Breckenridge in the Off-Season
& Why We Keep Coming Back.
We’ve traveled all over the world, visiting over 40 countries together and marveling over every new adventure. By comparison, we’ve barely scratched the surface of what the continental United States has to offer.
But there’s one place we keep coming back to, and that’s Breckenridge, Colorado. We first visited together in 2017 and have come back almost every fall since. We love it so much, we even chose to get our engagement photos done here instead of our hometown, St. Louis, MO.
The views from the mountains, hikes, food, beer, and long walkies with our best boy through the endless trails covered in golden Aspen leaves make this a magical place to visit. Most know Breckenridge for it’s ski season and charming main street full of après bars and restaurants. But we much prefer the off-season, when things are quieter and definitely warmer.
Our Favorite Bars & Restaurants
Restaurants (12)
Dog Friendly Bars (2)
Best Off-Season Things to Do
Hikes
14’ers: Hikes with a summit at or above 14,000 feet above sea level
Nick and I tackled this infamous 14’er the first time we came to Breckenridge together and it was tough, but absolutely beautiful. I would say it started our shared love for hiking together.
That said, this hike almost wrecked us. We made all of the rookie mistakes including the most impactful, running out of water. As we climbed, I remember pointing at a goal 10 yards away at a time, and struggling to get there. We were so sore the next day, we could barely walk. The mere sight of stares made us want to cry. Learn from us: prepare, bring too much water and snacks, get there early, but most of all, enjoy the view.
Driving to the trailhead is how I earned to first scratch on my brand new Subaru. I recommend having a bigger vehicle with 4x4 and a high clearance. We did spot a Prius about half way up to the trailhead and wondered how it got there.
In my opinion a slightly easier hike than Quandary. Possibly because we were in better shape, but also the terrain was a little friendlier. Quandary had loose gravel that made the climb that much more difficult.
Dog Friendly Hikes
Easy, wide trail with gorgeous views across the valley and to the ski slopes in Breckenridge. The trail is well marked, and about a 2.65 mile round-trip. Perfect to do with your dog or family. This is a more popular route so get there early!
Just across the street from The Lodge by the Blue, we really enjoyed this trail through the forest. This is a challenging trail that has you climbing uphill the majority of the time, but the views are magical. Check out the miner’s cabin about a .65 miles from the trailhead. We usually play it safe, and don’t push ourselves or our older dog to hard; we turn around when we want/ need to.
*We know we like the shoulder/ off-season before because we’ve been to Breckenridge in December and decided it was still beautiful, but we love the summer and fall MUCH more. Clearly our good boy, Copper, doesn’t seem to mind either way.
There are so many dog friendly trails in and around Breckenridge. Unfortunately, we’ve done a poor job of documenting which ones!
We’ll be back and I’ll update this list as we find more.
Alpine Slide
The journey on the gondola up is stunning and worth the journey alone, but the little village on top of the mountain is also breath taking. I don’t care how old you are, going down the side of a mountain in a go-cart is fun. Race your friends, or in our case, your spouse and enjoy the view all the way down!
Taking the short hike to see the Breckenridge Troll is sort of like a right of passage when you visit Breckenridge. A friendly reminder to leave no trace and respect the trails and the natural environment.
Like everything else, the earlier the better. Get to the troll before 10am to avoid the crowds.
White Water Rafting & Biking
Personally, I’ve tried both, enjoyed it, but never felt the need to do it again. We are more hike and beer type of people. But! These are bucket list items that some people absolutely fall in love with, so worth at least mentioning.
Linked above the highest White Water Rafting tour company (I think I did this one when I was about 12) and Breckenridge’s Mountain Biking guide for first timers including trails and rental companies.
Road Bike - If you prefer a smoother ride, or in the rare case you are like me and training for an Ironman, then there’s a lovely, paved trail that leads from the Breckenridge Recreation Center all the way to Keystone. It’s an absolutely stunning ride and if you leave from Breckenridge, it’s mostly downhill!
Explore the Town
There are plenty of cute stores in town offering all the adventure goodies you can dream of, including the big names like Patagonia, North Face, Columbia, and Helly Hansen. My personal favorite is Marigold’s located right next door to one of my favorite coffee and breakfast places, The Crown.
