This Colorado Hike Turns Into a Wildflower Super Bloom You Can Walk Through

There's something truly special about alpine wildflower season. When the full spectrum of blooms officially shows off their best and brightest colors across the mountains of Colorado, it's a sight that's impossible to forget. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of gorgeous blooms on a hike along Breckenridge’s Boreas Pass Road—a beautiful route to spy some unique flowers. This road follows the old railroad line, connecting Breckenridge to the town of Como, offering stunning views of the Blue River Valley and the majestic Tenmile Range, along with peak sightings of wildflowers. 

This is an extended journey that travels more than 20 miles in its entirety, but it’s not too steep. The top of the pass is 6.4 miles from the trailhead (marked by the old Boreas Station). You have the option to hike a shorter length of roadway by turning around and going back partway in, or joining a connecting trail. 

Ways to Enjoy this Scenic Hike

If you’d like to turn the trek into a shorter loop hike, use the Bakers Tank Trail and Boreas Pass Road Loop route via AllTrails. This 2.6-mile loop trail offers the scenic vistas for which the hikes in this area are famous, but it is shorter and has less elevation gain than most other trails in the area. The initial half of the trail travels through a forest. Here, you can enjoy the shade and become immersed in the flora and fauna. The second half of the route travels along Boreas Pass, a dirt road. This means you’ll encounter the occasional car passing by, but the beautiful views you can enjoy from the open air make the journey well worth the trip on foot.  

Expert tip: No matter where you start hiking along Boreas Pass, parking can be tricky—check out the Transit to Trails page on Summit County’s transportation website to get insider information on how to avoid traffic and spend more time in nature.

No matter how long you walk along the road or whether or not you turn it into a loop, while you’re on the pathway, keep your eyes peeled for alpine sunflowers, paintbrush, lupine, columbine, fireweed, penstemon, iris, and sky pilot among other blooms. The path is even dog-friendly, so you can take your furry family members with you on the adventure. If you hike the loop going clockwise, it’s a reasonably steady and easy incline. 

Don't Miss Exploring the rest of the Best of Breck's Wildflower Hotspots

Off the trail, be sure to check out the town of Breckenridge. As one of Colorado’s highest mountain towns, Breckenridge can be an ideal place to enjoy some fresh air while beating the summer heat. Daytime average temperatures are in the 70s (compared to upper 80s, 90s, and even 100+ degrees in the Denver metropolitan area). 

Additionally, if you are a wildflower aficionado like me, you can stay up to date on the timing of each flower through the seasonal “Wildflower Watch” program. The Breckenridge Tourism Office has partnered with the Town of Breckenridge naturalists to launch this program designed to showcase the stunning wildflowers blooming across the area during the summer months. 

If you're looking for another fun summer hike to do in Breckenridge while you're in the area, be sure to embark on this trek to see the Breckenridge Troll, a 15-foot-tall recycled wood sculpture by Thomas Dambo, located on the Trollstigen Trail in Colorado. And even though it's no secret that Boreas Pass is recognized as one of the best day trips from Denver, be sure to check out this list of other notable day trips for additional inspiration on summer excursions within driving distance of the city.