Fall in Breckenridge
Or more accurate, falling in LOVE with Breckenridge!
Finding a reason to spend Fall in Breckenridge is easy. Here’s around up of things to do, places to eat and what to pack for a fall trip to the Rocky Mountains!
Jump to:
1. Getting there is half the fun!
We live in Kansas City so it is about a 10 hour drive to Breck. As a kid we used to stop at EVERY state sign on the highway to prove we were actually there.
As cheesy as it sounded to my sister who visits Breckenridge regularly, I was behind the wheel when we hit the state line so pulling over was a must. Even if you don’t get a great pic laughs will surely be part of the stop. You just can’t stop that Western Kansas wind!
The Welcome to Colorful Colorado picture is a classic American road trip must. There is a gravel area in front of the sign, so plenty of space to pull over safely and park. Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one! #IYKYK
Do be sure to be on the lookout. The sign is directly past a bridge and if you aren’t ready you could easily miss the sign.
Oh my it’s windy! 
As good as we’ll get! 
Laughter is the best!
Another landmark that is a must as you enter the mountains is the Eisenhower Tunnel. Again, #IYKYK ! We have commented forever that there are two climates, the one before the tunnel and the one after. In the winter it is not uncommon to enter the tunnel with sunny skies and mountain beauty and upon exit be greeted with a white out blizzard!
If you are traveling to Breckenridge, or any of the mountain towns, be prepared for the post tunnel transition. It wasn’t too bad with Fall in Breckenridge, but be prepared in all seasons.
2. Star Light, Star Bright.
Isn’t amazing what you see when you escape city lights? I heard on the news this morning that the Northern Lights are currently visible from places such as Minnesota and Massachusetts. I hope everyone is escaping the city and taking the opportunity to see one of my bucket list views.
(If you have a Northern Lights destination recommendation email me!!)
My mom is the queen of the star app on her phone. Her favorite is Star Walk. She really enjoyed pointing out the constellations she could find right off the balcony of where we stayed!
3. Fall Colors in Breckenridge Colorado. Autumn and Aspens…Oh my!
Words can not express how beautiful the Aspens are in October. We have dear friends who were married in Colorado in October. That was 15 years ago and some how I forgot just how amazingly beautiful they can be!
Cucumber Gulch 
Girl’s trip! 
Pence Miller Trail
If you have only been to Colorado to ski, or even checked out the vibrant summer scene, but have missed autumn in the mountains…you are missing out! There is nothing like Fall in Breckenridge.
In Breck a must hit hike for the Aspens are the path around Cucumber Gulch and the Pence Miller trail to town. We stayed up on the mountain, just down from Peak 8 and had easy access to Pence Miller.
This trail leads you down the mountain and through a treasure trove of Aspen trees and their vibrant yellow leaves. I probably have 100 pics of the leaves. We just couldn’t get enough!
NOTE: The Gondola doesn’t run in the fall off season so if you take Pence Miller down be prepared to hike back up. OR, if you are traveling with a 70+ rock star (my mom did great on the hike!) then hang out in town and shop while your sister hikes back up the mountain, grabs the car and comes to rescue you and your mom in town! (Thanks sis!)
4. The Troll…and future grandkids?
I swear my kids (and nieces and nephews) were just born last year, but somehow they are in high school, college and beyond! I don’t know how it happened. (The days are long, but the years are short!)
A fairly recent contribution to Breckenridge charm is the Troll in the woods. Word on the street says it was first built in a much more remote location.
It is now off a great path just outside of town near the Stephen C. West Ice Arena. It is an EASY half mile hike before you find the troll. Easy for those 70+ year old rock stars and the potential future grandkids!
My sister visits Breckenridge multiple times a year and was envisioning taking the next generation to track the troll. I see more visits during Fall in Breckenridge.
5. When Starbucks is a must.
I am a big supporter of spending your money with local small businesses when traveling and in Breck there is no shortage of wonderful small businesses to support.
Our dear friends who married in Colorado….Their favorite coffee shop in the world is Clint’s on Main in Breck. We had breakfast at Mom’s Baking Co. and I absolutely fell in love with this sign. I think every mom can relate!
With all the small businesses to support, you will stumble upon one of the cutest Starbucks that exists.
We were in Breck for a wedding in August of 2018 (What is with Colorado and weddings?!?!) and stopped in this Starbucks. This time round I had to pop my head in to see if their treasure still existed.
It does!
If you are a fan of the Starbucks You Are Here mugs, then this a must stop. Ryan and I certainly have our own fair share, but this is more than I’ve ever seen before IRL!
Don’t get too excited, there is a Not For Sale sign posted nearby.
