift in North America with the peak standing at 12,998 feet! Take a lap down the open bowl or if you want to ride some really steep advanced terrain do the hike at the top which will access Lake Chutes and Snow White (Experts Only).

If it’s open, one of my favorite areas is Wales tale, also accessed off of Imperial. This part of the mountain is considered Peak 7, and can take some time to open up because it needs to be filled in, but also safe to ride. Ski Patrol works REALLY hard to make sure everything is safe and rideable! Huge shoutout to them honestly. You’ll traverse out to get to whales tail, so hold your speed from the start. The quickest way if you want a few laps in this area is to get on TBar and take a left at the top towards Imperial Chair

My favorite part about being up at Imperial is not only the incredible views, but just how humbling the experience is because you feel really small up. Once you’ve dropped into Lake Chutes or Whales tale, speed is your friend and just enjoy the experience of riding down the face of a mountain that size! You can ride down all the way to the base of Peak 7 or 8, which will take a long time, stop and rest if needed!

T Bar

One of the quickest ways to access awesome parts of the mountain will be off of Tbar in my opinion. This part of the mountain is for more advanced riders, so be prepared! It might take a couple practice tries when figuring out how to get on and stay on the lift, but once you get the hang of it, you should be good to go. Head right off the lift for North Bowl runs or hang a left for Cucumber, Horse shoe, or Contest Bowl!

My favorite areas are Cucumber Bowl and Horseshoe Bowl. When the snows good, the turns are some of the best! Cucumber bowl is a quick run through trees, but I just love the exploration feel you get when riding through here, it’s just you and the mountains. Both of these zones will allow you to get back to the bottom of Tbar, so you can take as many laps as your legs allow. This line can get pretty long on good powder days, but always seems to go pretty quick.

Horseshoe Bowl and Contest bowl, both have some nice cliff drops, if you’re looking to jump off some stuff too.

7

Not going to lie, most of the runs on this peak will be flatter, which is great if you have small kids or you’re just learning, or really just want to have a good time without “overdoing” it. Plenty of long blue runs to ski or snowboard on. The two chairlifts over here will be Independence and Freedom. Freedom is a new chairlift and helps prevent the base lift line from becoming too crowded.

If there’s powder, it’s fun to ride through Wanderlust and Ore Bucket, a small area through trees that eventually take you back onto the run, Monte Cristo. Kids can go through here too, I’ve seen families ski or board together in Ore Bucket!

6

Last but not least, Peak 6! This will be some of the best inbounds terrain you’ll ski or snowboard on, once it’s open for the season. Opening in 2014, 6 is a mix of High Alpine steep terrain and some intermediate blue runs. The views are pretty incredible too, so make sure to grab a couple photos.

You gotta take two lifts to get to the top of Peak 6, but it’s worth it! Take Zendo chair to Kensho superchair. You’ll get off Zendo ride down a quick little run and then hop on Kensho! The best intermediate runs down will be Bliss, Reverie, and a personal favorite, Intuition. If you’re up for working for your turns, the hike to the top is pretty amazing. Somewhat of a workout, it will take about 20 minutes. Once at the top, head right towards Beyond bowl or left towards my favorite, 6th senses.

You’ll have to traverse a good amount to drop into Six senses or drop early into Serenity bowl. Turns should be really good days after a storm, because the snow tends to funnel into these areas and the peaks sits at over 12,500 feet. Almost every time I’ve ridden through this area, you can hear the excitement from everyone dropping in and skiing or snowboarding down the face.

Either keep lapping Kensho chair or take the traverse back to Peak 7 after riding some of the best terrain Breckenridge Mountain has to offer :)

Is there good tree riding

If you like riding trees, Breck has plenty. Tree riding can be found off of Peak 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wanderlust off of 7 is a fun tree run. If you are looking for steeper runs not above tree line, you can find those on Peak 10 and off of 6 Chair on Peak 8. 6 chair is a fun place to ride on powder days when upper terrain hasn’t opened yet. Steep runs that are open enough to lay out turns, but also have trees that are spread out, giving you that winter magical feel when riding. Runs such as Adios, Solitude, and Boneyard are some of my favorite as mentioned earlier.

