Our family visits Summit County every year, and I have gone two years in a row now and this is where my 2nd favorite hike of all time is!!
Best Hikes Near Breckinridge:
(Starting with an easy one!)
Warm Up: Officers Gulch
Length: 1.1mi Elevation Gain: 68ft Average time: 23min Difficulty: Easy
This trail is actually in Frisco but is only a few minutes from us driving and we do it every year. It is so beautiful and easy for the whole family. The landscape reflects on the beautiful pond like a mirror. You will make a loop around Officers Gulch Pond. Very leisurely, very great first impression of hiking in Colorado!
An Annual Favorite: Acorn Creek Loop
Length: 4.7mi Elevation Gain: 1,000ft Average time: 2hr 24min Difficulty: Moderate
My first year visiting Colorado, this was my favorite hike we did. This is technically in Silverthorne but its about 15min drive from town. We went with the whole family and it took us about 3hr due to stopping and taking so many many photos! You will experience, wildflower plains with views of the snow capped mountains, as well as heavy woody areas, lots of Aspens and a few streams you will have to cross. There were also a few fallen trees as well as logs you will need to walk over. There are a ton of butterflies on this trail! We saw many dogs on this trail making it dog friendly.
It is a loop trail so if you go right you will mostly be in the sun and if you go left it will be more shaded. We chose to go right during the cool morning temperatures but either way you go is beautiful! In fact it was so beautiful that my sister in law went back to paint the landscape.
By the time we were heading down we quickly ran into quite a bit of traffic so be sure to start this hike early due to its popularity.
There is a beautiful view point with an area to stop and rest for lunch pictured below! : )
My favorite Colorado Hike: Mayflower and Mohawk Lakes
Length: 7.9mi Elevation Gain: 1922ft Average time: 4hr 17min Difficulty: Moderate
Mohawk Lake
Just WOW. This is 2nd favorite trail of all time (Next to Yosemite). The drive to Spruce Creek Trailhead is on a dirt road but you shouldn't have any trouble in the summer. The road even continues pass the Spruce Creek Trailhead where you could shorten the hike, however, you'll need a high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle to get that trailhead (Mayflower Lakes Trailhead)
This trail is rated moderate however, you will be scaling rocks, I mean using your hands, towards the top. It is extremely easy to go off trail so be sure you download the trail from AllTrails and keep it open while hiking. I had mine open the whole time and still got off course!
The hike starts on in a wooded area in a steady incline. I can't recommend going early in the morning enough. No one was on the trail and hiking in the morning was completely different than on the way down in the afternoon.
The first lake you come to is Mayflower Lake. Getting here was easy moderate. There are some short steep inclines, and you are walking on trees vines so be careful not to trip. We stopped and had lunch here and kept our eyes peeled for mountain sheep.
Right after Mayflower lake is where the trail increases to Hard and where you can easily get off trail. You will see a few old cabins you can explore. It is a very steep incline the rest of the way. Along the way you will see Sentinel Falls which did not disappoint. It was a big waterfall!
Once you are nearing the top it starts to get very windy and cold!! Don't forget your jacket at home. I'll link the one I'm wearing in the photo above in my Amazon Storefront.
The reviews on AllTrails said that Mayflower lake was the best lake, but they couldn't be more wrong. Upper Mohawk Lake felt like we were in Scotland or Switzerland. We walked passed the snow where you can see it melting in real time! I never wanted to come down from Upper Mohawk Lake. There were people fishing in Lower Mohawk lake. Everywhere you look there is beauty. I took so many pictures I wish I could show them all here. 10/10 would definitely will do this hike again next year.
My Honorable Mentions:
Streams & Trees: Willow Creek Loop via the Gore Range Trail
Length: 4.5mi Elevation Gain: 803ft Average time: 3hr Difficulty: Moderate
AllTrails say this loop is 4.5mi but I feel like this is longer. It took us longer than expected about 3hrs but we also stopped quite a bit. The trail is all woods and streams with not many views.
I would consider doing doing Willow Creek Falls instead which is the same length with 1,131 ft elevation gain. I did not do this trail but my family did and it leads you to a waterfall that they couldn't stop raving about!
This was still a beautiful trail where you get a good amount of time out in nature. Parking is limited and we had to park the overflow lot which added distance to our hike.
Popular Pick: Rainbow Lakes Trail
Length: 2.6mi Elevation Gain: 341ft Average time: 1hr 6min Difficulty: Easy
Located in Frisco this is another easy family friendly hike. More like a stroll. It will take you up to the lake.
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