Cara Holmes

One of the “easier” 14ers in Colorado but you should still be prepared with the 10 essentials! Paid reservation parking in the summer, or take a shuttle from the Breck Gondola lot. Really great views of the 10 mile range and surrounding gulches. Lots of pikas running around and it is a common hike to see mountain goats on as well!

A hike up but it is on a jeep 4x4 road, so you could drive to the lake if you wanted/had a capable vehicle. Really beautiful views when you reach the open basin. It was cold and windy when I went so didnt spend much time there but there was a man fishing. We also saw 3 bull moose from a distance! It is very willowy so perfect habitat for them.

One of the prettiest hikes in Vail and equally popular. The trail is well marked though I’ve only gone to the falls and not the lake. No parking at the trailhead but there are restrooms- you have to take the bus from Vail Village. Beautiful to hike even in the rain, but drfinitely get out there when the wildflowers are showing off!

Boreas Pass Road has some marked pull-offs for dispersed camping in your vehicle or tent. (Some of the tent sites are below the road, like at Site 10). Some sites have wooded views and others have a nice view of the 10 mile range! The road is open to vehicles around May to end of October, it depends on the snow. It is a nice spot to disperse camp close to town but spots can fill up on the weekends.

Hands down my favorite hike near Breckenridge! The trail is not too much of an incline until you get to Mayflower Lake. From Mayflower to Lower Mohawk there is an old mining cabin and a waterfall. I recommend hiking past Upper Mohawk as well because theres a few more smaller and unnamed(?) lakes, at the base of Pacific Peak and its so pretty! Parking fills up on wekeends so arrive early!

This is a quick walk in the woods to see one of Thomas Dambo’s trolls- Isak Heartstone. The trailhead is also for the trail network in Illinois Gulch, so you could do both at the same time. The trail to the troll is an ADA accessible trail, and there is a porta potty and picnic tables at the beginning of the trailhead. Dogs can join on leash and it is a very popular trail for families with young children.