Summit County, Colorado is famous for its ski resorts, but you absolutely do not need to click into skis to have an unforgettable winter getaway. Here are twenty snow-filled things to do across Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne and Keystone, no lift ticket required.
Know Before You Go: Summit County for Non-Skiers
Summit County covers Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, Silverthorne, Keystone and Copper Mountain, all connected by free buses and short drives, which makes hopping between experiences genuinely easy. The area is packed with Nordic centres, groomed winter paths, frozen lakes and historic downtowns, so non-skiers have as many options as skiers, just without the 7am scramble for the chairlift.
Use this as a mix-and-match menu. Pick a couple of high-energy adventures, add some relaxing indoor time, then sprinkle in good food and cozy evenings for a well-rounded trip.
Three Things to Know for the 2026/2027 Season
Breckenridge's projected opening day is November 7, 2026, and the season typically runs into mid or late May, one of the longest in North America. That matters even if you are not skiing, because it sets the calendar for everything else in town.
Everything free is genuinely free. The BreckConnect Gondola, the Breckenridge Free Ride shuttle, the county-wide Summit Stage bus, Carter Park sledding, the museums and the January festivals all cost nothing. A non-ski trip here can be remarkably cheap.
Respect the altitude. Breckenridge sits at 9,600 feet. Plan a light first day, drink far more water than feels necessary, and go easy on the après that first night.
1. Go Snowshoeing on Scenic Winter Trails
Snowshoeing is the easiest way to get that deep-in-the-mountains feeling without lessons or skill. If you can walk, you can snowshoe. Summit County has trails for every level, from mellow routes near town to bigger outings in White River National Forest.
Rentals and guided tours: Breckenridge Nordic Center, 9 Grandview Dr, (970) 453-6855, breckenridgenordic.com. Gear also available at Mountain Outfitters, 112 S Ridge St.
Popular routes include the trail networks around Breckenridge and Frisco, plus Mayflower Gulch for those wanting a bigger day out, and the Boreas Pass Road corridor for something scenic and gradual.
Safety note: terrain outside resort boundaries is not avalanche mitigated. Stick to marked winter trails, or check the Colorado Avalanche Information Center forecast and travel with training and the right gear.
2. Try Cross-Country Skiing at a Nordic Center
If you like the idea of gliding across snow but not bombing down steep slopes, cross-country is a fantastic middle ground. Groomed tracks, rentals and lessons make it accessible for complete first-timers, and it costs a fraction of a lift ticket.
Breckenridge Nordic Center, 9 Grandview Dr, (970) 453-6855. Seasonal hours, so call ahead. Beginner-friendly instruction, a warm lodge, and trails shared with snowshoers and fat bikers so you can tune the challenge to your group. They also run snowcat tours.
Local's tip: go early. Trails firm up overnight and get icy as the sun works on them through the afternoon.
3. Go Tubing at Frisco Adventure Park
Pure kid-at-heart fun, and one of the most popular non-ski activities in the county. Frisco Adventure Park has multiple lanes, a conveyor lift to whisk you back up, and a big-mountain backdrop. It also has a beginner ski hill and terrain park, so a mixed group can split up and meet at the bottom.
Recent seasons have seen well over 50,000 tubing sessions at this one hill alone, which tells you how beloved it is. Reserve a time slot, because walk-up availability is not guaranteed on a weekend.
You will also find tubing at Keystone, and at Country Boy Mine in Breckenridge, which combines tubing and sledding with a gold mine tour.
4. Enjoy Free Sledding Hills
Watching your budget? Grab a sled and head to Carter Park on S High Street in Breckenridge, a wide slope a few blocks from Main Street. It is free, it is open daily, and depending on the season you may find community sled sheds with gear to borrow.
Similar hills exist around Frisco and the other towns. Add warm layers, hot chocolate and a willingness to laugh at yourself when you spin out.
Fair warning: Carter Park is faster than it looks, so it suits older kids and adults better than toddlers. Check the posted rules and hours on arrival.
