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    Colorado, Usa · Epic

    Breckenridge

    2,908 acres, 187 runs across five peaks. Historic gold rush town, Epic Pass, one of Colorado's largest resorts.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    7 Nov 2025
    Closes
    10 May 2026
    Days open
    184
    Annual snow
    30ft
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Breckenridge's summit reaches 13,000 feet, dropping roughly 3,398 vertical feet to a base at 9,600 feet across 187 runs spread over 2,908 acres in Breckenridge, Colorado, across five connected peaks. Terrain splits 36 per cent advanced, 28 per cent expert, 23 per cent intermediate and 13 per cent beginner, with average annual snowfall of roughly 356 inches. The resort carries Epic Pass affiliation. Thirty-three lifts, including seven quad chairs, five six-person chairs and one gondola, serve the mountain alongside six double chairs, one triple chair, twelve surface lifts and one t-bar.

    Breckenridge holds the distinction of operating one of the highest lift-served chairs in North America, and its considerable scale across five peaks makes it one of Colorado's largest and most historically significant ski destinations. The surrounding town, a genuine gold rush relic turned vibrant mountain community, adds considerable historic character to the resort experience.

    Gold was first discovered in the Blue River in 1859 by miner Ruben Spaulding, and Breckenridge grew to serve the placer and hard rock mining that followed. In 1887, prospector Tom Groves unearthed a 13.5-pound gold nugget nicknamed Tom's Baby, the largest placer gold nugget ever found in Colorado. Mining ceased entirely by the 1950s, and the town's population fell to just 200 people before local businessman Bill Rounds proposed developing a ski area on Peak 8, which opened in 1961 and recorded 17,000 skiers in its first season.

    Vail Resorts purchased Breckenridge alongside Keystone in 1996 from Ralston Purina's Ralston Resorts subsidiary, bringing both resorts into what would become the Epic Pass network. Adult daily tickets run from 179 to 269 US dollars.

    3,399ft
    Vertical
    187
    Runs
    2,908 acres
    Skiable
    30ft
    Annual snow
    Epic
    Pass
    The Terrain

    187 runs across 2,908 acres skiable

    Breckenridge spreads 187 runs across 2,908 acres skiable of terrain. It leans advanced at 36%, with 24 beginner runs to find your feet and 119 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    187
    runs
    187 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner24 runs · 13%
    Intermediate43 runs · 23%
    Advanced67 runs · 36%
    Expert52 runs · 28%
    Time it right

    When to visit Breckenridge

    The 2025-26 season at Breckenridge ran from 7 November 2025 to 10 May 2026, a remarkably long roughly twenty-seven-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 356 inches. This extended season reflects Breckenridge's considerable elevation and reliable early and late-season conditions.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions across Breckenridge's five connected peaks. As an Epic Pass resort within the Vail Resorts network, Breckenridge draws substantial visitation from Epic Pass holders alongside its historic town's considerable draw for visitors seeking both skiing and Colorado gold rush heritage.

    Breckenridge's considerable scale supports strong visitor capacity during peak weekend and holiday periods, with terrain spread across five peaks helping manage crowds relative to the resort's popularity. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's varied terrain and the town's vibrant nightlife and dining scene.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Vail Resorts' 1996 acquisition from Ralston Purina, Breckenridge has continued building on more than six decades of skiing history since its 1961 founding, itself following a century of gold mining heritage. The resort's historic town and considerable scale remain central to its enduring popularity.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    7 Nov 2025
    Opens
    10 May 2026
    Closes
    184
    Days open
    30 ft
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Breckenridge, and where to stay

    Breckenridge sits in Breckenridge, Colorado, across five connected peaks, with a base elevation of 9,600 feet and a summit at 13,000 feet across a roughly 3,398-foot vertical drop over 2,908 acres. This setting places the resort within one of Colorado's most historic and vibrant mountain towns.

    The town of Breckenridge itself, a genuine Victorian-era gold rush settlement, offers extensive lodging, dining, shopping and nightlife directly at the resort's base, giving Breckenridge a uniquely rich historic character among Colorado's major ski towns.

    Colorado State Highway 9 provides direct access to the resort, connecting to Interstate 70 for visitors travelling from Denver and the broader Front Range. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled roads are regularly maintained given the resort's status as a major Colorado destination. A free town shuttle connects lodging throughout Breckenridge to the mountain.

    Denver International Airport, roughly a two-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into Colorado, with Breckenridge's relative proximity to Denver supporting substantial day-trip and weekend visitation from the Front Range alongside its considerable destination-travel visitor base.

    Where to stay

    Search all stays →

    Hotels and lodges near Breckenridge, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

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    19 Aug 2026
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    17 Aug 2026
    Stelvio Glacier Suspends Summer Skiing, Leaving Continental Europe Without a Lift-Served Slope

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    15 Aug 2026
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    15 Aug 2026
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    12 Aug 2026
    Saas-Fee Closes Its Glacier to Summer Skiing as Heat Wave Drags On

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    8 Aug 2026
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    5 Aug 2026
    Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years

    Ski Pass on Your Smartphone: Dolomiti Superski's Plans for the Next Three Years

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    4 Aug 2026

    Trail map & terrain

    Breckenridge trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    187
    runs
    Beginner13%
    Intermediate23%
    Advanced36%
    Expert28%
    2,908 acres skiable1,177 hectares
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base9,600ft
    Summit12,999ft
    Annual snowfall
    30ft
    Season
    2025 - 2026
    7 Nov 2025 - 10 May 2026
    Trail coverage
    187 runs
    2,908 acres (1,177 ha)

    About Breckenridge's trail map

    Explore Breckenridge's full trail map with 187 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Breckenridge intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.