Mountain Stats

Hours of operation- 8:30am to 4pm

Base Elevation- 9,600 Feet/2,926 meters

Summit Elevation- 12,998 Feet/3,962 meters

Skiable Acres- 2,908

Number of Trails- 187

Beginner terrain- 11%

Intermediate- 31%

Advanced- 58%

Average annual snowfall- 356 inches or 904 cm

Download the EpicMix app for interactive trail maps, lift line times, and vertical feet skied.

Where can you eat on the Mountain

Peaks 7, 8, 9, and 10 all have restaurants at the Base with Peaks 7, 8, and 9 both having restaurants at the top as well. Sevens at the base of Peak 7 will be more like a traditional restaurant with servers and a hostess. However, most indoor dining will have the traditional Burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and wraps. I usually pack snacks when I ride, but it doesn’t hurt to have a hot meal indoors every now and then.

Most of the on mountain restaurants will have a bar with indoor and outdoor seating such as Coppertop and Tbar.

Pro Tip

Avoid waiting in the Gondola Line and take the 4 O’ Clock run at the end of the day to get back to town, parking, or your condo.

Also start your day on Peak 9 during busier times as Peak 8 can be pretty crowded.

Where can I park

Paid Parking lots will be at the Base of the Gondola (North and South Lots), Stables Garage (Base of Peak 8), Wellington Lot (near the Gondola), and Peak 9 (close to Beaver Run and the Double Tree).

Street parking and the majority of parking lots in the town of Breck are paid parking by the hour. However, there are two free day lots; The Ice Rink Lot and the dirt lot off of Airport Road. The ice rink lot is on the south end of town on Boreas Pass road. Both free lots will have a free in-town, bus that can take you to the mountain. Just know that buses to the Airport road parking lot stop running at 6pm.

Overnight Parking

Airport road and the Ice Rink lot both offer overnight parking. Parking is limited in town and at lodging properties, which is what these overflow lots are great for. Airport road parking is $5/night on weekdays and $10/night on weekends. The Ice rink is $15/night.

Public transportation

Breck has a great transportation system that costs nothing and has routes (color coded) to and from the resort as well as around town. Buses run every half hour depending on the route and time of day. Hours can vary depending on the route, but typically run from 6 in the morning to 11 O’ clock at night.

Bathrooms

Located at the Base of the Gondola in the new parking structure and at the base of the resort in One Ski Hill Grill. Also located in the Maggie off of Peak 9 as well as every restaurant on the mountain.

Where are the best places to Après at in Breckenridge

Breck has a lot of different places to Après at after a day on the hill. Most happy hours are within the hours of 2-6 pm and vary depending on the restaurant. Aurum off Ridge St. has a great happy hour menu, as well as drinks. They are a farm to table restaurant with awesome dishes sourced from local farmers. The environment inside is also welcoming and the staff is friendly, giving it that home like feel.

Below are a handful of my favorites and I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time to get a table. I also like RMU if you’re just looking to grab a drink. Cool spot, especially in the spring when the days are longer and warmer, you can chill on the outside patio right on Main St.

A couple other places that are great for Apres’ include the Blue River Bistro on the north end of town, and the Tavern Underground, located below the Carlin. The Tavern Underground is a modern take on classic bar food with a late night happy hour too. The Bistro will be known for their cocktails and with an upscale menu and ambience.

Aurum

The Tavern Underground

Blue River Bistro

RMU

Where to eat in Breck

Lots of different places to eat in Breck, making it hard to choose, however! these will be my favorite. For fine dining I really liked Radicato right in the heart of town. This restaurant takes Italian cuisine and makes it family style with amazing pastas, drinks, and entrees’. They also have a sister restaurant, Rootstalk that will be fine dining as well.

Not only is Aurum great for Apres’, but also dinner. If you are looking for less expensive options I also really like Breckenridge Brewerey or Empire Burger and for Pizza, Giampietros. During busier times make sure to book a reservation ahead of time! (sometimes weeks in advance) or expect wait times for getting a table or not being able to get a table at all..

