Keystone Summer Activities - Boating, Biking and More
Most guests first experience Keystone during ski season, but ask any local and you'll hear that Rocky Mountain summers offer a much wider range of outdoor activities. And the bonus is that you can enjoy this diversity without the ski season crowds. Not to mention that Colorado mountain summer weather is as close to ideal as you're likely to find anywhere.
*** See detailed calendar and information on all upcoming Keystone special events at Keystonefestivals.com ***
Keystone Lake Adventure Center.
Kids love the Adventure Center by Keystone Lake at the Lodge. Rent a paddle boat, canoe, or kayak and explore the 5-acre lake. Then take 20 minutes for fish feeding (a favorite among small children). Bike rentals and a wonderful playground are also close by. And if you catch a brief summer shower, you can just go inside to enjoy the arcade or get a snack at any of the half dozen restaurants near the lake.
Kids Activities in Keystone.
1. Bungee Trampoline. Located next to the River Run gondola. Special safety harness and bungee cord system. Anyone from 20-180 lbs. is eligible. Open daily.
2. Beaver Prowl. Reservations accepted at Keystone Activity Center (970/496-4386). Meet at Keystone Lake and explore beaver ponds in the area to watch these amazing mammals at work and learn how they "designed" our mountain valleys. Wed., Fri., and Sat. at 6PM.
3. River Rafting. Variety of Beginner or Advanced trips available to any of 4 separate rivers. Either whitewater excursions or placid float trips. Open to children at least 6 years old and weighing 50 lbs. or more. Call 970/496-4386 for more information.
4. Climbing Wall. Located in River Run Village. Wall attendants hook kids up with a sophisticated belay safety system and turn them loose to try to find a route to the top. Open daily.
5. Miniature Golf. Located in Dercum Park in River Run Village (next to the kids playground).
6. Fly Fishing Clinic. Located at Keystone Lake. Instruction in the basics of fly fishing. Call Summit Fly Fishing (970-468-8945) for reservations.
7. Guided Hikes. Family Nature Hike or Alpine Trek at 12000 feet (gondola ride included). Learn about Colorado animals and mountain plants from an expert. Call for reservations at 970/496-4386.
8. Mine Tours. Great family activity! Explore the workings of an authentic Breckenridge mine. Learn about the early miners who settled most of the Colorado Rockies. Reservations at 970/496-4386.
9. Horseback Riding. The Keystone Stables offer guided rides through the Snake River valley (age 8 and above). Pony rides also available (age 3-7). Reservations at 970/496-4386.
10. Scenic Wagon Ride. Horse-drawn wagon ride from the stables to an old Keystone homestead. Call 970/496-4386 for reservations.
11. Dinner Wagon Ride. Ideal family activity (all ages eligible). Wrangler drives the wagon to a remote location for a gourmet Western cook-out, supplemented with cowboy songs, mock-rope-a calf, and other activities. 970/496-4386 for reservations.
12. Bike Rentals. Mountain View Sports (located in Mountain View Plaza on Hwy 6 midway between River Run & Keystone Village) offers a special Ride the Pass trip during the summer. You can rent bikes there (all ages) and then take their shuttle ride (with bikes in an attached trailer) to the top of Vail Pass. From there you coast downhill on a separate paved bike path through Copper Mountain and Frisco to Lake Dillon. Then you take the trail around the lake, which connects with the Keystone trail along the Snake River and wind up back at Mountain View sports. 970/468-0396. Seymour Lodging guests get a 10% discount off the Ride the Pass trip or 10% off a full day bike rental.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breckenridge Peak 8 Fun Park. No summer trip to Summit County is complete without an afternoon in the Fun Park. Activities include the Super Slide (2600 foot slalom course), the Giant Slalom track for more experienced riders, the Mineshaft Maze (two levels), SuperPutt mini-golf, Breck-Treks (guided hiking tours), Rockpile Climbing Wall, SuperBungee Trampoline, Ripperoo's Bounce House, Gemstone Panning, and Mountain Biking rentals (chairlift to the top, then coast down). Parking at the North & South gondola lots on N. Park Avenue. More information on all activities at Breckenridge.com.
