Regattas on Dillon Reservoir, historic townscapes and trails for activities in the snow reveal different sides of Summit County. The season also shapes the possibilities: Alongside winter offerings, there are summer outdoor activities. When planning your trip, you can weigh your interests and decide whether to focus on local history, a particular outdoor activity, or the contrast between several themes.
Water, Views and a Clear Trail Destination
Regattas are held regularly on Dillon Reservoir. The Sapphire Point Trail runs for half a mile to a viewpoint. These offer different approaches to planning an outing: one is a recurring event on the water, while the other is a clearly described trail with a viewpoint as its destination. If you like to distinguish activities by format, these are two different options in Summit County.
Frisco and Breckenridge: History at Specific Places
The Frisco Historic Park & Museum combines original historic buildings with artifacts, exhibits and photographs about Frisco’s past. Admission to Frisco Historic Park is free. Throughout the year, the museum hosts several events, including historic tours, summer and winter lecture series, and Frisco History Day. If you would like to include one of these events in your plans, check the dates before your trip.
In Breckenridge, the Historic District showcases the town’s long history of architecture: it has the largest concentration of historic buildings in the community, spanning the early settlement period through the late Victorian era of the town’s history. The town’s original role is also part of this picture. Breckenridge was initially a mining town, providing services to the surrounding Mining District. These two historical perspectives complement each other: the district showcases buildings from different eras, while Breckenridge’s former function explains its connection to mining.
Winter Trails and Seasonal Outdoor Activities
At the Frisco Nordic Center, you can try skating, classic cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The trail network includes 30 kilometers of ski trails and eight kilometers of snowshoe trails; the activities take place in an unspoiled alpine setting. The different trail lengths allow for a practical comparison: separate trail networks are designated for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. This can help you choose an activity based on which of these two options interests you.
Arapahoe Basin is the oldest ski area in Summit County. In winter, Breck’s Five Peaks offers 187 runs for skiing and snowboarding. For summer, Arapahoe Basin lists Via Ferrata adventures at an elevation of 13,000 feet; the trails there are designated for hikers and mountain bikers. Keystone Resort is located in Summit County, Colorado, and offers a variety of outdoor activities year-round. Summer offerings include 36 holes of golf, mountain biking and snow tubing. These examples differ not only in activity but also by season: skiing and snowboarding are winter activities, while Via Ferrata, golf, mountain biking and snow tubing are described as summer offerings.
Planning Between Towns
Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco, Dillon, Copper Mountain and Silverthorne are easy to connect by car, bicycle or the free Summit Stage Bus. If you want to include several places in your trip, you can take these transportation options into account when planning. When looking for accommodations in Summit, it helps to first weigh the topics that interest you most: local history, trails in the snow, activities on the water or seasonal resort offerings. This way, you can start your search with the experiences that will shape your trip.
Discover more destinations: Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Morgan County, Pitkin.
For the main travel overview: Colorado.
