Backpacking Through Breckenridge

Colorado is beautiful place to explore year round, but when it comes to camping it is all about beating the snow and enjoying the fall colors in the mountains. I went to Breckenridge in October where the air is brisk, and the mountains are still covered in greenery. Breckenridge is a cute town with their small diners, a local brewery or two, and tons of small shops and cafes to explore. It's traditionally a ski town but there is still a ton of activities during the off season.

I went car camping and a few nights were spent backpacking through the mountains making friends with goats that lived at the very top. During this time of year it is always important to make sure you have the right gear, and warm clothing. The nights are chilly and I slept bundled up hat and all to keep every inch of my body warm.

TRAILS

Blue Lakes Trail was the first area I explored when I got to Breckenridge. It isn't a true trail in this area, but more of a space to explore that has small paths wandering in different directions. I set up a picnic for myself near the lake where there are a ton of spots to drop a blanket and hang out. Small footpaths are along the lake and there are plenty of pull offs along the way for your car if you want to hop in and out. You can go explore along the waterfall that runs from a dam at the top of the dirt path. This is a popular place for people to bring their family and wander through nature.

Tip: This road was a bit rocky and uneven. I was in a 4x4 so I had no issue but use precaution and possibly park further away and walk the rest of the way to the lake.

Spruce Creek Trailhead will take you up into the mountains where you can end at Lower or Upper Mohawk Lake. The last few miles of this hike is a steep incline before you hit the lower lake and another huge incline to get up to Upper Mohawk Lake.

This is where I backpacked up to and spent the night sandwiched between both lakes. The hike takes you through the forest and opens up periodically to overlooks of the surrounding mountains. It is a hike worth the sweat.

There was an open patch of ground far enough from the trail for privacy and space to unpack and spread out. The best way to camp up here is to find a spot near lower Mohawk Lake and then go explore the Upper Mohawk Lake area.

At the top of the second lake you will see a footpath that leads to an overlook of what is beyond the end point of this trail. If you have enough energy after all the climbing to get to this spot I definitely recommend exploring. At the top of Upper Mohawk Lake if you stay up there long enough without causing too much noise you will get to see the few mountain goats that roam around up there. There is a family of three or four that climb around on the rocks.

Peaks Trailhead is another area that offers a beautiful walk through the trees changing color in the fall. This path connects Breckenridge to the neighboring town of Frisco. This path is packed with bikers on the weekends so if you want to walk this trail I recommend going during on a weekday. The trail is ten miles one way if you want to go all the way to Frisco. There are plenty of turn around points and a few trails that split off when you get closer to Frisco if you want to explore the woods more than go to town.

Tip: A bus runs between the two locations so if you decide to walk one direction, you could hop on a bus to ride back.

This trail is covered in aspen trees with leaves in different shades of red, orange, and yellow. There are dozens of trails where you can find the aspens transforming in the fall and the town is covered in the bright colors as well.

CAMPING

Boreas Pass Road is a great place to explore for fall colors, get overlook views of the surrounding area, and find pullouts to camp at. The nights I didn't spend in the mountains I was driving along this road looking for a new spot. There are the usually pull offs where a car can fit and you are sitting right next to the road, but there are also so covered spots that hide behind trees and a hill.

One of the nights I took the opportunity to carry my tent and supplies down next to a creek. I set up less than a five minute walk from my car and got to spend the night a little more secluded and away from the road.

Tip: You will notice this is a popular place for people to set up. The road stretches for miles so it will never be impossible to find a spot but be prepared to head out to Boreas Pass Road before dark if you want one of the more secluded spots off the side of the road.

Blue Lakes Trail also has open spots for camping. When I was driving in the area I even saw some smaller trailers that had been pulled down by the water side. Depending on how much time you put into exploring this section, you can either camp out in the open where cars park or you can drive your car down a dirt road and find pull offs along the side of the lake.

Tip: When camping make sure to have your bear containers with you and be mindful of the wildlife that lives in that environment. I woke up to a moose twenty feet from my tent one morning just grazing on some foliage and just passing through. Be mindful of your noise level and movements.