Colorado has officially entered its most colorful season. With fields of wildflowers covering mountains and meadows, there are countless places to check out the blooms. But given its new summer festival, one destination especially stands out—and it’s not far from Boulder and Denver.
Take a quick trip to experience the first annual Breckenridge Wildflower Week. From July 2-12, the mountain town will host a range of entertaining and educational programs that celebrate the outdoors, arts and culture. While some activities are ticketed, visitors of all ages will also find plenty of free things to do.
“Accessibility was really important for us. We wanted to be able to offer a variety of things at different price levels for people to experience,” says Kerry O’Connor, a spokeswoman for the Breckenridge Tourism Office.
The idea behind the event began with the Breckenridge Wildflower Watch, she says. Similar to its popular fall foliage tracker, the online guide provides weekly updates on where wildflowers are in peak bloom across town.
In creating this resource last summer, the tourism board discovered the vast number of blooms on surrounding trails, she adds. The group also realized that several local entities were already offering related programs, such as flower-inspired art classes and guided hikes.
To provide a full festival experience, the board united these existing efforts and sought support from other businesses. The response was incredibly positive, allowing Breckenridge Wildflower Week to grow into a packed calendar of events. Here are just a few highlights happening in the high country.
Pollinators and Pollen Makers
Rolinda Stotts, the artist-in-residence at the Raitman Gallery on Main Street, will host this free interactive experience on July 3 starting at 10 a.m. Learn about the essential role that bees and other pollinators play in sustaining local wildflowers and landscapes.
This presentation is one of several that “lean into an educational angle and sustainability,” O’Connor says, aspects that the tourism board was especially mindful to highlight.
Breck Create Classes
Year-round, Breck Create delivers a range of creative experiences. This local nonprofit organization’s programming during Breckenridge Wildflower Week will center on visual arts of various forms. Craft columbine mosaics, watercolors featuring wildflower landscapes, blown glass blooms and more on multiple days throughout the event.
Cocktail and Mocktail Workshop
Billie Keithley, liquid chef at Breckenridge Distillery, will lead this hands-on class highlighting how bartenders infuse floral notes into beverages. Shake up and sip drinks featuring local, sustainably sourced wildflowers and enjoy delicious paired bites on July 8 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Community Yoga
On the morning of July 12, local studio Meta Yoga will host an outdoor flow session at the Riverwalk Center Lawn. Breathe and stretch as you admire the surrounding blooms during this free, all-levels class starting at 8 a.m.
Guided Wildflower Hikes
On several days during the week (and throughout the summer season), Ella Garner and other naturalists with Breckenridge Open Space and Trails will host guided hikes for all abilities. Space for these free experiences is filling up fast, so be sure to register as soon as possible.
If spots are no longer available on the day you’re visiting, simply venture out on your own—the blooms will still be there. O’Connor and Garner rank these three trails among their favorites.
Best beginner hike: Blue River Trail
Not to be confused with the paved Blue River recreation path, this easy connector trail travels south of town through a stunning meadow of yellow mule’s ears. Admire distant views of the Tenmile Range while walking 3.2 miles round-trip.
Best intermediate trail: Horseshoe Bowl
Viewing alpine wildflowers generally demands some skill and serious effort. However, this moderate two-mile trail on Peak 8 is accessible via a Breckenridge Ski Resort chairlift. Rides are free with an Epic Pass or $37 per person.
“It’s really awesome because not a lot of people can, especially if they’re from lower elevation, hike all the way up to high elevation to see those special alpine flowers,” says Garner.
Best challenging route: Black Powder Pass
Four-wheel drive is recommended on the dirt road leading to this trailhead, but Boreas Pass is technically accessible to all vehicles. Take it slow, then stretch your legs on this challenging three-mile trail featuring swaths of colorful paintbrush flowers and expansive mountain views.
Note that parking at these and other popular wildflower trails is limited. O’Connor recommends leaving your vehicle at the free South Gondola parking garage, then taking a Summit Stage bus. The transit system is free and provides convenient access to dozens of trailheads across the county.
Garner also reminds visitors to recreate responsibly which, during wildflower season, means practicing leave no trace. Don’t pick wildflowers, and always stay on established hiking trails, even if you’re trying to photograph them.
With those easy-to-follow guidelines in mind, start planning your trip up to Breckenridge. The winter season may not have been the best this past year, but summer is coming into full bloom.
“Watching everyone rally around Wildflower Week has been pretty incredible,” O’Connor says. “It’s that Colorado spirit, that we can recover after anything and we can come back stronger as a community.”