Keystone Mountain Biking. The Keystone Bike Park has spent the time and resources necessary to now be rated among the very best in North America. Take the high-speed River Run gondola to the top of Keystone Mountain (11,600 feet) and then choose Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced trails down. Because it has the longest drop of any mountain bike park in the country (2,360 vertical feet), you can easily enjoy a half hour of blood-pumping biking on each trip down. In total Keystone has a 55-mile network consisting of over 50 trails, filled with rock ledges, 15-foot jumps, ramps, bridges, and an elevated, 20' woodbridge corkscrew dropline. But there are always alternate routes for the less experienced so everyone can enjoy world-class trails and the artistry of expert bikers without the pain. To truly appreciate this facility, go to KeystoneResort.com under Activities--Mountain Biking to view the videos, still photos, and trail map. Then head to YouTube ("Keystone Bike Park") and check out the amateur videos of enthused park veterans.
Summit County Bike Path. 100-mile network of paved paths along streams and around Lake Dillon from Keystone to Dillon, Frisco, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, then over Vail Pass to Vail and Avon. Or for a less exhausting alternative, call Mountain View Sports (800/530-3836) and sign up for their Ride the Pass shuttle service. They will haul an entire group of bikes to the top of Vail Pass, then you can coast all the way down (along a mountain stream) through Copper Mountain to Frisco. From there you can either shuttle back or continue on the mostly flat bike path around Lake Dillon and then through The River Course at Keystone along the Snake River, winding up at the Mountain View Sports shop (between River Run and Keystone Village). See a fuller description at MountainViewSports.com.
Also review the challenging tours at Colorado Bike and Ski (coloradobikeandski.com). Unique outdoor adventures for the entire family. Special Needs Accessible. And review their recommendations for Day Trips from Summit County if you want to see more of Colorado.
Golf in Keystone and Summit County. There are several first-rate golf courses within 10-25 minutes of Keystone. High altitude mountain golf is characterized by ego-boosting drives (15% longer at 9000 feet elevation), challenging terrain, and jaw-dropping vistas. The exhilaration of the experience is usually enough to take the edge off even an occasional round with a few extra strokes over your handicap.
Keystone Ranch Golf Course (970/496-4250). Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Detailed info at KeystoneResort.com under Activities.
The River Course at Keystone (970/496-4444). Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry. More info at KeystoneResort.com under Activities.
Breckenridge Golf Club (970/453-9104). Located between Keystone and Breckenridge. 27-hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus. All details are covered at TownofBreckenridge.com.
The Raven at Three Peaks Golf Course (970/262-3636; Silverthorne). One of the highly-acclaimed Raven Golf Clubs. Designed by Tom Lehman and Hurdzan/Fry. See more information at RavenatThreePeaks.com..
Copper Creek Golf Course (866/286-1663). Located in Copper Mountain Resort. Designed by Pete and Perry Dye. More details at CopperColorado.com under Golf.
Silverthorne Rec Center. Info and photos at Silverthorne.org. 970/262-7370
430 Rainbow Drive, Silverthorne CO 80498 (7 minutes from Keystone just north of I-70)
The Silverthorne Rec Center has a wide array of activities for users of all ages. Four heated indoor pools, three with water slides (super slide, intermediate slide, and toddler slide). The facility also has a full range of workout equipment (cardio and free weight rooms), drop-in fitness classes for all ability levels, a large gymnasium, indoor running track, racquetball courts, two hot tubs, steam room, sauna, and other amenities. Child care is available while parents are using the facility. Free wi-fi in the lounge area. Very affordable with 15-punch or 25-punch family passes.
In addition, Summit County's largest skateboard park is located close by.
-----------------------------------------------------
*** Detailed information on all upcoming Keystone events at KeystoneFestivals.com ***
