1. Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting is the perfect way to cool down and tire the whole family out. From Breckenridge, you can easily get to the Arkansas River, Colorado River, and Clear Creek. No matter the age or experience level, we have a trip for your family.
For families with little ones, our Float Trips on the Upper Colorado River are perfect. The minimum age for this section of the river is 2 years old and the rapids are class II. Class II rapids are moving water with wide-open passages. With the help of your guide, you will maneuver around small obstacles. This trip is rated a 2 out of 6.
A good middle-of-the-road trip is our Browns Canyon Half Day trip in Buena Vista. This trip will take you down class III rapids and through a national monument. This trip is also very scenic, and it is not rare to see local Colorado wildlife. The minimum age on this trip is 7 years old and is rated 4 out of 6.
If your family is full of adrenalin junkies, our trip down the Lower Canyon of Clear Creek will have you all screaming. This trip is one of our most difficult whitewater rafting trips. The minimum age is 15 and we ask that guests are physically fit because of how demanding it is. You will raft down famous rapids such as Guide Ejector, Double Knife, and Terminator. The difficulty of the Lower Canyon on Clear Creek is 6 out of 6.
2. Visit Isak Heartstone
Isak Heartstone is a 15-foot-tall wooden troll made out of recycled wood. He was built in 2018 by Thomas Dambo. Isak was Thomas’ 40th recycle wood sculpture. You can find Breckenridge’s giant troll on the Trollstigen Trail.
The Trollstigen Trail is an easy 1-mile hike. You can find the trailhead in the southeast corner of Breckenridge near the Illinois Gulch trailhead. It is recommended that you walk or take the bus to Isak to limit pollution and traffic in town. We suggest going to see Isak before 10 am or after 5 pm to avoid crowds. For more information check out Go Breck’s website.
3. Horseback riding
Colorado once was the wild west so it is only fitting to cowboy up when visiting. Horseback riding is a great way to see more of Colorado than you would while hiking. The horses can get up terrain that maybe your child wouldn’t be able to.
You can horseback ride in town or at several ranches around Breckenridge. Breckenridge Stables will take you and your family on a wonderful ride between Peak 9 and 10 of the Ten Mile Range. These tours are available from May through September.
Ranches that we recommend checking out are the Rusty Spurr Ranch and American Safari Ranch. If you are looking for something more unique than a trail ride, you can do a cattle drive with Rusty Spurr Ranch. Can’t make it horseback riding this summer? American Safari Ranch offers rides 365 days of the year!
4. Biking
Once the ski slopes close, everyone in Breckenridge turns to their bikes to get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. There are so many options for biking so no matter what ability level your family is at, Breckenridge will have something for you.
The rec path that connects Breckenridge and Frisco is a mild ride that has great views the whole way. The bike to Frisco is 9 miles with a gradual decline in elevation. If you are planning to bike back to Breckenridge, we recommend renting E-bikes. It makes the incline much easier to handle.
Breckenridge is known for its vast amount of mountain bike trails. Trails are rated the same as ski runs so green equals the easiest and black equals the most difficult. There are plenty of green trails that are family-friendly. Some of our favorites are Sunbeam, Oro Grande, and Illinois Creek.
