AAA Mini Tour

Skiers horse around at Breckenridge Resort Jeff Scroggins & BRC

Head for the Summit

Aptly named, Summit County is home to four of Colorado's most popular ski areas, each with its own personality: Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge. Towering peaks along the Continental Divide form the county's eastern and southern borders, and the Tenmile and Gore Ranges rise to the west. The dramatic terrain, plus the area's proximity to Denver (about 70 miles west) make it a great destination-particularly during the winter.

This Mini Tour route stops at each resort; however, you may want to visit just one or two based on your preferences. One-day lift tickets are interchangeable between A-Basin, Keystone and Breckenridge; three-day passes can also be used at nearby Vail and Beaver Creek ski areas. The drive includes small towns between the resorts, plus plenty of activities for nonskiers.

To begin the tour, travel west on Interstate 70 to US 6/Loveland Pass (exit 216). Continue west over Loveland Pass (el. 11,992 ft.) to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. Note: If the pass is closed due to weather, continue on I-70 west through the Eisenhower Tunnel to exit 205 at

Silverthorne, then take US 6 east past Keystone to Arapahoe Basin. Opened in 1946, Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin, for short) is one of Colorado's oldest ski areas. At 13,050 feet, it also happens to have the highest ski area summit in the nation. The dizzying elevation, plus an average annual snowfall of 30 feet, explains why A-Basin can often stay open until mid-June. While the steep East and West Walls and the mogul-laced Palavicinni run have long attracted advanced skiers, the ski area has something for everyone, with intermediate and beginner runs making up 60 percent of the terrain. Weather depending, A-Basin plans to open for the 2001-2002 ski season on December 8.

Continuing west on US 6, you'll come to Keystone Mountain. A family-oriented ski area, Keystone offers a variety of terrain, plus night skiing and riding on 17 trails and a 20-acre terrain park, which are lit until 8 p.m. Keystone's beginner slope is one of the longest in the state and gives the novice skier a chance to enjoy a panorama of mountain views and ranges. Advanced skiers will find challenges on North Peak and the Outback.

In addition to skiing and snowboarding, visitors can choose from a slew of other winter activities-cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, ice-skating and horse-drawn sleigh rides, to name a few. There's also the Alpine Institute, offering a variety of classes, such as yoga, wine appreciation and photography.

Two villages in Keystone offer dining and entertainment: River Run and Keystone Village. For fine dining, try Alpenglow Stube (atop 11,444-foot North Peak) or Keystone Ranch Restaurant. Both are AAA Four-Diamond restaurants.

From Keystone, westbound US 6 leads to the small resort community of Dillon and adjacent Dillon Reservoir. In the area, visitors can enjoy ice skating, cross country skiing, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and fishing throughout the winter.

On the north side of I-70 is the town of Silverthorne. If you need a break from outdoor recreation (or if the shopping bug bites), the Prime Outlets at Silverthorne offer more than 70 brand- name factory outlet stores to peruse.

The tour now travels five miles west on I-70 to the town of Frisco. The Frisco Historic Park, at the corner of 2nd and Main Streets, depicts the town's history during its mining and logging heyday. The Schoolhouse Museum displays artifacts and photographs. Other buildings on the self-guided tour include a ranch house, jail, and a 1943 log chapel, plus pottery, woodworking and stained-glass studios. During this time of year, the park is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Frisco is also home to the Frisco Nordic Center, located two miles south of Frisco along Colorado Hwy. 9. Here you can cross-country ski more than 18 miles of set trails in the forests near Dillon Reservoir. The center offers lessons and rentals.

Six miles west of Frisco on I-70, take exit 195 to reach Copper Mountain Ski Area, a favorite with locals. Copper's terrain is naturally divided into separate areas for beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. With Colorado's first high-speed, detachable six-passenger chairlift, the "Super Bee," whizzing up and down the mountain is even easier! Weather permitting, November 8 is opening day at Copper Mountain with entertainment and festivities to mark the occasion.

The tour now backtracks to Frisco and heads south on State Road 9 to Breckenridge. One of Colorado's oldest continuously occupied mining towns, Breckenridge's downtown is a National Historic District with numerous Victorian buildings.

Next to the town, the Breckenridge Ski Area (opening October 27) is in the Tenmile Mountain Range in Arapahoe National Forest. Four mountains and more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain make Breckenridge one of the largest and most diverse ski areas in the Rockies. Top-to-bottom trails offer beginners the enjoyment of the entire mountain while experts can try out the front and back bowls. Breckenridge is also known for its après-ski options and nightlife, with more than 80 bars and restaurants from which to choose.

Besides skiing, popular diversions include horse-drawn sleigh rides through town or into the forest for a steak dinner in a heated tent; snowmobile tours though the ghost towns of Summit County's past; and dogsled trips mushing through the backcountry.

To conclude the tour, simply backtrack on I-70 to the Dillon and Silverthorne exits, where you can either continue east through Eisenhower Tunnel or take the scenic route back over Loveland Pass. For information on lodging, restaurants and attractions in these areas, pick up a Colorado AAA TourBook® at any AAA office.


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