Summit County Town Guide

Adventure, Excitement, Events and Fun in “Colorado’s Playground”

Home to the ski areas of Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Keystone, not to mention year-round activities, events and adventure, Summit County truly is “Colorado’s Playground”. Summit boasts the highest ski lift in North America, Breckenridge’s Imperial Chair which goes to 12,993 feet and neighboring Eagle County is host to the world famous ski areas of Vail and Beaver Creek, with some of the largest amount of ski terrain in the nation. Lake Dillon, which is the confluence of the Blue and Snake Rivers as well as Ten Mile Creek, lies at the center of it all.

Frisco

Located just to the south of Interstate 70, this historic town caters in the winter mostly to guests skiing at Copper Mountain and Breckenridge, and further afield at Vail and Beaver Creek. In the summers guests enjoy a variety of activities including hiking, biking, sailing and live music. Main Street is the center of the historic town, and Summit Boulevard is a commercial street leading to Main Street from Interstate 70.

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Dillon

Dillon is nestled alongside Lake Dillon with incredible views of the Continental Divide towards Breckenridge in the south, the Ten Mile Range, Buffalo Mountain and the Eagles Nest Wilderness area towards Frisco to the west, Independence Mountain and the runs of the Keystone ski area to the east. From the Dam Road the vista is of the Blue River as it empties from Lake Dillon and flows north through Silverthorne and from there to the Green Mountain reservoir and the Colorado river. The commercial area of Dillon hugs Highway 6 on both sides.

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Silverthorne

Silverthorne sits on the Blue River below the dam for Lake Dillon. The views in Silverthorne are of Buffalo Mountain and Red Mountain to the west, both in the Eagles Nest Wilderness area, and Ptarmigan Mountain and the Continental Divide to the east. Through it all runs the Blue River, a paradise for fly-fisherman year round as water is released from the dam. There is also rafting during a short period of the highest spring run off when more water than normal must be added to the flow of the Blue to control the levels of Lake Dillon.

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Breckenridge

Breckenridge is a bustling National Historic District whose numbers swell with the opening of the ski mountain and during the busy summer tourist season. It maintains its historic character with strict building rules, even a lot of new construction is built in the Victorian style. Main street is the hub of the action and French and Ridge streets to the east of Main also have retail and restaurants, as do most of the cross streets from French street in the north to Park Avenue in the south.

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Keystone

Located 12 miles east of Interstate 70, Keystone Resort is made up of three distinct villages which are nestled against Keystone Mountain and along the Snake River. The Keystone Village with its lake, the Adventure Center, the Keystone Lodge hotel, restaurants and shops, is a perfect location for families. The Mountain House Village is one of two access points to the mountain, and the rooms of the Mountain House are also available for events. The Keystone Inn hotel is just a short walk away over the river.

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Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain is a year round resort based on skiing in the winter and golf, mountain biking and road biking in the summers, and is located conveniently to Interstate 70 at the foot of Vail Pass. Its three villages allow for access to the mountain and the ski terrain is naturally divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced slopes. The villages all have lodging, retail and dining, but the Village at Copper is the center of the resort with an events plaza, a lake, and a conference center. West Ten Mile Creek and the Summit County bike path also run through the resort.

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More about Summit County

If you arrive in winter, you will be visiting a paradise for those who love outdoor activities, including not only skiing and riding, but also snowmobiling, dog sledding, tubing, cat skiing, sleigh rides and even winter fly-fishing. You are able to take a snowmobile on to the Continental Divide with no experience needed. A team of dogs would love to pull you through the forest on a dog sledding adventure. Slide down the hill on a truck inner tube and have a lift bring you back up to do it all over again. Advanced skiers and riders should take a guided trip into the back country with a snow cat and make fresh tracks down untouched powder slopes. You are able to dine on top of the ski mountain at night, or take a historic sleigh under the stars with the moon lighting up the snow. For those who like a less adrenaline-filled sport there are numerous cross-country ski areas that offer Nordic skiing and snow shoeing.

During summers, all that fresh powder from the winter melts to give the area rushing streams for whitewater rafting, float trips and incredible fly fishing, and fills up Lake Dillon for sail and fishing boats, as well as a water taxi which runs between the towns of Dillon and Frisco. The ski mountains change their focus from skiing to high adventure and family fun, with downhill mountain biking, mini golf, bungee trampoline, to name just a few. There are 50 miles of paved bike trails and numerous name just a few. There are 50 miles of paved bike trails and numerous single track bike trails for all abilities. Seven Fourteeners (mountains over 14,000 feet of which Colorado has 52) are within an hour drive. Or you might want to try how far your drive will go at 9,000 feet in thin air at one of the many local golf courses. If you like horseback riding, there is nothing better than guiding your mount through wildflower filled meadows.

After you have finished participating in all of these activities, why not relax at a local spa or a hot spring?

Come visit us in Summit County and let High Country Activities plan your custom vacation from start to finish, whether you are staying in Frisco, Dillon or Silverthorne, here during the winter or summer, with family or friends or by yourself, for a few days or an extended stay.

Call now to start planning your Summit County vacation
970.389.8214

High Country Activities