snowboarding maggie valley

snowboarding maggie valley

A Multitude of Winter Activities Abound in Breckenridge Colorado

Though it is most famous for its world-class ski resort, the town of Breckenridge, Colorado also offers a multitude of non-ski winter activities. With over 300 inches of light, fluffy snow falling on the surrounding mountain peaks each winter, Breckenridge also draws visitors seeking a mountain paradise where non-ski winter activities abound. Visitors can wake up to new adventures daily with options for snowmobiling, Nordic skiing, dog sledding, winter fly fishing, sleigh rides, tubing, sledding and ice skating.

The changing of the seasons doesn’t bring an end to fly fishing in Breckenridge’s high country. The area is home to several gold medal rivers, streams and lakes where highly skilled guides can hook you up with trophy sized fish. Visitors who are willing to endure the chilly winter temperatures will find uncrowded riverbanks, surrounded by an amphitheater of snowcapped mountain peaks. Massive trout are waiting to hit your fly on virtually every cast, and with an expert guide at your side, you’ll be in a prime position to catch them.

The Breckenridge area has become a snowmobiling Mecca and provides an almost unfathomable amount of terrain to explore. Local outfitters provide both guided and unguided tours and rentals, which allows guests to choose their level of adventure. Snowmobiling provides motorized access to the backcountry glades and bowls that abound in the area, with opportunities for postcard-like photos at nearly every turn of the trail. “High Adventure” tours are available for more adventurous riders who would like to rice Breckenridge’s deepest backcountry powder at full-throttle speeds.

Those seeking to experience the local backcountry with a non-motorized form of transportation will appreciate the wilderness via a guided dog sled tour. Local dog sledding tours run through the middle fork of the Swan River Valley, enabling visitors to experience some of Breckenridge’s deepest forests as well as the historic mining camps and ghost towns that once populated the area.

The Rocky Mountains are also home to phenomenal Cross Country skiing – a favorite pastime amongst Breckenridge locals. Stop by one of the three local Nordic Centers located in town, or break your own trail on an excursion into the area’s easily accessible backcountry. The United States Army’s 10th mountain division maintains several backcountry huts throughout the area that can be rented for a night or the week, providing a warm base of operations for backcountry skiing excursions

Families who are looking for adventurous sledding options will find several options within a short drive of Breckenridge. Although the Breckenridge Ski Resort does not offer a tubing hill on its slopes, its nearby sister resort, Keystone, does. Tubing is available at Keystone during the day and into the evening hours. The town of Breckenridge is home to Carter Park, a walk-up slide-down sledding hill with a generous slope and a long out run. Bring your own sled or pick one up at a local supermarket. Carter Park provides sledding opportunities free of charge while visitors will have to pay for access to the Keystone Resort’s tubing runs.

Breckenridge’s three local ice rinks can provide for a morning or afternoon of skating with your family. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers 2 NHL sized ice surfaces and hosts open skating hours daily. The Maggie Pond, located within the resort’s Peak 9 base area, offers outdoor skating opportunities with phenomenal views of the Ten Mile Range and Bald Mountain. Skate rentals are available at both locations.

Finally, local dinner and scenic sleigh rides provide an evening of entertainment for the entire family. Rides take place on red Santa-style sleighs and are pulled by massive Belgian draft horses. Sleigh rides are operated on Breckenridge’s Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and through the wilderness of the Swan River Valley. With a star-filled sky lighting the way, guests are treated to fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges. Filling meals and hot cocoa are served in rustic lodges heated by giant hearths and warm mountain hospitality.

Whether you’re an expert skier or a beginner who’s learning to link your first turns on the mountain, be sure you sample some of Breckenridge’s non-ski activities when visiting the area this winter. Opportunities for winter recreation in Breckenridge are unsurpassed, with several opportunities to enjoy the town’s spectacular snow that don’t involve skis, snowboards or chairlifts.

About the Author

Ben Kelly is the owner of Summit Vacation Concierge, a Breckenridge Colorado, based vacation planning service and can offer expert advice on Breckenridge Winter Activities, Lodging, Vacation Packages and Travel Services including Transportation and Ski Rentals. He is a resident of Breckenridge and enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking & the Colorado backcountry.

Spring Break Ski Resorts?

I am trying to plan to go snowboarding during spring break of this year, 2010. Every time I’ve been snowboarding, it’s been at Maggie Valley, NC (not Very Good at all) and Big Bear, CA (the best I’ve been to, obviously. Being that I am from Atlanta, I’m not a very experienced boarder, so I’ve been looking for resorts with a variety of skill level runs. I really don’t mind flying, but if it is a day drive or less from atlanta, that would be a great money saver.

I don’t know of any within a day’s drive of Atlanta, but I can tell you about quite a few that you can fly to that have big Spring Break specials. First would be to fly to Reno, NV. From there, you can get to a ton of resorts within an hour of driving: Heavenly, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Sierra at Tahoe, Kirkwood, etc. Heavenly especially hosts a lot of college kids over the Spring Break week and has a lot of deals. The south end of Lake Tahoe (where Heavenly is located) has a number of casinos, hotels, and nightlife to keep you busy after the slopes close for the day.

The second would be to fly to Denver, CO. From there you can get to Winter Park,Vail, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge, etc., with 2 to 4 hours of driving. Its been a few years since I was there, but I seem to remember Breck getting pretty packed during Spring Break. Its got a fun little town right there, so you’ll have plenty to do off the slopes.

The last one I can think of is to fly to Salt Lake City, UT. You’ve got Snowbird and Alta about 30 mins away, and Park City and Deer Valley within a few hours. Snowbird & Alta are terrific mountains, but you’ll need a car to get into town. Park City and Deer Valley are right next door to each other, and their both smack in the middle of town (Park City). Its got plenty of bars, shops, restuarants, and all that other good stuff.

Bottom line, you can’t go wrong with any of those three places. I’d shop around for the best deal and go there.

Snowboarding in Maggie Valley – NC