Summit County offers an abundance of activities to enjoy during the summer months. From breathtaking hikes to thrilling descents down mountain bike trails, the area becomes a hub of outdoor adventure throughout the short, but pleasant summer season.

To help guests navigate the many opportunities, the Summit Daily News has compiled a list of some of the best ways to experience the outdoors across the county.

Breckenridge

It is no secret that Breckenridge is known for its mountain biking and hiking trails. With over 100 miles of trails in and around town, outdoor enthusiasts are bound to find the right trail for their skill level and needs.

Like many of Breckenridge’s trails, the Horseshoe Gulch Trailhead is full of mining history. With the Tiger Dredge located just steps from the parking lot off of Tiger Road, hikers, mountain bikers and trail runners can get a history lesson before taking to the breathtaking trails. 

One of the most popular loops at Horseshoe Gulch is the Blair Witch Trail loop that sends trail users on a 4.2-mile journey. Along the trek, people will have the opportunity to take in views of the Tenmile Range and may even see wildlife. 

For those wanting a more leisurely hike, the Illinois Gulch Trail near Stephen C. West Ice Arena is a good go-to plan. Not only has the trail been made accessible to wheelchairs and those with disabilities, but it also allows guests to see Isak Heartstone, a 15-foot wooden troll.

Frisco 

Located on the Peninsula Recreation Area, the Frisco Adventure Park is the place to be during the summer. Offering hiking, biking, skateboarding, disc golf and wagon rides, the Adventure Park provides activities for the entire family.

The Adventure Park is perhaps best known for its well-developed trails and its bike park. At the bike park specifically, guests can work to master their skills on four different amenities including a pump track, a slopestyle course, dirt jumps and a dual slalom course. 

Adventure Park staff have also curated the bike park so that riders of all abilities can feel comfortable fostering new skills.

The bike park is so popular that it is not uncommon to see the area filled with riders of all ages in the mid-morning and evening hours throughout the summer. What makes the bike park even more appealing is that it is completely free to users and is open from dawn to dusk from May through early October.

For those that may feel a little out of place in the bike park, the Adventure Park has a host of other activities to explore. For those wanting to get out on the trails, the Adventure Park has miles of all-purpose trails. 

From the Perimeter Trail that offers a mellow ride/hike around the edge of Dillon Reservoir to the Wonderland Trail that makes users feel completely isolated, the Peninsula Recreation Area has no shortage of awe-inspiring singletrack.

Dillon 

While Breckenridge and Frisco are typically the go-to vacation designations when traveling to Summit County, the town of Dillon still offers its fair share of summer activities. 

Positioned just a stone’s throw away from the water of Dillon Reservoir, it comes as no surprise that the town offers a wide range of water-sport activities. Although swimming in Dillon Reservoir is strictly prohibited, there are still plenty of aquatic escapades to be had on the water.

Besides renting a kayak or taking a tour on a sailboat, Dillon offers stand-up paddleboard rentals via Stand Up Paddle Colorado. For $60, guests can tour around the Summit County lake for a two-hour excursion. During the rental period, individuals will have the chance to experience the sheer vastness of Dillon Reservoir.

For those who are not interested in being on the water, Dillon serves as one of the main epicenters for the Summit County Recreational Pathway System. The section of recpath around the town of Dillon offers great views of the reservoir as well as the Tenmile and Gore Mountain ranges. 

The recpath is open to runners, bikers, walkers, dogs on-leash and Class 1 e-bikes. 

Silverthorne 

The Acorn Creek Trail just north of the town of Silverthorne is one of the most iconic wildflower hikes in Summit County. From mid-June through July, the 4.7-mile loop displays brightly colored Lupines, Columbines and Yarrow wildflowers.

While the picking of any flowers is highly discouraged, the colorful hillsides hikers encounter throughout the Acorn Creek Loop make for perfect photo opportunities.

Once done with the hike, hikers can jump in their cars and cool off at North Pond Park. The pond may be quite small, but the body of water is the perfect watering hole after a long hike or mountain bike ride. 

North Pond Park also offers fishing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking access. There are no rentals on site at North Pond Park, but there are plenty of rental shops located nearby and throughout the county.

Keystone

Officially becoming a town last year, Keystone has also become a popular place for summer recreation.

The most notable activities all take place on the slopes at Keystone Resort and include downhill mountain biking, scenic gondola rides, golf and even summer snow tubing. The snow tubing at Keystone is a fan-favorite for families. Positioned at the top of Dercum Mountain, guests can get a slice of winter fun by flying down Keystone’s tubing hill.

Tubing passes can be purchased for one or three runs with lift access not included in the price of a tubing ticket. The tubing hill is open Thursday through Monday until Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather and conditions permitting. 

To purchase a ticket, visit KeystoneResort.com.