Breakfast/Coffee

My favorite breakfast place is Amazing Grace located in an old historic building, with a local mountain town feeling inside. They have healthier, organic options and baked goods. For coffee I really like Cup a Joe on Ridge Street and also Mimi and Pim right by the gondola. Mimi and Pin also sells waffles and churros! Cuppa joe is less crowded which means you get your coffee quick and they also have views that overlook the resort. Some of the best donuts you’ll ever have are at Daylight and Columbine will be your classic diner styler breakfast.

Another favorite breakfast place for locals is Cool River Coffee house, located on main street on the south end of town. They have a creative menu with a number of healthier options too, highly recommend this coffee shop and breakfast spot!

What Grocery Stores are in town

The main grocery store is City Market and then there is a smaller more expensive grocery store on Ridge Street next to the Post Office.

Bars, Brewery’s, and Night Life

The old saying in a lot of ski towns is “a drinking town with a skiing problem”, and Breck has plenty of bars to choose from. If you’re looking for live music check out Napper Tandy’s and RMU. If you’re looking for a good Brewery, I mentioned Breck Brewery above for food, but it’s also a fun spot to grab a drink at. Broken Compass on the south end of town and on Airport Road is a locally owned Brewery with the location off Airport road having a chill local atmosphere that you can even bring your dog to.

Also on Airport road, make sure to check out, The Breckenridge Distillery, that will have food, cocktails, and spirits. The Gold Pan is going to be the oldest bar west of the Mississippi! and is your classic bar that can get pretty busy on the weekends.

Any Pot Shops in Breck

All of the weed stores will be off of Airport Road, requiring an ID showing that you are at least 21 years of age, cash only.

Are there any disadvantages to riding Breck

Like anything, there will always be a few disadvantages. With the recent increase in pass sales, crowds appear to be much greater on weekends and holidays. I listed a handful of disadvantages below

-Traffic in the town can get congested and busy

-Expensive Lift tickets and Lodging

-Long Lift lines sometimes

-Breck is notorious for high winds at time. If you see that it’s going to be a really windy day I would recommend going elsewhere, such as Keystone.

-Flatter on the lower areas of the mountain (disadvantage for some, yet positive for those learning to ski/snowboard)

-Upper Mountain terrain doesn’t always open after a huge storm

-High altitude location can cause you to get sick. Breckenridge is at 9,600 feet/2,926 meters and the altitude effects everyone differently.

What Tips do you have for Altitude Sickness

A lot of Colorado ski areas are at higher altitudes, which can cause nausea, headaches, and upset stomach. As mentioned above the altitude effects everyone differently and my best advice would be to drink lots of water and to stay away from alcohol and caffeine for the first few days if you’re effected. Typically, it takes a couple days to get acclimated to the elevation. Most retail locations will sell bottles of oxygen (a temporary fix) and there is also an Oxygen bar in La Cima Mall on the south end of town.

Last minute tips for a ski or snowboard trip to Breck

Plan ahead, this includes making reservations for rental equipment, restaurants, and lessons on the mountain! If you don’t have a season pass, purchase lift tickets ahead of time online through the resort website. Also do your homework by checking out the trail map and seeing what trails would be suitable for your riding style and ability level. Most 4 person+ chairlifts will also have trail maps, so you can plan things out as you sit on the lift.

Packing the right gear will also help. Make sure to pack a good winter jacket, the right base layers, gloves/mitts, neck warmer, and a few beanies. You’re in the rockies, so make sure to be prepared for whatever kind of weather shows up.

Other items I recommend having for a day on the mountain

1. Snacks

2. Packable water bottle, I like Hydra Pak

3. Chapstick

Remember to always zip your pockets up when riding and to drink plenty of water and take breaks when needed

Alright that’s a wrap and I hope this post inspires you to take a ski or snowboard trip to this special mountain town at 9,600 feet! Thanks for checking out the blog and if you have any tips or information to add please drop a comment below, it’s always cool to connect with people on here. Also, If you like this post subscribe to our email list below for the latest updates and posts on ski resorts, gear, surf trips, and outdoor information.

Looking for other ski trip ideas? Check out a trip to Mt Baker in the Pacific Northwest!