Author: 
There’s nothing quite like blowing through an open meadow of powdery winter white dotted with evergreens on the back of a snowmobile. Whether it’s your first time trying out the winter sport or you’re a seasoned pro, snowmobiling Breckenridge is a bucket-list activity in the Colorado mountains that every visitor should try at least once. Named one of the best places to visit in Colorado, a trip to Breckenridge will be that much more special when you add snowmobiling to the mix.
The ski resort in Summit County is the perfect spot for newcomers to try out the cold weather sport, thanks to the thick blankets of snow that accumulate between December and April. Breckenridge is a famous winter sports hub for everything from skiing and snowboarding to snow tubing and sledding.
While you won’t be riding snowmobiles around the historic downtown, plenty of outfitters and tour companies operate in the mountains around Breckenridge, Silverthorne, Copper Mountain, and Leadville, with excursions up and along the Continental Divide. Miles of open land, groomed paths, and backcountry trails in Summit County include the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area in the nearby White River National Forest.
Tour guides give new drivers lessons in operating and controlling recreational vehicles before taking off on group outings into the hills. A variety of available tours range from mellow rides perfect for families with kids to more heart-pumping thrill rides up to sweeping vistas from 12,000-plus feet high.
If you’re planning to snowmobile in Breckenridge on your next trip, this guide will help you prepare, with safety tips and recommendations for local rental and tour companies.
When is the Snowmobile Season in Breckenridge?
Breckenridge averages about 300 inches of snow annually, and the entire Summit County of Colorado enjoys a long winter season perfect for cold weather sports and activities. Depending on the snow accumulation, the best time for snowmobiling in Breckenridge typically runs from the beginning of December through early April.
Visiting Breckenridge in the middle months of January through March is the safest bet for ideal conditions, but the shoulder months can be a less-crowded and more budget-friendly time for a Breckenridge vacation.
Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tour vs. Snowmobile Rental
Should you rent a snowmobile in Breckenridge or join a guided snowmobile tour? If you’re new to snowmobiling or exploring the Rocky Mountains for the first time, joining a Breckenridge snowmobiling tour is a great way to have a safe and thrilling adventure on the snow while learning how to handle a motor sled. Guides will show you how to operate the vehicle, balance in the seat, and control the throttle before leading you off on a scenic ride.
Renting a snowmobile for a self-guided outing is best for experienced snowmobilers who are comfortable navigating trails on their own. In fact, most snowmobile rental companies in Breckenridge require previous experience driving and recovering a stuck snowmobile. Unguided snowmobilers should also know avalanche safety, carry a GPS unit, and go out with a buddy or two.
Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tours
There are a few different snowmobiling tour operators to choose from in Breckenridge as well as nearby communities like Keystone and Vail. When picking your tour, consider how long you want to spend out in the snow, if each person in your group will ride solo or with a partner, and whether you want a low-key scenic outing or a more thrilling adventure ride.
Most snowmobiling tours in Breckenridge require drivers to be at least 15, but some may have higher age limits or restrictions about who can carry a passenger.
Good Times Adventures
Based in Breckenridge, Good Times Adventures offers two-hour snowmobiling tours that include an instruction and practice session. Out on the trail, you’ll drive through the Swan River Valley and up the Georgia Pass to an 11,585-tall peak at the Continental Divide. The company also runs dog sledding tours.
High Country Snowmobile Tours and Rentals
High Country Snowmobile Tours and Rentals has both family-friendly scenic tours and thrilling action tours from a couple of outposts near Breckenridge. The calmer scenic tours traverse either valley or mountain trails, with stops for hot cocoa in the middle. Action tours are faster and head up in the mountains for sweeping views 12,000 feet high, with options for intermediate or advanced drivers.
Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tours and Rentals
Two to three-hour outings with Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tours and Rentals include the mellow “Prospector Tour” through the forest with lake views, the “Performance Tour” up to an elevation of 12,800 feet, and the small-group “High Adventure Tour” on more advanced trails.
Breckenridge Snowmobile Rentals
To rent a snowmobile in Breckenridge, you typically need to hold a driver’s license and meet the age limit of the company you rent from. There is no special snowmobiling license requirement to rent one. You should also have previous experience operating a snowmobile and be able to tow it from the rental location to the area where you plan to ride it.
Adventure Time Rentals
Adventure Time Rentals offers ATV and snowmobile rentals without a guide in Frisco, near Breckenridge. Options include half or full-day rentals for single or double-seater snowmobiles. The company helps renters pick out a local trail to drive and provides a truck and trailer to tote the snowmobile to your desired trailhead. Snowmobile drivers must be 18 or older and at least 21 to drive the truck and tow.
Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tours and Rentals
Breckenridge Snowmobiling Tours and Rentals offers two to eight-hour unguided sessions from the Vail Pass Winter Recreation Area. Single and double rider sled rentals include a helmet and drivers must be at least 14 years old. Located in the White River National Forest, Vail Pass has more than 100 miles of trails and over 55,000 acres of land to explore.
High Country Tours
High Country Tours rents out snowmobiles from the Birdseye Outpost, about 35 miles from Breckenridge. Drivers aged 26 and up with a valid license or learner’s permit can book two to three-hour sessions on one and two-seaters. Renters can either explore the trail system and open terrain around Birdseye or tow the snowmobiles to another location using their own equipment.
Breckenridge Snowmobile Safety Tips
Whether you rent a snowmobile or sign up for a group tour, riders and drivers should always wear a helmet while using the machine. Most outfitters and tour companies include a helmet in the cost of the outing.
Renters riding without a guide should also have a lot of experience, be well versed in avalanche safety procedures, carry a GPS unit, and never go out on the trails alone.
What to Wear While Snowmobiling
Winter activities like snowmobiling require special gear that you may not be accustomed to if you’re new to the sport. The typical outfit for a snowmobiling excursion is snow pants and an insulated jacket or a full snowsuit, plus gloves, winter boots, goggles or sunglasses, and a helmet.
Rental operators typically provide a Department of Transportation-approved helmet and offer the rest of the snow gear for an extra rental fee. Check with your tour operator before arriving to confirm what you need to bring and what is available to rent.
Who is Allowed on Snowmobile Tours?
Different tour operators set their own regulations for the required age of snowmobile drivers and riders. Drivers usually have to be at least 15 and hold a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Riders typically need to be no younger than 4 or 5 and be able to safely hold on from behind the driver. Pregnant women are usually discouraged or not allowed to participate in snowmobile tours.
Enjoy Snowmobiling in Breckenridge, CO
Breckenridge is already an epic place to visit on your Colorado trip. With outdoor activities abound in all seasons, a trip in winter isn’t complete without renting a snowmobile or going on a snowmobile tour. You’ll get to see the backwoods like never before and get some extra excitement in all at the same time.
Featured Image Credit: Denis Moskvinov
