Summit: Mountains, Water and History

Summit County combines mountain adventures, winter sports, water activities and impressive insights into the region’s history. In winter, options range from 187 slopes at Breck’s Five Peaks to skating, classic cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at the Frisco Nordic Center. In summer, activities include mountain biking, golf, trails to scenic viewpoints and special experiences such as a via ferrata. For planning your holiday, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred focus and then choosing a suitable location from which to search for a holiday apartment or holiday home.

Winter Sports and Nordic Experiences

Arapahoe Basin is the oldest ski area in Summit County. In winter, Breck’s Five Peaks offer 187 slopes for skiing and snowboarding. Those who would rather spend the day on cross-country skis or snowshoes will find a wide range of options at the Frisco Nordic Center: it has 30 km of cross-country ski trails and 8 km of snowshoe trails. Skating, classic cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are among the activities listed there. These differences can help with trip planning when people in a group have different ideas about how to spend a winter day.

Dillon Nature Preserve is also designated for a variety of winter activities. These include walking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing; the same designation applies in summer. At Arapahoe Basin, trails are designated for hikers and mountain bikers.

Water and Views at Dillon Reservoir

Regattas are regularly held on Dillon Reservoir. This makes the body of water a special setting for a trip that combines nature and sporting events. For a shorter scenic outing, the Sapphire Point Trail follows a half-mile path to a viewpoint. The route is therefore clearly defined and can be taken into account when planning your day.

Those who want to combine different daily rhythms can consider water, scenic viewpoints and historic sightseeing as separate elements of their trip. The summer activities you want to pursue, an interest in history or the question of whether an active or cultural day should be the focus can likewise influence your choice of base.

Discover Historic Summit County

Frisco Historic Park & Museum includes original historic buildings with artifacts, exhibitions and photographs about Frisco’s past. Admission to Frisco Historic Park is free. Throughout the year, the museum hosts several events, including historic tours, summer and winter lecture series, and Frisco History Day. Those interested in the region’s development can make this their own cultural focus.

Breckenridge also has a strong connection to history. The Historic District contains the largest concentration of historic buildings in the community. The buildings range from the town’s early settlement period to its late Victorian phase. Breckenridge was originally a mining town that provided services to the surrounding mining district. This offers a different way to experience the region than through slopes, cross-country ski trails or water sports: the focus is not on activities, but on the history of the places.

Summer Activities and Regional Differences

Keystone Resort is located in Summit County, Colorado, and offers a wide range of year-round outdoor activities and adventures. In summer, it offers mountain biking and snow tubing and has 36 golf holes. Arapahoe Basin complements this range with via ferrata adventures at an elevation of 13,000 feet. These offerings illustrate how differently a holiday in Summit can be planned: around golf, cycling, unusual high-altitude experiences and exploring designated trails.

The towns of Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco, Dillon, Copper Mountain and Silverthorne offer adventures in the mountains. They are easy to connect by car, bicycle or the free Summit Stage bus. When searching for a holiday apartment in Summit, you can therefore first organize the experiences you want and then compare the six towns. Consider which location could serve as the base for your personal trip planning, rather than searching solely by a general accommodation term.

For further orientation in the area, visit Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone and Copper Mountain. Additional town pages include Adams and Arapahoe.

For the broader travel overview: Colorado.