The Bounty of Summit County
The Heidi Guide takes a trip out West to some of Colorado's most beloved spots
Located only an hour and a half from Denver, and home to five ski resorts, Summit County, Colorado, offers a lot in the way of winter fun. However, this mountainous county with its large lake, lots of river mileage, bike paths, and hiking trails galore, this county makes the perfect spring, summer, and fall destination.
While towns like Breckenridge are fairly touristy, many locals call Summit County home. At the intersection of Interstate 70 and Hwy 6, lies Silverthorne and Dillion, towns with a true mix of tourists and year-round residents.
Silverthorne lies mostly north of the intersection, and Dillon is immediately south. In recent years, these two areas have blossomed and grown into destinations unto themselves. Silverthorne is home to an excellent brewery stop, Angry James. Founded in 2018, Angry James is now a staple of this community. Today, Silverthorne features a food hall, Summit county’s first hotel/hostel, my favorite Colorado coffee shop, Red Buffalo, and so much more including the outlet mall.
While it’s illegal to swim in Dillon Reservoir visitors can do a lot on top of the water. A large lake, Dillon borders the north and Frisco borders the south side. Rent a pontoon boat with friends or family and make a day of it. There are two marinas here—Dillon Marina and Frisco Marina— and we’ve rented pontoon boats from both. There is something about being on the water in a pontoon boat that’s indescribably enjoyable and relaxing.
Any article mentioning Dillon must acknowledge Pug Ryan’s, the restaurant with a tiki bar at the Dillon Marina. This has been a must-stop for us in Dillon, and many others since 1975. Fishing boats, sailboats, paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks are rentable at the marinas too. Ryan and I once rented kayaks from Frisco Marina and paddled around that side of the lake.
Several islands dot the reservoir and kayakers can stop and explore. I’m not a huge kayaker—I grew up canoeing, but it was way more fun than I thought it would be. While our trips were always mid-summer, doing either activity would be spectacular in the fall as the reservoir is surrounded by trees that will turn golden and stunning yellow mountains.
Frisco is a charming community and a stay here in the winter gives visitors access to multiple ski areas in the county. However, it has its entertainment too, like wonderful shopping, from a tiny record store to a studio was some of the most exquisite blown glass at GatherHouse. In the summer and fall, Frisco Adventure Park offers everything from frisbee golf to biking.
There are hikes all over Summit County. We love the Rainbow Lake Trail in Frisco, or for awe-inspiring views, the easy Sapphire Point Overlook path is a must. This little jaunt is located on Swan Mountain Road which provides some of the prettiest views in Colorado. Swan Mountain Road links Frisco and Keystone, one of my longtime summer haunts. While most people think of skiing in Keystone, it is so much more. The town is a riot of flowers in the summer months, accompanied by the buzzing of hundreds of hummingbirds. With the Snake River running through it, Keystone is a summertime dream.
Keystone Festivals puts on a string of festivals from June to August with their fabulous Oktoberfest wrapping up the summer on August 31. With German bands, German dancers, and a Stein hoisting contest (that my husband won in 2019) this is a great Oktoberfest, and I should know, I’ve been to many. There is a Kinderfest for the children that has the Alpen Auerhahn Schuhplattlers teaching polka plus arts and crafts and more.
What can I write about Breckenridge that hasn’t already been written? Nestled into the Tenmile Range, there’s little doubt that this town can be a busy place, but that buzz is what makes it the perfect spot for merrymaking. Whether it’s a beer festival in the summer or Ullr Festival, a personal favorite, in the winter, there’s always something happening in Breckenridge. By the way, I haven’t been, but the 28th Annual Breckenridge Oktoberfest, September 13-15, is well-loved by many.
We like to sit down with a beer after biking the Summit County RecPath or hiking the Rainbow Trail, or pontooning Dillon Reservoir, at Broken Compass in Breckenridge. Now, with an additional downtown location, this beer has been on point from the beginning. There’s little doubt that Summit County provides the ultimate mountain experience, and its towns are worth exploring this late summer and fall.