Skinny Ski Heaven: Breckenridge Nordic Center
The Dayton family, who started the Breckenridge Nordic Center, have always been passionately building a Nordic recreation reality.
The BNC is comprised of 30 kilometers of ski tracks and 20 kilometers of snowshoe trails at the edge of the Breckenridge ski area. Many of the tall trees on the trails are over 250 years old, so the timber helps keep great snow and adds a sense of tranquility with every kick.
The Dayton family is famous in Colorado and Nordic skiing circles as athletes, adaptive recreation visionaries, and actual operators. Therese and Gene are champion master’s ski competitors. All three children had stellar Nordic careers up to and including Olympic competition.
The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, one of the largest in the world, is devoted to outdoor education and experience for various disabled and challenged individuals. There would be no BOEC without Gene. He was the first director of the BOEC and has been on the board ever since. It’s fashionable now, but it was just a concept without form when they got rolling.
Therese, a special education teacher, combined her work and passion with Gene, who received a MA in Recreation Administration from Florida State. After starting four other cross-country areas (all still going great skate), the Dayton’s started the BNC in 1969. Their mission focuses on outdoor experiences boosting the quality of life for the disabled, challenged, and able-bodied. The center also has individual adaptive ski programs and partners with the BOEC.
The center sits on land that required a careful lease and use dance with the town, the ski area, and the forest service. That alone should have won the Dayton’s a foresight medal.
At the BNC, Therese is the de-facto all-things manager in the main lodge and is the resident chef daily in the bar area. The fare is way above standard compared to small alpine and XC areas. The freshly baked pretzel-zilla combines well with any of the homemade soups.
Gene drives the Prinoth snowcats/groomers and is the happy hour accordionist. The snowcat tours are optimal for that person who does not want to ski, snowshoe or luge yet still wants to be outdoors.
The staff is composed of Nordic-outdoor evangelists, who more than like what they do. While you are skiing, you won’t see them skiing, that is reserved for the end of the day after everyone has left. Better to avoid getting your competitive juices going against Gene as he turns into Sven the Speedy on the track.
Just a nine-minute drive from downtown Breckenridge, the impressive lodge sits front and center. Built by the Dayton’s from the ground up with local trees, it combines the ski shop, rentals, seating, fireplace, bar, and after-trekking sustenance. Passes for the trails range from one day, multiple days and a punch system for the season.
Josh Dayton manages the ski and rental shop and is the Nordic wizard on all things ski and snowshoe. Featuring a stellar ski and rental gear lineup, the range goes from beginner to competitor. Nordic skis are split between classic and skate skiing. Josh is intimately connected to the nuances of all the gear and can ensure the boots or skis fit by asking a few questions. Then it’s on to actual skiing to ensure skier-meld.
Snowshoeing is a primary activity at the BNC. If you are just starting out, they have lightweight rentals with the all-foam option weighing less than four pounds. Performance shoes are also stocked for those who want to pick up the pace.
Compared to alpine skiing, Nordic is another world; and professional direction helps. Nordic skiing requires a different approach than alpine as the boots anchor on the front and are much more like a flexible hiking boot. With the skis being much narrower and a single anchor point, understanding movements compared to alpine is critical. Balance is different and turns can require little adjusting movements where you lift the ski, point, change direction, and repeat.
Snowshoe options allow you to proceed on the unique trails alone or take a guide. The BNC has both group and individual lessons which will get you comfortable on green and maybe blue trails.
For being so close to the town and the alpine ski hill, The BNC trail system is hidden enough in the trees for some serenity. The paths have both skating and track sections and are coded with the green-blue-black difficulty system. The trails with the lowest elevation, furthest from the alpine ski area, are more friendly to the novice skier. However, this is different from your flat meadow ski trail system. There are always little hills and twists to keep it interesting. I have ski-explored many Nordic complexes, and this is one of the top three in interesting, visually absorbing terrain.
You will likely go around the Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve. Expect to see the occasional moose, fox, pine marten coyote, and birds. The water features are home to 17 beaver ponds.
As you climb higher toward the alpine ski area, the terrain gets far more demanding. The Gluteus Maximus trail kicks the back pants pockets. Then you will likely need a rest and warm-up at the Hallelujah Hut, one of two warming cabins on the upper side of the BNC.
If you or someone in your group wants to avoid skiing or snowshoeing but still get out on the trail, the BNC features tours in their spiffy Prinoth Snow Cats. Ultra-luxurious with maximum safety, you can go around the trails and get a bit of nature commentary combined with local mining history. The track cats are specifically designed to groom the trails as they go. If you want an Olympic tryout, the BNC has a little mound to try your first luge ride and a little more extensive track further up the hill.
Summer is not short-changed at the Breck Nordic Center, as the trails are open for hiking and mountain biking. The plus is more wildlife around the wilderness area in the summer than when the critters are cozied up for the winter.
The Breckenridge Nordic Center is a mountain-top experience on hillside of the town. The lodge, trail system, and amenities are nestled into the hills, trees and wetlands with almost no disturbance. The Dayton family are accomplished Nordic skiers who have provided significant fitness & recreation paths for the whole community.
They are way more than pillars. They are bedrock.