Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

Head up to your Breckenridge, Colorado real estate for a couple of days and leave the stresses of the city behind.  Here are some tried-and-true hiking trails to get you started personalizing your new second home in Breckenridge and breaking in those new hiking boots.  Since these trails range from easy to intermediate, good tennis shoes will also do. 

An in-town Breckenridge vacation home—as well as a more rural home in Summit County or Park County real estate in Alma or Fairplay south of Breckenridge—will offer you and your family plenty of opportunities to try out each of these wonderful trails each time you visit. 

 A.  The French Pass Trail and French Pass Trail No. 651

 B. Jefferson Lake Trail and Jefferson Lake Trail No. 642

 C. Lizard Rock Trail and Lizard Rock Trail No. 658

 D. Platte River Trail No. 654 and Platte Springs Trail No. 626

 E. Ridgeview Trail No. 656

The 8-mile French Pass Trail crosses the Continental Divide between Baldy Mountain and Mt. Guyot at elevations of 11,000 to 12,000 feet, with views of South Park and the Tarryall Mountains on the return hike.  Access begins off of the Michigan Creek Road (FDR 54), 2.25 miles past Michigan Creek Campground.  The 3.8 mile section of French Pass Trail No. 651 takes about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.  Both trails are named after “French Pete”, an early trapper.

A nice stroll around the eastern side of trout-filled Jefferson Lake and Trail No. 642 is great for the very young and older hikers alike.  The western side of the lake is rockier and the entire trail is 3 miles long at an elevation of 10,000 feet.  Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.  This very popular camping lake is 8 miles west of Highway 285 in Jefferson.

Lizard Rock Trail and Lizard Rock Trail No. 658 are named after a nearby rock formation that resembles a lizard.  Its many loops add a great deal of interest during a 4.6 mile roundtrip.  The trailhead is located at the Spruce Grove Campground of Tarryall Road (City Rd 77) outside the campground.  The loops include Lake Park Trail, Brookside-McCurdy trail, Hankins pass trail, Goose Creek trail, McCurdy Park trail, and Ute Creek trail at elevations of about 8,500 to 9,500 feet.  Note that this trail also accommodates horseback riding.

Platte River Trail No. 654 and Platte Springs Trail No. 626 access river fishing in the steep, rocky, and picturesque canyon.  A 3.5-mile long trail winds through at about 7,800 feet in elevation and takes about an hour and a half.  The trailhead is a mile past Happy Meadows Campground before the Sportsmen’s Paradise gate.

Ridgeview Trail No. 656 enters the Buffalo Peak Wilderness at the saddle.  The trail takes a little over an hour and traverses elevations of 10,000 to 11,000 feet.  Access the trail at Weston Pass Campground along County Road 22 or from the Rich Creek Trail No. 616.

All of these trails are managed by South Park Ranger District in Fairplay and are wonderful to explore all summer long and through the fall.  As you get into better shape, look for more difficult options to take you even higher into our fantastic Rocky Mountain vistas.  Contact Rick Allemang at (970) 547-1002 for real estate and hiking expertise in the area.