Dillon Reservoir Recpath

The Dillon/Breckenridge/Frisco area is very bike-friendly, and there are many miles of paved paths that connect all the towns in the Dillon Lake area. In addition to hiking opportunities, the Dillon Reservoir Recpath is a terrific loop that is very scenic and mostly easy and flat, but two hills make the entire 18.7-mile loop a bit of a challenge. The path has a well-maintained surface and is plenty wide.

The Recpath can be accessed anywhere along its route, but the starting point for the mile markers is at the Frisco Marina, where there is plenty of parking. Going clockwise around the lake, the first 11 miles are mostly flat, and the first section between Frisco and the Dillon Marina is the most popular. There are a few places where the path runs adjacent to the roadway, but the path is very wide and well-delineated, so it feels very safe. Dillon, around mile 7, is a great place to stop for a break or a snack before continuing on the more challenging half of the trail.

From Dillon the path continues toward Keystone along the northeast shore of the lake until it reaches the easternmost tip. Around mile 10 the path begins the long climb around Swan Mountain. This section is very pretty with views toward Loveland Pass and back down to the lake. There are many switchbacks, and the grade is steady. At mile 13 the path reaches the Sapphire Point parking area and the highest elevation of the loop. The Sapphire Point Loop is a great short hike to stretch the legs following the climb.

Just past the high point the Recpath ends and bikes share the road with cars for the exhilarating 1.5-mile downgrade. At the bottom of the hill the path crosses the highway and mostly parallels it back to Frisco. There is some hill climbing on this last segment of the ride, but it only lasts about a mile and travels through aspen groves, offering some beautiful views of the mountains before the path returns to the Frisco Marina.