Updated for Fall 2023
Fall can be summed up with a few simple words: Fabulous, fleeting and no filters needed. The colors of golden leaves against a Rocky Mountain bluebird sky are simply stunning. It’s likely the most photographed season of the year. Of course, everyone wants to know the best places to go, the best fall hikes in and near Breckenridge. Fall is short and we know you don’t want to waste time figuring out where to start, so we’ve rounded up a list of the best fall hikes and places to see fall colors. Grab your cameras and hiking shoes. Leave the filters behind.
Boreas Pass: Not just the best place to see fall colors near Breckenridge, but also one of the best spots in the entire state for fall foliage. Boreas Pass can be experienced by car, bike, or foot. One section of Boreas Pass is so abundant with aspens that it forms a golden tunnel over the road. Because of its popularity, traffic can be heavy on weekends during the peak and hikers should be aware that this is a dirt road where dust will be stirred up by cars. But we’ve got some insider tips to help!
Boreas Pass in the Fall
Views are best in the morning with the sun shining towards the west, so get here early! You can drive this road or park in the lot at the top of the road, but even better, you can hike up to it from the Aspen Alley trailhead at the outdoor Sawmill Museum. Parking is very limited in this spot, however, we suggest parking down the street at the Ice Rink. Typically, from the rear of the ice rink lot near the Isak trailhead, one could take the Southside Trail to the Blue River trail which will emerge at the Sawmill Museum, however, one section of this trail is currently closed due to private property dispute. There is a sidewalk from the ice rink that runs east up Boreas Pass road, but it does not extend the entire way to the Sawmill Museum. Use caution if walking because this road has a big curve at the Sawmill Museum and there is always traffic in this area. Spend some time at the Sawmill Museum as this is one of the most glorious spots during fall in Breckenridge. Hike up Aspen Allen to Boreas Pass and back down the way you came in.
Glorious aspens on the south side of the Sawmill Museum outdoor area.
Mineral Hill: Drive to French Gulch Road on the eastern edge of Breckenridge and park at the B&B parking area on the right. Park and walk across French Gulch Road to the trailhead. Mineral Hill is to thel left; X10U8 to the left (the latter primarily for mountain biking). Go to the left onto Mineral Hill. This is a steep but short and thickly golden hike made even more beautiful with remnants of a large mining mill and views of the French Gulch with lots of aspens! . The trail is just 0.45, but you can also spend time on the B&B trail which starts in the parking lot where you parked. The B&B trail is flat and wooded with a mix of pines and aspens. At the end of the B&B trail, you can also explore the incredible Reiling Dredge.
Betty’s Trail: Another short but beautiful trail with aspens and scenic town overlooks. This trail does have an ascent, but it’s short at 0.95 miles. Parking is the only issue, because there are just a handful of spots across the street from the trailhead and the Little Red Schoolhouse, but you can park in town and take the Purple B bus from the transfer station at the Gondola or park down the road at the B&B trailhead parking area for the Mineral Trail hike above. Betty’s Trail and Hiker’s Gold above are both off French Gulch Road, so you can knock both of these out at the same time.
Rainbow Lake: A short and easy hike near Frisco, just north of Breckenridge. Enjoy golden groves along this mountain base trail that will take you to a sweet little lake that feels like you are a world away from it all. This trail has some creek crossings that are fun but can be tricky for those with mobility issues. There are multiple ways to reach this trail. Our favorite is at the Miner’s Creek Road and Temple junction, but it can be a bit confusing with limited parking, so we’ll mention another one as well: From Breckenridge, turn left onto Frisco Main Street (going west), turn left (south) onto Second Avenue. Take a right on South Cabin Green and use caution while crossing over the paved recreation pathway after stopping at the stop sign to get to the trailhead parking area. Look for the Rainbow Lake sign with arrow pointing to the trail. We have found that the trail itself can also be a little confusing because it crosses with other trails in the area. You can use your GPS or the AllTrails app to help guide you. Don’t worry about getting lost because this trail is on the edge of town, only blocks from civilization, so just hit it and have fun!
Lilypad Lake: Such a great trail, that it’s also on our Best Summit County hikes list and the Summit Stage Transit to Trails list. This beautiful trail meanders through thick Aspen groves with overlooks of even more Aspen groves, up to a nice little alpine lake. Click here and scroll down to Lilypad Lake for more details and directions.
Pence Miller Trail: If you’ve read this far, you’re in luck because we’ve saved a best-kept-secret trail for last. The Pence Miller trail is easy to access and right under everyone’s nose, but it tends to be forgotten! This trail winds up through a nice aspen grove under the BreckConnect Gondola and provides stunning overlooks of town and Baldy Mountain.You likely won’t see anyone else on this quiet hike right near the center of town. Park in the lot closest to the parking garage and then look for the stairwell that leads to the underground tunnel. This tunnel runs directly under Park Avenue and emerges on the opposite side at Thunder Mountain Lodge where the Pence Miller trail begins.
While in town, check out our Best Easy Breckenridge Hikes list too, because you can keep hiking until the snow gets too deep (and then you just need snowshoes in most cases).
Breck Mountain Rentals has a local staff with all the information you need to help you make the most of your time while in town. Please give us a call at 970.968.8005 or email at [email protected].