Welcome to My World

“I came for the winter and stayed for the summers.” That’s what Summit County residents say about the place they call “home.” As I sit at my PC, I look out the window, admiring the mists above the mountain tops. The afternoon brought rain, but now, the sun is beginning to smile through the clouds. Soon there will be a rainbow. Have I enticed you to visit?

As night falls, the stars illuminate the sky. Yes. Out here you can see the stars. Take a walk through the town of Breckenridge. The colored lights throughout the town contrast with the diamond lights in the night sky. This is nothing short of enchantment.

“Who cares about beautiful scenery?” you ask. “What is there to do?”

Let me take you on a vicarious tour of our summer activities in Summit County.

I Came For the Waters

Nestled between the Gore, Williams Fork and Ten Mile mountain ranges, the Lake Dillon Reservoir provides 3,300 acres of waters. Sailboats, motorboats, canoes, kayaks and paddleboats can be rented at the full service marinas in Dillon and Frisco. Thrill seekers may prefer to go rafting through some Rocky Mountain Whitewater. These daredevils should check out Brown’s Canyon on the Arkansas River.

There’s Something Fishy Going On

The Blue River, which averages 80-100 feet across, flows through the Gore Mountains to the Colorado River near Kremmling. It is considered a Gold Medal fishery which provides good food sources as well as consistent quality hatches.

At the Green Mountain Reservoir, located at the north end of Summit County, you can find rainbows, browns, lake trout and kokanee salmon. You can also water-ski and camp out around the lake.

Lake Dillon is also stocked with kokanee salmon, as well as cutthroat and brook trout.

Climb Every Mountain

On her trip to the Colorado Rockies in 1893, Katherine Lee Bates was inspired to write America the Beautiful. It was not till I moved to Summit County that I truly understood the significance of the phrase “Purple Mountain’s majesty.”

Striking Gold

Luckily for the modern day hiker, the gold seekers of the 1800s formed mountain trails as they hiked across the high passes of Summit County. The ghost towns, gold camps and mining relics of days past can still be seen along the trails. As you hike through nature, you are also hiking through history. Your senses will be treated to alpine lakes, waterfalls and wildflower meadows as you climb towards the jagged peaks that pierce the Colorado sky.

Breckenridge Hikes

The first cry of “Gold!” was heard along the Continental Divide on August 10th, 1859. As a result, Breckenridge, Colorado’s first Western Slope town was formed. For beautiful scenery and interesting history, hike the 1.2 mile Blue Lakes Monte Cristo or the 10 mile Wheeler National Recreation Trail.

Frisco Hikes

In 1879, two narrow gauge railways ran through Frisco to service the silver mines. If you follow the Denver-South Park route along the bike path to the Mount Royal trail, you can see the ghost town, Masontown. For more of a challenge, take the 4.5 mile Meadow Creek trail where views of the Gore Range and fields of alpine wildflowers await you.

Copper Mountain Hikes

In 1880, Judge John S. Wheeler founded the Town of Copper Mountain. If you take the 2.8 mile hike to Wheeler Lake, you can view the glacier carved Clinton Amphitheater. In late June, you can snack on wild strawberries.

Keystone-Dillon Hikes

Views of Lake Dillon can be seen throughout this area. Take an easy, 1.25 trek up Tenderfoot Mountain for a nature trail through the changing ecosystems.

Summit County Cycling

With close to 200 miles of paved paths as well as 400miles of backcountry roads, Summit County is a cyclist’s heaven. Mountain bikers will enjoy our rich topography, which ranges from smooth dirt roads to rugged single tracks. For those who do not enjoy the climb. Copper, Keystone and Breckenridge now have chair lifts equipped to carry bikes.

Horsing Around

At The Kingdom of Breckenridge Stables, you can enjoy a leisurely ride through the mountains by horseback. The Breckenridge Trail ride starts at 9:30 am and takes about 90 minutes. The 8:00a.m. Breakfast Ride features a scrumptious, an all-you-can-eat breakfast.

Golf

The golf courses of Summit County have breathtaking scenery as well as the type of challenging holes that would be expected of a high altitude environment.

Breckenridge Golf Club

This 27 hole course was designed by Jack Nicklaus. At an altitude of 9600ft., your drives are propelled 15 to 20% further than at lower altitudes.

Silverthorne

The Raven Club at Three Peaks, designed by Alister Mackenzie, is located in the Gore Mountain range. The course takes you through pines, aspens and trout filled lakes.

Keystone

The River Course has a variety of terrain and elevation. The front nine holes are near the Snake River. The back nine offer beautiful views of Lake Dillon, the Gore range and Buffalo Mountain. This course was designed for all playing abilities by Dr. Michael Hurdsan and Dana Fry,

That’s Entertainment

So, you think that you need to visit a big city for quality entertainment? Think again. Many talented performers, who have lived and performed in theatrical meccas such as New York City, now make Summit County their home. All summer long, top quality theatre troupes, orchestras, bands and dance companies perform at various locations throughout the mountain towns.

Theatre

Breckenridge’s Backstage Theatre hosts a varied program each summer. In 2005, Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night Dream and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Kimberly Akimbo will play on alternating weeks.

In Dillon, the Lake Dillon Theatre Company will be showing “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Music Maestro

Be sure to check out the Breckenridge Music Festival at the Riverwalk Center. The summer 2005 schedule features the National Repertory Orchestra, George Winston and other talented artists. All types of music can be heard at the various summer festivals and the Dillon Amphitheatre.

The Breckenridge Film Festival

Can’t afford to go to Cannes? Think about Breckenridge! Every September, the Breckenridge Film Fest is hosted by nationally-known film critic and WNBC-TV commentator Jeffrey Lyons. The program features a unique array of films, receptions and film education programs.

Life in the High Country

While some excursions may require a car, you can get around the six Summit County towns by using the free Summit Stage bus system. The towns themselves are pedestrian friendly, so be sure to take a walk around. In the summer time, Frisco and Breckenridge are the liveliest. Summit County residents are usually friendly and talkative. There’s no such thing as a short conversation out here. So, when are you coming to visit?