Updated August 23, 2021
When you think of a ski resort town, whether summer or winter, you automatically think EXPENSIVE. Well, believe it or not, there are all kinds of summer activities in Summit County Colorado that are absolutely free!
Awesome FREE Summer Activities near Breckenridge and Keystone, Colorado
Here are seven of my family’s favorite things to do in Summit County in the summer. Not only are they all lots of fun, but they also won’t cost you anything.
Frisco Bike Park
I’ve been taking Eli to the Frisco Bike Park since he started riding his Strider Bike at two years old. It’s the perfect way to spend a summer day. There are five different tracks set up for riders of all abilities and sizes. Eli started on the tiny track, worked his way up to the pump track, and is now trying out some of the big dirt jumps.
We usually pack a picnic lunch to eat at one of the many picnic tables around the Bike Park. There are bathrooms nearby in the Frisco Day Lodge. There’s also a great skate park that is free as well.
Drive To The Continental Divide At The Top of Loveland Pass
Experience Breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains (literally breathtaking at almost 12,000 feet in elevation) at the Continental Divide. You can also take a few of the short hikes from the parking area to get incredible photo opportunities.
Getting There -Loveland Pass is thirteen miles from Keystone. Drive Highway 6 East from Keystone past Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. The steep and winding road will keep heading up for a few more miles until you reach the Continental Divide. You can’t miss the sign and parking area at the top.
Friday Afternoon Club at the Top of Keystone
Keystone is not offering Friday Afternoon Club for the summer of 2021 due to a lack of employees. Hopefully, it will be offered in 2022. I’ll keep this post updated.
Every Friday afternoon in the summer from 1:00 to 7:00 Keystone Resort hosts Friday Afternoon Club. You can catch a free gondola ride to the top of Keystone mountain where you will find all kinds of outdoor games set up. They have bocce ball, corn hole, ladder ball, slacklines, and even a sandbox. You’ll also find the most amazing view ever of Lake Dillon, Breckenridge, and the surrounding mountains. Food and drinks are available and there are plenty of Adirondack chairs and picnic tables. There’s usually a live band that starts at 3:30.
If it’s a nice day and we’re in town, Friday Afternoon Club is always our go-to activity. If we have friends or family visiting, we head up to Friday Afternoon Club. It’s so much fun!
If it’s rainy, the party and band get moved inside the Summit House. It’s not nearly as fun but would still be worth checking out for the free gondola ride and the view from the top.
Dillon Amphitheater
The Dillon Amphitheater is one of the most amazing concert venues ever. Sitting on the grass listening to music with the beautiful backdrop of Lake Dillon and the Rocky Mountains behind the stage is
After a complete remodel in the summer of 2018, Dillon Amphitheater now brings some big-name bands that you have to pay to see. But, there are still plenty of free concerts. There are also movie nights where a big screen is set up on the stage and a movie is played after dusk. You can find information about all upcoming Dillon Amphitheater events here.
The free concerts are open seating, first come first served (although there are those people who put up chairs first thing in the morning to save their seats). The bottom half of the amphitheater is cement step seating and the top half is all grass. You can bring a camp chair to put on the cement steps or in the back of the grassy area. We like to lay out a blanket to sit on.
Although food and drinks are available for purchase, you are allowed to bring in your own food. But, no outside alcohol is allowed.
If you are ever in Summit County in the summertime a concert or movie at the Dillon Amphitheater can’t be missed. The Dillon Amphitheater absolutely makes the list of my favorite free summer activities in Summit County Colorado.
The Frisco Bay Marina Beach
Both the towns of Frisco and Dillon have a marina on Lake Dillon but the marina in Frisco is much more family-friendly. There’s a playground, The Island Grill restaurant, a huge grassy area with picnic tables and benches, and a man-made beach with soft sand.
On a sunny day, the Frisco Bay Marina Beach is a great spot to bring a lunch and hang out. The beach and nearby playground is the perfect place for kids to run around. The adults can grab a beverage from the Island Grill and bring it to the grassy area overlooking the beach. It’s the perfect setup.
Keystone Kidtopia Activities
Keystone is not offering Kidtopia Activities for the summer of 2021 due to a lack of employees. Hopefully, Kidtopia will be back for the summer of 2021. I’ll keep this post updated.
Again Keystone makes the list of my favorite free summer activities in Summit County Colorado. Of all the ski resorts in Summit County, Keystone is the most family-friendly. Keystone hosts all kinds of fun activities for kids through its Kidtopia program. The best part is most of the activities are completely free!
Every summer some Kidtopia activities are eliminated and new ones are created but they are all consistently awesome. We’ve gone to Kidtopia events with bouncy castles, face painting, bubble pit, pony riding, craft making, a magic show, and a zoo animal presentation. Yes, all free.
One of Eli’s favorite Kidtopia activities is the Strider Bike Race. This is one activity that seems to return every summer. The Strider Bike Race starts at 9:00 most Sunday mornings throughout the summer in the River Run Village. If you don’t have a strider bike you can rent one at a bike shop nearby.
The race is for 1-5-year-olds and the kids are divided into age groups for the race. Prizes are given for the first, second, and third place winners. Every child gets a huge lollipop for racing. It’s a lot of fun for the kids to
When the kids are done racing they love to go wash off their bikes at the mountain bike wash station.
Hiking In Summit County Colorado In The Summer
Hiking is by far my favorite free summer activity in Summit County Colorado. There are hundreds of miles of established hiking trails for all ages and abilities. One of my favorite family-friendly hikes is the stroll to see the Breckenridge troll. Hiking is great because you can pack lunch and go all day or just hike for an hour or two.
If you look at the Dillon Ranger District’s website you will find descriptions of over 50 hikes in Summit County. There is information on the difficulty level and directions to the trailheads.
It’s best to start hiking in the morning because it’s almost always sunny in the mornings in Summit County. Storms don’t usually move in until the afternoon.
For more kid-friendly hikes in Summit County read the post 5 EASY HIKES IN BRECKENRIDGE (AND NEARBY) THAT ARE JUST RIGHT FOR KIDS
Whether you are catching a concert at the Dillon Amphitheater, playing at the beach in Frisco, or just going for a hike, there are so many free summer activities in Summit County.
“I moved here for the winters but stayed for the summers” is a common saying among Summit County locals. I agree with that sentiment one hundred percent. Summers here are absolutely amazing.
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