Breckenridge Ski Resort Winter 2023/24 Tip Sheet
Breckenridge Ski Resort, affectionately known as ‘Breck’ to locals and visitors alike, is one of the most popular resorts in the country, serving up big mountain views and high alpine terrain paired with vintage cool ski town charm. From its Five Peaks to Main Street, the entire town of Breck is practically ski-in, ski-out. Where else in the world can you ski from the top of North America’s highest chairlift and directly into town for après!? The answer: Nowhere!
Peak 8 Evolution and New Five SuperChair
Just like Taylor Swift, the Peak 8 base area continues to reinvent itself. On the heels of installing the newly upgraded Rip’s Ride in 2022, the evolution of the resort’s most popular base area continues for the 2023/24 winter season with a new, dedicated learning area plus the upgrade of 5-Chair to a new, high-speed quad – the Five SuperChair. With this lift upgrade, all four chairlifts that service Peak 8 are now high-speed to assist with improved flow and circulation out of the heart of the resort, providing faster and easier access to the resort’s Five Peaks. The new Five SuperChair serves as a primary portal lift for skiers and riders out of Peak 8, and with its upgrade, Peak 8 will offer a clear path to progression across its lifts, with Rip’s Ride area servicing learning and beginner terrain, Five SuperChair servicing beginner and intermediate terrain, and the Colorado and Rocky Mountain SuperChairs servicing intermediate and advanced terrain. The upgraded lift will also service the resort’s popular alpine slide during summer operations.
Pioneer Crossing: Pioneering a Plastic-Free Dining Experience this Winter
As a part of our company’s larger effort to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, and in preparation to support the Town of Breckenridge and and our community to eliminate the sale of single-use plastic water bottles beginning July 2024, this winter the resort is piloting a program to go plastic-free at our Pioneer Crossing on-mountain dining location on Peak 7. Skiers and riders visiting us at Pioneer Crossing will find reusable products like fountain drink tumblers, durable plateware and flatware, as well as aluminum products to replace beverages that were formerly sold in single-use plastic bottles. Come be part of our commitment to zero and visit Pioneer Crossing for south-of-the-border fare, amazing views and a plastic-free dining experience!
Five Peaks of Mountain Adventure
Breck is big. Like Five (mountain) Peaks and nearly 3,000 acres big. Most resorts just have one mountain but Breck is part of an entire mountain range, comprised of Peaks 6 through 10 spanning north to south within Colorado’s distinct Ten Mile Range (Fun Fact: the northern-most peak in the Ten Mile Range starts with Peak 1 in Frisco and spans through the ski resort to the southern-most peak, Quandary, which is one of Colorado’s famous 14ers). In winter, Breck’s Five Peaks are home to more than 180 trails for skiing and riding, and some of the most accessible high alpine terrain in the country.
- Peak 6: In 2013, Breck’s signature Five Peaks came to life with the opening of Peak 6, one of the most notable terrain expansions in the past decade. The gateway to the high alpine at Breck, Peak 6 is where experienced skiers and riders can go to get their first taste of the resort’s high alpine on trails like Bliss and Reverie, and where experts can take on heart-pounding, no-fall-zones in the Six Senses.
- Peak 7: Below treeline, Peak 7 is an intermediate’s paradise with rolling groomed terrain serviced by the Independence and Freedom SuperChairs. Take it up notch and above treeline with the Tbar and Imperial Express and find Peak 7 heaven in the high alpine, with steep and expansive bowl skiing.
- Peak 8: The heart of the resort! From starting small to going big, Peak 8 has it all, including the highest chairlift on the continent, the Imperial SuperChair. At the end of the day, ski and ride directly into town via the 4 O’Clock trail.
- Peak 9: One of the best places to learn to ski and ride! The lower half of Peak 9 offers mellow learning terrain and family-friendly zones, while the upper half offers wide-open intermediate terrain that fosters progression. As the closest base area to downtown Breck, start your day and end your day right in town.
- Peak 10: Accessed by the 6-passenger Falcon SuperChair, Peak 10 is a hub of advanced trails from smooth groomers to moguls, glades and rugged natural terrain. If you’ve conquered the intermediate terrain of Peaks 7 and 9, this is the next area of the mountain to explore.
