We’ve been on the road for a week and Glacier National Park has definitely been one of the highlights so far. From crystal clear, light turquoise water to breathtaking views, the park definitely packs in the awe factor. Of all we did while in Glacier, our favorite was hiking the Highline Trail.

At 7.6 miles with another 4 in descent (11.6 total) it’s the longest hike we’ve done on the trip so far. But, that’s far from what made it so memorable.

I have to stop here to point out that when we say the Highline Trail is amazing, we really mean it, because we hiked the trail in some of the worst conditions possible and still loved it. On a crisp, clear day, Highline would be nothing short of incredible.

For us, it was still awesome, despite temperatures in the 40s and a mix of high winds, rain and hail (yes, hail) hitting us at varying points throughout the hike. The wind was especially unsettling on the first mile of the hike, where the trail runs alongside a very steep cliff. The only comfort is a rope that runs along the mountain wall next to the trail. (I have to admit I was holding onto it at times, justincase!)

Despite conditions that were far from ideal, what you can see from the trail and along the way makes it all worthwhile. The photos below hardly do the breath-taking views justice. And while we didn’t see any wildlife, bear sightings along the trail are not uncommon.

At the end of Highline, before you start down the Loop trail, you reach Granite Park Chalet, a fully functioning inn at 6,693 ft. (accessible only by hiking trails), which offers a place to have a quick snack or put your feet up by the fire and relax for a while. Mike and I agreed that if we got too cozy, we might never make it back down, so we only stayed for a few minutes. But, for anyone considering staying in Glacier for a week or so, a night or two at the Chalet would be a cool thing to add to the itinerary.

On the way down the Loop trail, you walk through a massive burn scar leftover from the Trapper Creek Fire of 2003. What remains of the tall trees is charred and leafless, leaving underbrush of ferns and wildflowers to flourish. The contrast between the white trees and the vibrant fauna below is gorgeous.

Let’s talk logistics: To hike Highline, you have a few options. You can drive up Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass, park your car there and hike out, either turning around at some point to return to Logan Pass or doing what we did, continuing down the Loop trail to end up back down on Going-to-the-Sun, 8 miles from Logan. Because you’d then need to go get your car, you’d need to catch one of the free shuttles that run up and down Going-to-the-Sun and pick it up back at the top. We parked our car at the Loop trailhead and caught one of the first shuttles up to Logan. Then, we hiked the nearly 12 miles across and down, ending up back at the car. This is preferable since it saves time - by the time you get back to Loop, you’ll be so exhausted that the sooner you make it back to camp, the better.

Most Colorado mountain towns are best known for epic skiing. However, after spending the last week in Breck with Mike’s family, even the most expert skiers in our group agreed: summertime in the mountains is the best. From whitewater rafting to hikes for all levels, Breck in the summer offers more fun activities and variety. Plus, none of it requires a pass that costs $100+ per day...

For any readers still in Colorado, we strongly recommend you make it out to Breck this summer if you can. The late spring months of seemingly unrelenting rain that we all complained about have left Breck 50 shades of green (and I can only assume it’s the same for other neighboring towns). Locals told us it’s more lush than they’ve seen it in years.

If that doesn’t persuade you, hopefully the following list of summer activities will.

Fly Fishing

We’re new to fly fishing but it only took a day to get hooked. Horrible puns aside, for a minimal investment* you can find some great fishing spots in and around Breck.

*a day’s worth of flies will cost about $30 at most shops and a single day permit is $8 in Colorado. Mike and I both bought starter rod kits for about $150 each but you can also rent gear for much less.

The Breckenridge Outfitters/Orvis on Ski Hill Road was a very helpful resource - they sold us permits and gave solid advice on which flies were hitting. We ended up fishing on the Blue River right off State Highway 9 at the intersection of Valley Brook St. You can park at the Rec Center and there’s plenty of space on the banks for non-fishers to hang out and drink beer.

