What you need to know about Breckenridge’s Five Peaks

You know that allegory about the three blind men describing an elephant? One is at the head and insists an elephant is all trunk; the other is at the elephant’s middle and describes the animal’s skin, thick and tough, and the third is at the tail—for him, the elephant is a whispy thing.

Breckenridge can be like that elephant.

With five peaks offering different terrain and amenities, there is no quintessential “Breckenridge” experience. My Breckenridge experience may be completely different from yours (naturally, we can assume we will both have amazing experiences, as all of Breck is outstanding).

What follows is not an attempt to demystify Breckenridge, after all part of the fun is exploring and discovering on your own. Think of this as a teaser, something to whet your curiosity and perhaps entice you to leave the elephant’s tail for a day and check out his trunk.

Peak 6

Find your bliss:

They don’t call it “Serenity Bowl” for nothing. From the top of the super chair, hike about 10 minutes to the 12,573-foot Peak 6 summit, head skier’s right, and drop in. With boot-deep powder and a wide-open bowl, it feels like backcountry, but with regular ski patrol avalanche control, it’s safer.

Peak 7

Nourish your body:

Whether you grab a signature burger from the express window or loosen your boots for a leisurely lunch or dinner, you must go to Seven’s – located in the new Grand Lodge at the base of Peak 7. With a full bar, wood-fired oven, pizzas, and all-you-can-eat crab legs—not to mention a comfortable, contemporary interior, Seven’s serves excellent grub in a terrific location.

Peak 8

What isn’t there to love about Peak 8? First, there’s the Imperial Express, the highest elevation chairlift in North America (which delivers you to some of the resort’s best terrain, by the way). Then there’s the T-Bar, a buzzing watering hole with extensive beer, wine, and cocktail choices. There’s also the outdoor stage that comes out in the spring and hosts live music, and, finally, there’s Freeway, where you might catch Shaun White practicing on the four massive jumps, myriad rails and boxes or the 22-foot Superpipe.

Peak 9

Chances are, you’re no Olympian, but that doesn’t mean you can’t push your own limits. This season you can race on the EpicMix race course. Race yourself, your friends, or even four-time overall World Cup Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Lindsey Vonn. Find the EpicMix Race Course on Peak 9: from the Beaver Run Superchair, ride Sundown to the race location. Cost per race is $10.

Peak 10

Challenge yourself on some of Breck’s toughest terrain. This expert-only outpost is a favorite for those who prefer double black diamonds. Ride the speedy Falcon SuperChair and spin laps until your legs feel like they’re going to fall off.

So there you have it. You can be an extreme skier, a powder hound, a gourmand, a park and pipe rat, an aspiring racer, and more at Breckenridge.

– Rachel Walker