Whether Breckenridge’s rich mining history strikes your fancy or it’s the stunning natural scenery, here are our picks for the best spots to photograph (and be photographed) in and around Breckenridge.
High Line Railroad Park
Home to one of the few remaining narrow-gauge locomotives that once braved treacherous mountain passes, this park also boasts the iconic “BRECKENRIDGE” sign.
Alice G. Milne Memorial Park
Alice Milne donated her historic home and the park surrounding it to the Town of Breckenridge with the stipulation that it remain a museum accessible to the public. The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance is carrying on her wish and working to preserve it. A proposal is in the works to restore this unique gem and it’s surroundings. If you’re lucky, you might meet the resident fox who resides “in” one of the historic buildings in this park.
Edwin Carter Museum
When the light hits it just right in winter, this in-town location offers a stunning historic focal point with the mountain trails in the background.
High Street (summer only)
From High Street and Lincoln or High Street and Washington, steep but short trails offer majestic views of the town and ski resort. Benches provide a quiet place to take in the scenery.
Ridge Street VW
Wedged between trees and an old cabin, this bright orange VW has been a Ridge Street icon for years and years and is a popular spot for wedding and engagement photos.
Isak the Troll
Isak Heartstone is a 15-foot tall wooden troll sculpture located on a trail just off the southeast corner of the Stephen C. West Ice Arena parking lot, next to the Illinois Gulch Trailhead. Originally built as part of the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts, Isak was created by the Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is known worldwide for bringing awareness to recycling and upcycling by building great things out of trash.
Top of Boreas Pass
A railroad track until 1938, it features aspen tunnels and rocky passages year-round. Fall is simply spectacular and in the winter, the road is closed but a quick 10-minute walk takes you to the best vistas of Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Top of Imperial SuperChair (winter only)
A no-brainer for winter sports enthusiasts, the top of the Imperial SuperChair reaches 12,840 feet.
Sapphire Point
Located between Keystone and Breckenridge on Swan Mountain Road, this overlook overs a stunning view of Lake Dillon. It has 3 or more photo ops and is a great short, flat trail that anyone could easily do. Note: this location is extremely popular and often booked for weddings on weekends.
Lake Dillon
With more than 26 miles of shoreline and encompassing around 3,233 surface acres of water, Lake Dillon is iconic Summit County. The Denver Water Board voted to build a dam in the Rockies to secure water for the Front Range in the late 1950s. The Old Town of Dillon actually sits at the bottom of Lake Dillon, so there really is an underwater ghost town in Summit County.
Loveland Pass
High atop the Continental Divide is Loveland Pass. About 45 minutes from Breckenridge, it features high vistas, alpine lakes, wildflowers in the summer and almost year-round snow on the peaks.