6. Hiking, hiking, hiking…Fall in Breckenridge.
Fall in Breckenridge is for hiking. You won’t get enough, but plan for the weather. It rained for a bit every day we were there so a rain jacket is a must.
You can find hiking trails for all skill levels so be sure to check out resources such as All Trails to find the best fit for your crew.
We hiked Peaks Trail, Pence Miller, and Sapphire Point. All wonderful during Fall in Breckenridge!
Cucumber Gulch 
Tree roots and my mom! 
Sapphire Point
7. Time to relax…Take a Breck.
We treated ourselves to a spa morning on Peak 8 at the Infinity Spa. I love spas that have all the extras and this one is full of treats.
We arrived an hour before our treatments to enjoy the facilities. Hot tub, YES! Sauna, YES! Steam room, YES! And maybe more important than any of those, iced cucumber wash clothes! Get out of my way, I’m ready to relax!
Don’t forget your swimsuit! Actually a swimsuit is a MUST for any Colorado trip. When in CO, hot tubs abound so even in the middle of winter a post ski dip is a regular activity. I’m sure we’ve all forgotten our suits on one trip or another, so this is your reminder to throw one in the suitcase.
After luxuriating in the spa-ness of the place we made our way to the Relaxation Room. Can we all just have a Relaxation Room in our homes? Nothing sounds better to me even during Fall in Breckenridge.
From there we went on to get as my mom said, “The best massage of my life.” This is a woman who gets massages regularly so that is saying a lot. Seriously all three of us said they were amazing massages so I don’t have a therapist to recommend. I think the standards are high so they are all great!
8. Exploring Peak 8 and Snow in Breck, in September!
Fall is the off season for Breck, but as you can tell that doesn’t mean it should be missed. Since the spa is located on Peak 8 we took an opportunity to wander around the facilities after. There has been so much growth and development in the area since I last visited a few years ago.
Many of the stores and restaurants were closed, but it is still worth exploring and catching a glimpse of Ullr. The statue of the Norse God of Snow and icon of Breckenridge is pointing his arrow at the top of the mountain. Showing where the snow should start falling.
Speaking of snow….when we arrived in Colorado the mountain tops were bare. A beloved mountain, Baldy (My sister jokes that it was name after her husband) was indeed bald. No trees above the tree line. Nothing but brown on top.
A few days later and snow in September, a graceful white blanket capped the mountains. It was just the start for the season and made for a magical experience.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to bring out the snow gear just yet. It doesn’t stick to the ground, but with the rain and wet, a good pair of hiking shoes are a must.
9. Choo, choo….All Aboard! (Hold on to your hats!)
So I may have thought this was a bit cheesy of a stop, but I’m SO glad we went!
You do have to plan ahead as the train station is on the other side of the infamous Eisenhower Tunnel. About a 45 minute drive from downtown Breck, the Georgetown train takes you back in time and shows off the beauty that is the Rocky mountains.
We even got to see this the filming of this scene for who knows what movie or show. Talk about a perfect shooting location!
Camera ready… 
Action!
We also had to giggle at the Instagram worth outfit my sister dawned for the day….and then an equally IG worth twin! As my sister left the restroom prior to boarding (there are no restrooms on the train) she bumped into this woman with the same look. I mean the fabric for the jackets is even the exact same!!!!
Hold on to your hats though, because as we were crossing the bridge on the train my sister’s blew off and into the gulch. Thankfully it was only this one from Target, but still a loss that was mourned.
The train is only just over an hour. A perfect taste of train life but no too long to get bored.
The cars are both covered, uncovered, indoor and out, but they’re no fully enclosed cars. Be prepared. We grabbed lap blankets from our condo before heading out and were perfectly comfortable.
10. A toast to you Breckenridge, CO!
What else to do on your final night in the paradise that is Colorado in the fall? Time to grab a drink!
Breckenridge is known for it’s locally crafted cocktails. From Breckenridge Brewery to Breckenridge Distillery you can’t go wrong.
My mom is a fan of the “brown water” so we made the Distillery our stop for a crafted old fashioned. They make all their liquors in house so this one of a kind creation was a treat.
You can also stop for a tasing in the showroom to try out some of their best creations. I picked up a bottle of the spiced whiskey. Fall in a glass…apple cider and Breckenridge Distillery’s Spiced Whiskey.
I hope you find reason to fall in love with Colorado in the Fall! Let me know if any of these tips help you plan your trip! Also don’t miss another favorite girl’s trip post here!
Breckenridge, places to patronize:
Breckenridge in the Fall Packing list:
- Swimsuit
- Hiking shoes
- Rain jacket
- Hat and gloves, just in case!
- Casual, hiking clothes. Breck is laid back!
