Breckenridge, Colorado - Accessible Adventures for the whole family

We visited Breckenridge, Colorado with a family group of 3 generations. I never imagined a mountain town being so inclusive.  My son Robbie uses a wheelchair and has developmental delays. He is 8-years-old but cognitively more like an 8-month-old infant. This guide will explain how each activity was accessible and inclusive for our entire family.

Accessible outdoor activities:
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Golden Horseshoe Sleigh Rides made no hesitation in helping us in any way they could to make our experience accessible and fun for the whole family. We pushed Robbie’s wheelchair to the warming tent and were given the option to go around the tent to the side with no steps. Remember this is a winter outdoor activity. Our son’s Convaid Rodeo handles well in the packed down snow and for more difficult to manage areas we pull him backwards on the two larger wheels. The warming tent offered delicious hot cocoa that is included and unlimited with the cost of your ticket. It was delicious and a great way to warm up before the main event. They also had a dairy free option of hot cider, talk about inclusion! Each group has time to meet and pet the horses. Our daughter takes riding lessons, and these gentle giants were the highlight of her trip. We pushed Robbie’s wheelchair right up to the side of the sleigh and they brought us a step stool to help with transferring him into the front row. The ride itself was so beautiful. Short enough that none of the kids got antsy but long enough to truly enjoy the scenery and take in the full experience. 

​Carter Park is a FREE sledding hill right in town. Our rental was walking distance and we brought Robbie’s adaptive sled with us. He uses a Kettler Snow Comfort Bob Sled and it is adapted with a FireFly GoTo seat for additional support. We started Robbie in his wheelchair and pushed both his chair and his bobsled to the base of the hill before transferring him. You do have to push to the top of the sledding hill here but it was doable with his adaptive sled. This sled has a footbrake which was great for slowing them down and keeping it in control with precious cargo. The views of the mountains from Carter Park are nothing short of spectacular. 

​Isak Heartstone is a 15ft tall wooden troll sculpture that is an absolute must see while in Breckenridge. In the summer, this is what our family would consider wheelchair friendly. You can find more detailed accessibility information for the trail here. Due to the fresh fallen snow we chose to carry our son in his child sized Kinderpack. The walk took less than 5 minutes each way and pictures do not do this sculpture justice. It is something you must experience in person. The trailhead can be found in the southeast corner of the Stephen C. West Ice Arena parking lot, which is also a Breck Free Ride bus stop. All Breck Free Ride buses are handicapped accessible, and they also offer complementary para-transit services through Mountain Mobility, in addition to the fixed routes. From the parking lot, follow the troll signs and always remember to leave no trace.

Staying warm indoors:
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​It was nice to have options that got us out of the winter weather. There are two FREE museums in town, and they are an easy walking distance apart. First, we visited the Barney Ford House Museum. I want to start by highlighting the accessible parking located behind the building. There are only a few spots, and the wheelchair accessible entrance is a short path from that parking lot, not the front of the building. Barney Ford’s story is incredibly moving. If you have never heard of him this short tour is well worth the 30 minutes we spent here. You can do a self-guided tour or talk to the historian on site about his remarkable life. Just a 2-minute walk or roll away is the Breckenridge Welcome Center. This 4,000 sq ft multilevel museum is a perfect place to start your trip. It is fully accessible with elevators and has interactive maps of the city. If you are looking for information on shopping, dining, and local activities, this is your one stop shop!

​The Breckenridge Recreation Center was the highlight of Robbie’s trip. Water is healing for him in ways that are hard to put into words. This location made an afternoon of water play incredibly inclusive for Robbie and easy for us as caregivers. To start there were accessible changing rooms big enough for Robbie’s wheelchair and both parents. We brought the pool wheelchair right to the changing room and transferred him to it as soon as he was in his swimsuit. We were able to push him from the changing room all the way into the slide pool which had an accessible ramp and was nice and heated! Robbie uses a LJ-A adaptive life vest so once he was transferred into the pool, he was able to float around freely. It was our 3-month-old baby’s first time in a pool and the warm water was perfect for her. The adults in our group loved taking turns in the hot tub and soaking our cares away. Our older kids moved over to the lap pool which has a neat rock-climbing wall coming out of the pool. Robbie wanted to follow them, so we pushed him using the pool wheelchair to the lift and transitioned him into the lap pool. I can’t tell you how much accessible options like this save our backs as caregivers.  The recreation center is a perfect addition to your trip no matter the season.

We had an opportunity to meet the team at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center and feel their passion for inclusion in the outdoors firsthand. Who are they? The BOEC is a non-profit organization that has a focus on including those with disabilities in the outdoors sine 1976. Stay tuned for when we return this summer to test out adaptive sports with Robbie! For now, I will leave you with a list of adapted activities they offer. In the winter, they host adaptive ski and snowboard programs. In the summer, they have an adaptive ropes course, biking, rafting, kayaking, hiking, and camping. Basically, if you have a passion to try something and there is a way, they can help make it happen they will.   Their staff supports our community with so much love and enthusiasm.

​Our family travels all over the United States and we were truly shocked to find the most inclusive location we have been to so far was right in our “back yard”. While Breckenridge is well known for its beautiful scenery, our family was fortunate enough to see the true heart and inclusion that takes place here.