The United States Forest Service office in Silverthorne has information on hiking trails. Topo maps are available at many of the book and outdoor stores in the area.
Hikes around Breckenridge
The cry of “Gold!” first echoed against the craggy Continental Divide on August 10, 1859. Colorado’s first Western Slope town, Breckenridge, sprang up. Soon a hotbed of gold mining activity left gold camps, ghost towns and mine ruins scattered across the mountainsides. For spectacular scenery and gold history, try Blue Lakes-Monte Cristo (1.2 miles, 12,500-foot high point) or the skyscraping Wheeler National Recreation Trail (10 miles, 12,490-foot high point).
Hikes around Frisco
Two narrow gauge railways steamed into 1879-born Frisco to serve the historic silver mines there. Follow the Denver-South Park narrow gauge route along today’s bike path to the Mt. Royal trail, where an easy hike to ghost town remains at Masontown (0.9 miles, 9600-foot high point) awaits. Or tackle the challenging Meadow Creek for sweeping Gore Range views and fields of alpine wildflowers (4.5 miless, 11,890-foot high point).
Hikes around Copper Mountain
Unparalleled vistas of the wild. Ten Mile Range reward Copper Mountain area hikers. Judge John S. Wheeler founded the county’s wildest 1880’s town at Copper Mountain’s base. Climb to Wheeler Lakes (2.8 miles, 11,080-foot high point) for staggering views into glacier carved Clinton Ampitheater. Nibble wild stawberries in late June. Energetic hikers can continue along the main trail to Uneva Pass and Fristco (10.75 miles, 11,900-foot high point). Stunning views into the deep Ten Mile Canyon below and a panorama of Vail-area peaks will please camera buffs.
Hikes around Keystone-Dillon
Mountain-rimmed Lake Dillon dominates this scenic area. Take the kids and trek up easy Tenderfoot Mountain for a nature trail amid changing ecosystems and spectacular lake views (1.25 miles, 9,800-foot high point.) Advanced hikers will delight in the Lenawee Trail to an abanded mine at the lofty summit. Then walkers descend through Arapahoe Basin ski area (6 miles, 12,4600-foot high point).
Hikes around Gore Range Wilderness
An untrammeled wilderness area pocketed by glacier carved lakes, offers memorable hiking experiences. The silver-rich 1800’s Boss mine is the destination on the Rock Creek Trail (1.5 miles, 10,200-foot high point). Hikers travel through a chirpy bird sanctuary. The challenging Upper Cataract Lake trail provides a true wilderness experience for hardy hikers (5.5 miles 10,750-foot high point).
Colorado is one of the world’s finest places to go for a bike ride. Ask one of the local bike shops to suggest a tour of the area’s ski towns and historic mining sites. The local bike shops would be glad to help you find the best roads, trails, rentals and other equipment. Some shops specialize in road biking, others in mountain biking. Some shops have all the gear and advice that you would ever want for both road biking and mountain biking!
Breckenridge Sports, Breckenridge, 970-453-2718, breckenridgesports.com
Great Adventure Sports, 888-453-0330, greatadventuresports.com
An all season bicycle dealer, and is regarded as the regional leader in cycling equipment, parts, and accessories
Carvers, Breckenridge, 970-453-0132, 800-568-7010, carverskishop.com
Carvers has been providing an unbeatable combination of quality rentals, fair pricing and personalized service since 1995!