I always grab a jar of honey at Björn’s, a cute honey shop in the heart of town with arguably the richest honey I’ve ever had. Ask for a free sample!
Almost every store is dog friendly (as long as they are well behaved). Our dog has figured out that if he sits at the register, he’ll likely get a treat.
*Don’t forget to pay for parking! Download the Passport app to easily pay online and be reminded to either top up or get going when your digital meter is up! There are also kiosks available.
Favorite Bars & Restaurants
Bars
Breckenridge is full of bars for après drinks after skiing or hiking, semi-local haunts with regulars, and everything in between. Finding a place for a drink is easy, finding one that’s dog-friendly inside is more of a challenge, so I’ve listed a couple here.
Broken Compass - There are two locations, one in town, and one just outside of town (closer to the Recreation Center) that’s more of a local’s hangout. Great selection of their beers on tap, and plenty of room to stretch out and stay awhile with your dog. They even allow you to bring outside food in since they don’t serve food there.
Highside Brewing - Located on the north side of main street, a cozy bar with seating around the bar, upstairs and on their back patio. Say hi to the local dogs behind the bar, and stay awhile. They also serve food from a BBQ place next door (it’s alright).
Restaurants
I’ve marked the restaurants with dog-friendly patios with a “🐕”.
But, you might find yourselves getting dinner at 4pm before the sun and the temperatures plummet.
Radicato - Our favorite restaurant in Breckenridge. Pricey, but delicious. Make a reservation and leave the dog at home for a fancy dinner out. Italian fare that is prepared to perfection and the service is also top notch. The menu changes frequently, but here’s what we recommend:
Foccacia
Chicken Liver Mousse
Tagliatelle
Briar Rose - Second favorite restaurant, and just as pricey. Enjoy a nice steak night here.
Steak with Oscar sauce (crab meat on top)
Brussel Sprouts
Escargot - Thoroughly americanized with cheese, and very tastey
This is a dog friendly hotel that allows dogs on the deck outside the restaurant. This restaurant has a fantastic view of the mountains. A short drive from main street, but well worth it.
Elk Steak and sides
🐕 Breckenridge Brewery - Staple, American fare restaurant in Breckenridge. In the warmer months, they often have live music in their parking lot and they allow dogs on the patio outside, or at least you can hold onto their leash through the patios fence (it works).
Molly & Jacks - More American favorites with a BBQ burger that fed me for 3 meals. “Service Dogs” are welcome inside.
🐕 Kenosha - More steak and American favorites. We love this spot because of their large outdoor patio around the back. Perfect for bringing your dog and enjoying a burger after a long hike.
Giampietros - Pizza and enough pasta for at least two meals. The vibe is a old Italian restaurant that’s been making the same amazing dishes for generations. Eat at their restaurant or take it to go.
Pizza! - The garlic pizza feels like a dare: “How much garlic can we put on this pizza before it’s weird”, but delicious nonetheless.
Baked Ziti - Enough food for me for at least two meals.
Tin Plate - Artisan pizza in case you went with pasta at Giampietros. We usually take it to go, but the restaurant has recently been renovated and the staff are very friendly.
Sausage Pizza (careful, it’s a bit spicy)
Salad (if you’re feeling it)
🐕 Oaxacan Bites - Great lunch spot to grab a burrito to go! Also, Breck is expensive, this a great lunch option on the more affordable side.
Downstairs Deli - Another lunch spot if you’re craving a giant sandwhich or maybe you need your meal doordashed.
Clint’s - Our favorite breakfast spot. The price is right, and a toasted bagel with egg ham and cheese starts a long hike off on the right foot. Huge selection of bagels, and bakery items to take as an afternoon treat.
The Crown - Close second favorite breakfast place, it’s a bit more expensive, but the coffee is arguably, a bit better here. Also, it’s proximity to Marigold’s helps the ranking.
Best Time to Go & Where to Stay
When:
If you want to catch the golden Aspen leaves, the best time to go is late September, or early October.
If you want to frolic in the sunshine, then the summer months are a wonderful time to visit as well
Where:
We almost always stay on the Blue River side of Breckenridge
We find there’s larger and dog friendly accommodations with a little yard.
However, this does mean there’s a 15 minute drive to town
Awesome, dog-friendly 5-star hotel with a beautiful view from the hot tub over the mountains