5. Book a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride
For a storybook winter experience, it is hard to beat a sleigh ride through snow-covered meadows. Outfitters around Breckenridge, Keystone and Frisco offer everything from simple scenic rides to dinner sleighs with live music and hearty mountain meals.
You bundle under blankets, listen to the harness bells, and watch the alpenglow fade on the peaks as twilight settles. Ideal for couples, multigenerational families, or anyone wanting a low-effort, high-magic activity.
Book weeks ahead over the holidays. Dinner sleighs are among the first things in the county to sell out.
6. Take a Scenic Gondola Ride
You can enjoy stunning high-alpine views without ever setting foot on a ski run. In Breckenridge, the BreckConnect Gondola runs from town up to Peak 8, and it is completely free. The 13-minute ride crosses above the Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve with views across the Tenmile Range, and moose sightings in the forest below are common.
Base station: 150 Watson Ave, Breckenridge. Seasonal hours generally aligned with lift operations.
Once up top, grab a coffee, watch the skiers swoop by from a patio, and take photos that look straight out of a ski magazine. It is the single best arrival-day activity while you adjust to altitude.
7. Stroll Historic Main Streets and Shop Local
Breckenridge and Frisco both have charming historic main streets lined with boutiques, galleries and cafés. In winter, twinkling lights and snow-dusted Victorian buildings create a genuinely cozy atmosphere.
Worth a look in Breckenridge: Marigold's Farmhouse Funk & Junk at 215 S Main St, (970) 453-2093, for vintage finds; Breckenridge Hat Company at 411 S Main St, (970) 453-2737, open daily until 9pm; and Folcland at 505 S Main St, (970) 423-6377, for sustainable clothing. Note Folcland is closed Wednesday.
Silverthorne adds a modern twist with its outlet mall and a redeveloped downtown with good food and local art.
8. Explore Museums, History and Ghost Stories
Breckenridge's mining history runs deep, and two excellent museums are free:
- Barney Ford House Museum, 111 E Washington Ave, (970) 453-9767. Tuesday to Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm, closed Monday. The story of a man born into slavery who escaped and became a prominent businessman and civil rights advocate in early Colorado, told in the actual 1882 home where his family lived. Last entry 2:00pm.
- Edwin Carter Museum, 111 N Ridge St, same phone. Tuesday to Sunday 11:00am to 4:00pm, closed Monday. A gold miner turned naturalist's 1875 log cabin, filled with thousands of specimens. The docents are the reason people rate it so highly.
Also worth your evening: Breckenridge Ghost Tours, meeting at 302 S Main St, (970) 340-8102, breckghosttours.com. Over 20 years running, and the extended tour with bonus sites is the one regulars recommend. There are historic walking tours too, through Breckenridge History.
Start at the Breckenridge Welcome Center & Museum, 203 S Main St, (877) 864-0868, open daily 9:30am to 4:00pm. Free, with interactive exhibits, a short film, friendly staff and one of the few public restrooms in town.
9. Walk or Snowshoe the Blue River Recreation Path
A rare combination: free, groomed in winter, and open to walkers, joggers, snowshoers and sometimes fat bikes. The section between Frisco and Breckenridge is especially scenic, with easy access from multiple trailheads.
Because it is groomed you get a smooth, predictable surface that works for a casual stroll or a proper workout, and it pairs neatly with lunch or coffee in town afterward.
10. Book a Spa Day or Wellness Break
While the skiers chase powder, you can chase relaxation. Resorts and standalone spas across the county offer massages, facials, body treatments and access to hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms.
Schedule a mid-trip wellness day to reset from altitude and cold. Pair a morning massage with an afternoon browsing town for the ultimate low-key day.
11. Go Dog Sledding Through Snowy Forests
Good Times Adventure Tours
6061 Tiger Rd, Breckenridge, CO 80424
(970) 453-7604 | goodtimesadventures.com
Seasonal, by reservation
An unforgettable way to experience winter, especially if you love animals. Ride behind a team of enthusiastic huskies along scenic forest trails, with time to meet the dogs and learn how the sled works. Guides here clearly know every dog by name, and the animals are visibly well cared for. Six-mile routes.
Bring an AWD vehicle, since the access road is snow-covered.
