As the snow starts melting and giving way to the warmer days of spring, we can’t help but dream about the blue-sky days of summer in Summit County. “Shorts weather” is an understatement, as the weather easily gets to a comfortable 80-85 degrees and higher during the summer, making perfect weather for stand-up paddle boarding or any number of water-based activities. The wildflowers are blooming bright in all kinds of beautiful colors and the breeze carries their perfume through the air to mingle with the sweet smell of pine needles. Hiking or mountain biking on any one of the dozens of local trails is one of the best things to do on a warm summer day. Indeed, summer is an excellent time of year to visit Summit County! This year as you plan your summer vacation to Summit County, consider trying new summer activity. Here is a list of some of our favorite activities and how to try them out this summer.
You must have been living under a rock if you didn’t know Summit County is an excellent destination for biking, hiking, and beer drinking on sunny porches. But we can’t blame you if you didn’t know Summit County is a great place to try stand up paddle boarding, sailing, and fly fishing among dozens of other activities.
Fly-fishing is a great activity to try if you have never had the opportunity to. Nothing beats watching your dry fly floating across the top of the water as a phantom trout rises to gulp your fly from the foam as you instantly react and set the hook by jerking your rod back hard enough to make the fish jump out of the water. Battling a big trout makes the sublime surrounding of the river melt away as you focus solely on wrestling the big fish on the end of your line. After a few minutes of fierce fighting, you finally get the monster close enough for your guide to net him. The picture you get of you holding a monster trout with a beautiful river stretching out behind you as the backdrop is one you will surely frame for your trophy wall. There are a number of ways to fly fish in Summit County. You can fish the Blue River through Breckenridge if you are looking for a quick trip to get your fishing fix or you can fish the tailwaters of Dillon Dam on the Blue River where some monster trout hide and feed on Mysis Shrimp, a unique fly to the area. We recommend hiring a guide to help you find the fish when fishing the bigger water like the Blue River. Our favorite guide service is Breckenridge Outfitters, located just across the street from our Main Street office. Another fun way to fly fish is to hike to an alpine lake where you can catch brook trout by the dozens surrounded by 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks. One of our favorite lake hikes is Mohawk Lake.
Another great way to experience summer in the Rocky Mountains is to try your hand at paddle boarding or sailing. You’ll love the freedom of dipping a paddle in the water as you circle the shoreline of Lake Dillon in Frisco as you take in the incredible views of the surrounding peaks including the Ten Mile Range, Gore Range, and Grey and Torres Peaks. It may take a few minutes to find your balance, but once you do you’ll be cruising around the lake in no time. If you would like to give paddle boarding a try you can get started by reserving all the gear you need from the Frisco Bay Marina. If you would rather try your hand at sailing on Lake Dillon, you can sign up for an introductory sailing course at the Frisco Bay Marina as well. Click here to make reservations for sailing lessons.
Summer is an excellent time to get out and try something new! This summer come visit Summit County and give one of these great experiences a try. You never know, you may fall in love with the sport! Call us at 970.453.7370 to book your Summit County vacation rental today or take a look at all of our lodging options on our website.