Mountain to Main Street
It’s impossible to miss Breck’s massive Five Peaks cutting into the skyline, serving as the scenic backdrop as you make your way into the historic Town of Breck. The connection between mountain and town is ever-present, from the abundance of walk-to-lift accommodations, the BreckConnect Gondola and ski-to-town trails. It’s like the entire town of Breck is practically ski-in, ski-out. So, when you’re ready to end your day on the mountain and head to après, the hotel or your car, the best way to get there is to ski or ride. If you’re heading to the south side of town, then follow any of the trails that lead back to the Peak 9 base area; to head to the center of town and Main Street, utilize the 4 O’Clock trails that bring you directly to Park Avenue across from the Riverwalk Center; or take the Gondola Ski Back trail for access to the South Gondola, North Gondola and Gold Rush parking areas, plus easy access to the Breckenridge Transit Station and the north-side of Main Street. In addition, with a pedestrian-friendly downtown and robust free in-town transportation system (Breck FreeRide) there is truly no need for a car when you visit Breck.
Terrain with Altitude: Discover Breck’s High Alpine
Pioneered by locals and skied by legends, the High Alpine is Breck’s untamed wilderness. Towering above town, approximately 40% of Breck’s terrain is above treeline, spanning across multiple peaks and expansive bowls. Ride the Imperial Express, North America’s highest chairlift, and feel your heart racing and adrenaline pumping as the views and the altitude literally take your breath away. Drop into Imperial Bowl or Whale's Tail or follow the boot pack with a quick hike to nearly 13,000 feet above sea-level to the famed Lake Chutes. At the center of the High Alpine action, Peak 7 features vast and expansive bowl terrain accessed off Imperial or by the T-Bar lift – practically a rite of passage at Breck. Since 2013, Peak 6 is where advanced-intermediates can get their first taste of High Alpine adventure while experts can hike to Beyond Bowl, Serenity Bowl and The Six Senses where wide-open expanses, cliffs and technical chutes await. If all this has you in a High Alpine state of mind, take your skills to new heights above tree-line with the Breck Guides programs, and get a whole new perspective on the best terrain and hidden powder stashes so you can experience the mountain like the locals and legends.
May the Skiing and Riding Continue (See what we did there?)
Spring skiing is one of the best times of the year at Breck with plans to operate through May or as long as the snow lasts. as weather and conditions permit. Thanks to a base elevation of 9,600 feet above sea-level, including the highest chairlift in North America – the Imperial Express – Breck is often blessed with plentiful snowfall, excellent spring snow conditions, and one of the longest-running ski seasons of any major resort in the country. Beginning in late April, intermediate-, advanced- and expert-level skiers and riders can celebrate spring and get on the snow long after many resorts have closed for the season, with access to signature high alpine terrain throughout May across Peaks 6, 7 and 8. Warmer weather, long sunny days, goggle tans and the occasional spring powder day - what's not to love?! (Heads up! There is no beginner terrain available during the last spring operations.)
Breckenridge Ski Resort Fast Facts
Elevation
- Base Elevation: 9,600 ft.
- Summit Elevation: 12,998 ft.
- Vertical Rise: 3,398 ft.
Snow
- Avg. Annual Snowfall: 355 inches
- Acres of Snowmaking: 617 acres
Acreage
- Total Skiable Acres: 2,908 acres
Trail Classification
- 34% Expert
- 24% Advanced
- 31% Intermediate
- 11% Beginner
Conventional Trails: 187
Bowls: 1,061 acres
Lifts (35 total):
- 1 Gondola, 8-passenger
- 5 high-speed 6-passenger SuperChairs
- 7 high-speed quad chairs
- 1 fixed-grip quad
- 1 triple lift
- 5 double lifts
- 4 Surface Lifts
- 11 Conveyor/Carpets
Fun Facts
- 1961 – The resort first opened on Dec. 16, 1961.
- 35 – the number of total chairlifts on the mountain now with the addition of the brand-new, Freedom SuperChair on Peak 7.
- 5 – the number of peaks that make up Breckenridge Ski Resort. Breck’s Five Peaks experience spans across the Ten Mile Range and includes Peaks 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
- 12,840 – the number of feet in elevation you reach when riding the highest chairlift in North America, the Imperial Express.
- 40 – the percentage of Breck's skiable terrain that is above treeline - Hello, High Alpine!
Getting Here
Breckenridge sits two hours west of Denver International Airport (DEN) and 2.5 hours northwest of the Colorado Springs Airport (COS). From Denver, visitors drive 98 miles (159 km) west via I-70, then take exit 203 (Highway 9) south nine miles to Breckenridge. From Colorado Springs, visitors drive 110 miles (178 km) west through South Park and over Hoosier Pass, or via I-25 to C-470 to I-70.
Stay Connected with Breckenridge Ski Resort: Visit Breckenridge.com for terrain updates, snow reports, lodging deals, event details and the lowest priced lift tickets guaranteed. Stay connected socially at Facebook.com/Breckenridge and follow @Breckenridgemtn on Instagram and Twitter, and #Breck on all channels.
Media Contact: Sara Lococo, slococo@vailresorts.com | Sarah McLear, sarah.mclear@vailresorts.com