12. Hop on a Snowmobile Tour
High-energy fun with a low learning curve, and a hit with groups. Good Times Adventure Tours at the same Tiger Road location and phone number runs guided tours through wide-open meadows, forest roads and ghost towns, climbing above 11,000 feet onto the Continental Divide.
Helmets, safety briefings and experienced guides mean it is approachable even if you have never driven one. Two people can ride each machine, so parents and kids can go together.
Dress warmer than you think you need to. Eleven thousand feet at speed is genuinely cold.
13. Try Fat Biking on Snow
Riding bikes with extra-wide tires on snow is a creative way to explore, and you will be amazed how easily they roll across packed snow. Many winter paths and Nordic areas allow fat bikes in designated zones.
Rentals: Mountain Outfitters, 112 S Ridge St, Breckenridge, the shop locals actually use. Ask which trails are riding well that day, because conditions matter enormously and not every trail is open to bikes.
14. Lace Up for Ice Skating
A classic, and Summit County has several options.
- Stephen C. West Ice Arena, 189 Boreas Pass Rd, Breckenridge, (970) 547-9974. Monday 8:00am to 7:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday 8:00am to 10:00pm. An indoor rink plus a covered outdoor rink typically running September through March, with rentals, lessons, drop-in hockey, curling and Disco Skate Nights. Check the online rink schedule for public session times.
- Maggie Pond in the centre of Breckenridge, beside Main Street Station, freezes typically December through February for skating with mountain views, plus ice fishing. Rentals on site.
- Keystone's Lakeside Village has a large outdoor rink surrounded by mountains and resort lights, festive day or night.
15. Catch the Snow Sculpture Championships and Ullr Fest
These are the two best free events on the entire winter calendar for non-skiers, and both fall in January.
International Snow Sculpture Championships, typically late January in Breckenridge. Teams from around the world carve enormous blocks of hand-packed snow into genuinely extraordinary sculptures right in the middle of town. Watching the carving is half the appeal, and the finished pieces stay up afterward. Free.
Ullr Fest, typically January. A multi-day festival honouring the Norse god of snow, with a gloriously strange parade down Main Street. Free to watch.
Check our events calendar for confirmed dates. And keep an eye on town calendars for light displays, public art installations and themed weekends throughout the season.
16. Walk on or Along Frozen Lake Dillon
Dillon Reservoir becomes a focal point for winter recreation when conditions allow. The town has created "Lake Loops," a winter multi-use track on the reservoir where you can walk, snowshoe or ski with views of Peak One and Buffalo Mountain.
Ice access depends entirely on conditions and is not guaranteed in any given year. Always check with the town before venturing onto the ice. Even when it is closed, shoreline walks and the views from the marina area are excellent, particularly at sunrise and sunset.
17. Escape Rooms, Bowling and Indoor Fun
When the weather turns wild, or you simply do not feel like bundling up, the county's indoor options come into their own.
The single best backup plan: the Breckenridge Recreation Center, 880 Airport Rd, (970) 453-1734. Monday 5:30am to 6:00pm, Tuesday to Friday 5:30am to 8:00pm, Saturday 7:00am to 6:00pm, Sunday 8:00am to 6:00pm. An aquatics centre with lap lanes, a leisure pool and water slides, plus outdoor hot tub, steam and sauna, a climbing wall, indoor track, tennis and a full gym. Day passes for visitors.
Also worth an afternoon: Country Boy Mine, 0542 French Gulch Rd, (720) 458-5387, countryboymine.com. Wednesday to Sunday 9:00am to 4:30pm, closed Monday and Tuesday. An underground 1800s mine tour, gold panning moved indoors in winter, plus tubing, sledding and s'mores by the fire. Bring a jacket, and note the facilities are period-authentic.
Escape rooms, bowling and arcade bars are scattered across Frisco, Silverthorne and Dillon. Pair one with dinner in town, or combine an afternoon indoors with evening hot tub time back at your rental.
18. Savor the Food and Craft Drink Scene
This is the underrated advantage of not skiing: while everyone else is on the mountain, the restaurants and taprooms are yours.