Horseback Riding

Only a few from our group went horseback riding while in Breck but having done it in a few different mountain towns before, I can tell you it’s definitely a must if you have time. In Breck, our riders paid $65 each for an hour and a half guided tour. Horseback riding is a great way to experience western nostalgia and outdoor scenery without an exhausting hike. Which of course brings us to…

Hiking

There are countless amazing hikes in Colorado but before this week we hadn’t hiked much in Breck. Luckily, the three hikes we did were all unique and rewarding - well worth the effort.

First, we hiked the Mohawk Lakes trail, a seven mile stretch with minimal elevation gain so the visitors used to sea level were able to enjoy it, too.
Next, we upped the ante slightly and hiked McCullough Gulch, a 3 mile trail with twice the elevation gain. While it was steeper, it was still fairly easy and we were rewarded at the top when we reached a high alpine lake. (This was also where we met that friendly, photobombing mountain goat.)
Finally, after warming up with the first two hikes, the Denverites left the east coasters for an afternoon and trekked Quandary, a “fourteener,” meaning the summit is above 14,000’. While it was the most challenging by far, with just over 3,000 ft elevation gain in only 3 miles, that made it the most rewarding - especially for first-timers Grace, Andrew, Chris and Fox.

Disclaimer: Even though Quandary is said to be the easiest of Colorado’s 53 fourteeners, we’d still recommend starting with a more moderate hike if you’re unsure and want to test your endurance. (Price for all hiking: free)

Mountain Biking

Just because there isn’t snow on the slopes doesn’t mean you can’t speed down them for an exhilarating rush. Mike and his brothers have become avid mountain bikers in the past few years. They love it for both the thrill and the exercise. A day pass to ride at Breck is $32, although there are also free trails around.

Shooting

After all, this is the “wild west.” One morning of the trip was spent at Summit County Shooting Range. Despite going to Breck dozens of times, none of us had heard of it until this trip. To get there, put the dump in your GPS (seriously!) and then continue past it, following signs for the range. You’ll need to bring your own ammo and gun(s) but everything else you need, from free ear plugs to lounge chairs, is provided.

Whitewater Rafting

Those who know the Peres brothers won’t be surprised to hear that we spent one day floating the Colorado River. Matt brought both of his boats - the big 14 footer with his new oar rig and the smaller 9 footer. Whitewater rafting is a great family activity since it’s scenic, mellow and exciting, all rolled into one.

Expert tip: Take the time to pack something delicious for lunch. Everyone was stoked to pull off on a bank beach and eat fajitas in the middle of the day. It’s the re-fuel needed to paddle through the next few hours.

Since we already had all the necessary gear, this one was also free. However, guided trips aren’t too pricey and are definitely worth it if you’ve never gone before.

Pontoon Boating

This is actually something we did as a day trip with our incredible friends (shoutout to Chrissy) the weekend before Breck. We planned on doing it again with the family but, after three days of hiking, we ran out of time. Had we had an extra day, this definitely would have been the activity of choice. It’s easy to rent boats for four hours out of either the Dillon or Frisco marinas. Then, bring your people, snacks and booze and you’re all set to jet around the lake, checking out islands, getting some sun and stopping to let anyone feeling particularly brave jump into the frigid water. With a full group (about 12 per boat) it costs $25 per person.

It’s honestly too easy to get to seven - there’s so much to do! Aside from the fun outdoors stuff listed above, I’d be remiss if I neglected to mention the awesome downtown area with street after street of shops and restaurants. You could easily spend a day (or a few) meandering through town, trying on cowboy boots, tasting local beers and sampling delicious food. (Of all the tasty meals we had throughout the week, a stand-out was crepes for lunch from Crepes a la Cart on Main Street!)

So, are you daydreaming about a summer vacation in Breck yet? If you are and have questions for us, or if we forgot anything, drop us a comment below or an email at theyearbetween@gmail.com.

The Highline Trail in Glacier National Park

How to Spend a Summer Week in Breckenridge