Breckenridge Colorado: An Ideal High Altitude Cycling Destination

Breckenridge offers wonderful cycling opportunities for both road and mountain bikers.  Located about 10 miles south of Frisco, CO, Breckenridge boasts hundreds of miles of single/double track, multiple road ride options, and an extensive network of paved trails.  While such riding options are certainly available in other U.S. communities, only Breckenridge can offer them at an elevation of 9,600 ft (2,926 m).

Fortunately for me, we vacationed in Breckenridge earlier this month.  Our stay overlapped with ‘Breck Bike Week’ as well as ‘Breck Epic’, so there were plenty of cycling-related events going on throughout town concurrent to our stay.

I had four days of riding opportunities, which I took full advantage.  An ascent of Hoosier Pass was my first order of business, followed by rides to Vail Pass, Keystone (around Lake Dillon), and Frisco.

I was even able to ride to the Eifel Tower!

Having previously vacationed in Breckenridge in 2005, I was struck by the intensification of automobile traffic and expansion of multi-use paved trails.  Being able to cycle around Lake Dillon without having to negotiate traffic came as a pleasant surprise.  Furthermore, all paved trails were in excellent shape despite the apparent heavy use by cyclists.

I hope eight more years don’t go by before I can visit again!