Breweries and distilleries in Breckenridge alone:
- Broken Compass Brewing, Main Street taproom at 520 S Main St, (970) 368-2772. Dog friendly, trivia nights, no kitchen.
- Breckenridge Brewery & Pub, 600 S Main St, (970) 453-1550. Daily 11:30am to 9:00pm, happy hour 3:00pm to 6:00pm.
- Highside Brewing & BBQ, 301-1 N Main St. Daily 11:00am to 10:00pm.
- Breckenridge Distillery, 1925 Airport Rd, (970) 547-9759. Daily 12:00pm to 9:00pm, and they run a free round-trip shuttle from your rental, which is perfect when nobody wants to drive.
- Continental Divide Winery, 505 S Main St, (970) 771-3443. The world's highest winery, genuinely dog friendly, with hands-on wine blending classes.
Treat your meals like a self-guided food tour: one day on brunch and coffee shops, another on après snacks and breweries. Non-skiers get flexible timing, so you can grab tables during the quiet hours. See our full guides to where to eat and where to drink.
19. Join Events, Festivals and Nightlife
Winter here runs a full calendar of live music, art walks, seasonal festivals and holiday celebrations. Breckenridge in particular has a vibrant events schedule with parades, snow sculptures and themed weekends.
Nightlife ranges from cozy pubs with acoustic sets to livelier bars. The Gold Pan Saloon at 103 N Main St, (970) 453-5499, has held its liquor license since 1879 and has live music many evenings from around 6:30pm. Even if you are not a night owl, catching one evening event makes the trip feel connected to the community.
20. Design Your Own Cozy Cabin Day
One of the best non-ski activities is doing almost nothing at all, on purpose. Plan a day with board games, a good book, a simmering pot of chili and maybe a short walk when the sun breaks through.
Use the downtime to adjust to altitude, reconnect with your travel companions, or just watch the snow fall from a warm window seat. You can always add a short outing if cabin fever kicks in. Nobody is checking your vertical feet.
Practical Tips for Non-Skiers
- Dress in layers, with moisture-wicking base layers rather than cotton, and waterproof outerwear. Sunscreen and SPF lip balm every day, because snow reflects UV straight back at you.
- Reserve the popular activities in advance: tubing, sleigh rides, dog sledding and snowmobile tours all sell out over holidays and weekends.
- Check the closed days. Country Boy Mine shuts Monday and Tuesday, both museums shut Monday, and several shops and restaurants have a closed day too.
- Use the free transport. The Free Ride shuttle, Summit Stage bus and BreckConnect Gondola cost nothing, so you can leave the car parked all week.
- Mix active days with slower indoor days to stay comfortable at altitude and avoid burnout.
- Driving up in a storm? Colorado enforces a traction law, so book AWD with snow tires and check COtrip.org or dial 511.
Ready to Plan Your Non-Ski Winter Getaway?
Escape the lift lines and make Summit County your winter home base. Where you stay matters more than you might think when you are not skiing.
- Downtown Breckenridge is our top pick for non-skiers. Walk to the museums, Carter Park, Maggie Pond, the breweries and every restaurant on this page.
- Frisco puts you next to the Adventure Park and the Blue River Rec Path.
- Dillon and Lake Dillon for reservoir views and Lake Loops access.
- Rentals with hot tubs, because the hot tub is doing real work on this kind of trip.
- Community pool rentals and rentals with a balcony for the mornings you would rather not go anywhere.
Mixed group where some ski and some do not? That describes most of our guests. Our team can find you somewhere that works for everyone, which usually means walkable to town and on the free bus route.
Check current specials, browse all our properties, or call us at 888.453.1001. Our office is at 322B North Main Street in Breckenridge.
Tell us nobody in your group is skiing and we will have plenty to suggest. It happens more often than you would think, and those guests tend to leave the happiest.
Addresses, phone numbers and hours were verified as of publication and are subject to change. Outdoor activities are weather dependent, ice access on Dillon Reservoir depends on conditions and is never guaranteed, and event dates are confirmed closer to the season. Confirm directly with each operator before booking.