Boreas Pass Road

For those who want a scenic backcountry car trip on their visit to Breckenridge, this road can’t be beat, however a 4×4 vehicle is recommended. It winds up through lodgepole pine and spruce-fir forests to a series of beautiful mountain meadows near treeline. The road doesn’t quite get high enough to be a reliable site to find ptarmigan, but some hiking up nearby mountains from the pass could produce them. Moose, elk, mule deer, and yellow-bellied marmots may be seen along the road. Regular breeding birds include Red Crossbill, White-crowned and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Mountain Chickadee.

Restrictions: 4x4 vehicles recommended, may be impassable to passenger cars after rain; not maintained in winter.

County: Summit

Directions: From the Frisco exit on I-70 (exit 203), head south on CO 9 to Breckenridge. Near the south end of town, 11.2 miles from the interstate, run left (east) on Boreas Pass Road (CR 10). It is about 8.5 miles to the top of the pass. It is possible to continue down the east side of the pass to the town of Como and US 285, which heads to Denver.

Alternate Directions: From I-70 at Frisco (exit 203), travel south on CO 9. In Breckenridge, 11.2 miles from the interstate, turn left (east) on Boreas Pass Road (CR 10).

Dates of Access: Open June-October, closed in winter.
Hours: 24 hours
Ownership: US Forest Service
Admission or Fees: Free

Parking: Gravel parking areas

Lodging: Hotels in Breckenridge

Handicapped: No
Handicapped Access: Viewing from car

Latitude: 39.451841
Longitude: -106.010092