The Inside Scoop for Weekends, Holidays and an All-Around Good Time at Breck
It’s no surprise that weekends and holidays are a popular time for skiers and riders to hit the slopes. And, while we are firm believers that Friends on a Powder Day (and any day on the mountain!) are a good thing, we know that a little advanced planning and preparation, along with some insider tips and tricks, can make all the difference when it comes to having a great day on the slopes!
From planning your visit to parking to our Five Peaks to the My Epic App, use this guide to help maximize your time in Breck.
PLAN AHEAD
You’re on vacation for the holidays or heading up for a weekend in the mountains to enjoy the great outdoors - excellent decision! Another excellent decision? Booking in advance! Don’t stress yourself out by leaving things to the last minute. Whether it’s lodging, lift access, ski school or rentals, it is always a good idea to book online in advance. It not only guarantees your spot but it almost always saves you money, too. Save yourself the time and worry and reserve all the essentials for your trip to the mountain in advance.
GETTING HERE
Arrive (and drive) early for the easiest commute to the slopes AND carpool when you can! It’s good for the roads, the environment and your wallet, with carpool discounts available in all paid parking lots for vehicles with 4 or more people. If you're flying in to visit us, leave the driving up to us and check out Epic Mountain Express for a variety of shuttle and private car options so you don't have to worry at all about navigating the snow or our mountain roads. There are also options like Bustang and Snowstang that can help get you here as well.
If you are ultimately driving to visit us though, be sure to be prepared for winter driving conditions and check out more information about getting here on our website, and use GO I-70 for road conditions, tips and carpool options. Once you're getting close to Breck, be sure to check the digital sign boards on the right side of Highway 9 for real-time updates on which lots are open or which lots might already be full. And, as tempting as it may be to think you’ll be the lucky car to find a unicorn spot in a full lot, it helps everyone’s experience to get on the mountain faster if you follow signage and directions to our open parking lots. Note that most parking in town is paid but there is free parking available just outside town in our Airport Road Lot.
Pro tip: Did you know you can reserve a spot to park in our paid lots to guarantee your access to the parking area you prefer? While reservations are not required for any of our parking lots, they do offer a great way to lock in your spot without having to worry about the morning rush to the slopes. Just make a reservation for either the North Gondola Lot (in-town), Stables Lot (Peak 8) or Beaver Run Lot (Peak 9 Slopeside) via Breck Park and arrive any time before 12 PM to have your parking access guaranteed.
And for those driving, when it comes to packing up the gear and getting ready to head back home at the end of the ski day, keep in mind that 4 PM is the most popular time (and therefore usually the most congested time) in the parking lots and on the roads around town. Save yourself the added car and traffic time by walking into town for a little bit before you hit the road. Breck's Main Street is easy walking distance from all in-town parking lots and offers great sights and bites, with candy-colored Victorian buildings lining the sidewalks and more than 200 shops and restaurants.
DITCH THE CAR WHILE YOU'RE HERE
One of the best things about Breck is that the whole town is incredibly pedestrian-friendly. There is truly no need for a car while you’re here, so if you do drive to town, we highly recommend leaving your car in one place once you’re here. Between the walkability of Town and Main Street, the free BreckConnect Gondola connecting the mountain and town, ski-to-town trails and free local bus system, it is very easy to navigate the town and the resort without your car.
NAVIGATING OUR FIVE PEAKS
Knowing where to go, and what terrain best suits your ability level, can make a big difference in your experience on the mountain, especially at a big resort like Breck. Lucky for you though, we've helped outline this information with details on how to access the mountain, what base area might be best for you, as well as how to progress across our Five Peaks from our learning terrain to our most extreme terrain. To learn more, check out our page about navigating the mountain. And, for current information about what’s open check out the lift and terrain status page of our website and download the new My Epic App.
In addition, here are some helpful tips that can help get you on your way to finding the best terrain for your experience:
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If you’re just starting out and getting your ski legs under you, Peak 8 and Peak 9 are the places to go. At Peak 8, the Rip's Ride area offers learning carpets for those just starting and warming up, and then just next to the learning carpets, the newly upgraded Rip's Ride chairlift provides access to great beginner terrain. Similarly at Peak 9, the Quicksilver area offers learning carpets and then beginner terrain on the Quicksilver SuperChair.
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If you’re an experienced skier or rider, and ready to get on the mountain and access terrain quickly, start your day at Peak 7 (intermediate-and-above only). From there you have quick and easy access to lower Peak 7 groomers, and then high alpine terrain off the T-Bar and Peak 6.
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Get up, over and away from main access points! The base area lifts are often the busiest areas of the resort because that's where everyone is converging to start their day and get on the mountain. Once you’re on the mountain, spread out and utilize our other lifts, versus returning to a base area lift.
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Peak 6 and Peak 10 are the outermost peaks flanking the resort and are some of the most lap-able peaks on the mountain. With no base area access, you’re at least two lift rides away, but the reward is usually more laps and less people.
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Get high! We mean, like, High Alpine kinda high. If you’re an advanced/expert skier or rider, head to our lifts that service advanced terrain, like the T-Bar, 6-Chair, Imperial, E-Chair, Falcon SuperChair and Kensho SuperChair.
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On powder days, high alpine lifts and terrain are often slower to open due to snow safety and avalanche mitigation work. Be patient and warm up your legs on lower mountain terrain, while keeping an eye on your My Epic App for lift openings. Oh, and high five a mountain ops employee for working hard to get the mountain open so you can get after it!
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At the end of the day, ski back into town using the 4 O’Clock and Gondola Ski Back trails.
Pro tip: Whether you're a beginner or an expert, our Ski & Snowboard School can help you learn like a pro AND they can help you navigate the mountain like a pro. And bonus! If you're in a lesson, you get the benefit of skipping the lift lines all day so you can ski and ride more lines.
STAY IN THE KNOW
Stay connected to resort updates and information by following us on Instagram, and check out some of the 'Breck-Down' and Five Peaks stories pinned to our profile for more handy tips and information. And, don’t forget to download the new My Epic App to help you navigate the mountain, utilize our mobile pass technology, and stay in the know while you’re at the resort.
We’re all out here to have fun, so share the slopes, share the stoke and share these tips with your friends!