Best Breckenridge hikes for kids

Summer hikes around Breckenridge are the stuff family vacations are made of. Brilliant bluebird skies shine down on renewed green aspen and pine next to rolling creeks and rivers with temps hovering around 74 — that’s the stuff.

Show the kiddos an awesome time on the trail with these easygoing local hikes:

Burro Trail

This out-and-back route is just steps from Breckenridge Ski Resort’s Peak 9 ski runs, but offers a deep-woods, high alpine adventure feel. Access it from the bottom of the Lehman ski trail at the base of Peak 9 off Village Road and enjoy shaded gradual climbs and opportunities to link up with various backcountry trails.

Sawmill Trail

Even the littlest tikes will enjoy this cool, streamside out-and-back hike. The one-and-a-half-mile scenic stroll begins near the Snowflake Lift at Four O’Clock Road and Kings Crown Road and leads to a beautiful reservoir.

Iowa Hill

An adventure and history lesson in one, Iowa Hill loops hikers through an old mining site, past authentic artifacts and interpretive markers showcasing the days when gold speckled these hills. The 1.5-mile round-trip up and down hike is located south of downtown Breck on Airport Road. Look for the trailhead on the left directly after the Public Works building.

Sapphire Point

Drive up Swan Mountain Road from Breck towards Keystone and pull off at this day-use area for an easy loop hike with 9,500-foot vistas of crystalline Lake Dillon and the snow-capped TenMile Range. Pack a lunch and stop at the halfway-point picnic tables.

Breckenridge guided hiking tours

Get the most out of your day hike with a Breck Treks personal tour guide. Learn about nature’s remedies, wildflowers and how to spot wildlife. Hear stories about Breck’s history and increase your family’s knowledge about high-altitude weather awareness.

Breck Treks are one of the best ways to enjoy an up-close and personal experience with local flora and fauna and to access a variety of Summit County trails. For more info or to make a reservation, call (970) 453-5000.

For maps and other hiking details, stop by one of the many outdoor recreation shops in town or at the resort.

Breckenridge summer camps

Drop the kids off for half-day or full-day mountain adventures at Breckenridge Ski Resort June 12–Aug. 21. Ages 5 to 13 are welcome to the Monday through Friday day camps where they’ll learn outdoor skills and experience science, nature, crafts and more.

Full-day sessions include lunch, and camp is run by CPR and first aid-certified counselors with a 1 to 10 ratio of counselors to campers.

This year’s Breckenridge Summer Camp themes include “Snow In Summer,” “Golddiggers,” “LOST!” “Flora & Fauna of the Forest;” “Utes, Arapaho, Comanche, Miners and Skiers?” and many other themes.

Call (970) 453-5000
 or email breckinfo@vailresorts.com to register for 2015 summer camps.

– Lisa Blake