May 20-22, 2023
Written By: J.Couch
Breckenridge is a picturesque mountain town nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies about an hour and a half out of Denver. While this charming destination is renowned for its world-class skiing in winter, the month of May offers a different kind of adventure. As the snow melts and nature awakens, Breckenridge transforms into a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and culture seekers. We had a 3-day weekend and decided it was a good time to get out of Denver and spend it in the fresh mountain air. We ended up timing this just right. There was a lot of smoke in the Denver area that had moved down from some wildfires in Canada. The air quality was horrible, but once we crossed the continental divide it was clear and much nicer, we were able to breathe.
We got to our place and settled in for a nice and relaxing weekend. But first, a walk down to the main street and look around at the shops that were open. This time of the year it’s hit or miss as to who is open. For the most part there is still a lot going on but this is considered shoulder season. It is the time between the winter ski season that has just come to an end and the beginning of the summer season that brings many up to the mountains to escape the heat and explore the hiking trails. A lot of the shop owners close for a few weeks to a month to get out of town and get a vacation in for themselves. Or they are closed to get some much-needed projects completed since there are not as many people. Being that there are not as many people, we enjoyed walking around and feeling like we had the whole town to ourselves. The wildlife seemed to feel the same since we saw a fox running around the condo and a moose hanging out in the grocery store parking lot munching on a tree.
Since we had never adventured south of Breckenridge, we decided to drive up to Hoosier pass which is the pass across the continental divide that takes you into the small town of Alma. Which is a very small town and you might miss it if you blink when passing through. On our way back towards Breckenridge we saw a mother moose with her baby along the side of the road eating on the trees. We kept our distance but they didn’t seem to care that cars were stopping to check them out.
We did a few other adventures out to some of the other local ski resorts like Copper Mountain, which was a ghost town and Vail which had a lot more going on. However, both of these places are also in their down time too and you may not find a lot of things open. But a lot of the place to yourself if that is what you are there for.
One of the nights we walked into town and had drinks and appetizers at Ollie’s. We wanted to find a place to go watch the Denver Nuggets play in the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. We could have stayed at the condo and watched, but it’s kind of fun to get out to a place where there are others that are excited about Denver making it to the finals. They won that game and ended up sweeping the Lakers 4-0 a few days later to advance to the NBA finals. It is the first time that the Nuggets have ever advanced to the NBA finals.
May can be the perfect time to explore Breckenridge’s vast network of hiking and biking trails depending on how wet the month has been. With the stunning scenery of the Rocky Mountains as your backdrop, you can embark on a journey of discovery. Trails like McCullough Gulch, Mohawk Lakes, and Boreas Pass offer breathtaking views of alpine meadows, crystal-clear lakes, and cascading waterfalls. For cycling enthusiasts, the 9.6-mile paved path along the Blue River is a must-try, offering a leisurely ride through nature’s beauty.
Thanks for wandering with us,
The Wandering Couchs
