There's nothing like a cool refreshing hike to a waterfall on a hot summer Colorado day.

The best way to cool off this time of the year in Colorado is to head to the high country where you can enjoy a hike in the cool mountain air.

Breckenridge is a popular tourist destination in both the summer and winter seasons, but for completely different reasons. While people flock to Breckenridge in the winter for skiing, it's also a great destination for summer fun like hiking and biking.

Summertime highs around Breckenridge are generally in the 70s, which is extremely comfortable for hiking enthusiasts. There are three Breckenridge hikes featuring waterfalls you might want to check out this summer.

While not the biggest waterfall in the area, the waterfalls of  Monte Cristo Creek are a beautiful sight as they cascade through the gulch. Take Blue Lakes Road (CR 850) to reach the Monte Cristo Creek area. You may find the Blue Lakes Trail, a 1-mile hike that features a lake and even more hiking above the upper lake. This is located between Mount Lincoln and Quandary Peak so it's a popular destination for hikers.

Another beautiful hike near Breckenridge is McCullough Gulch, about 7 miles south of town, on the right side of Highway 9. There is also a 1.3 mile hike to McCullough Gulch at the end of County Road 851 on Hoosier Pass. This elevation of this hike is going to be about 11,000 feet so it should feel extremely comfortable as you enjoy White Falls. You might even spot some wildlife such as moose, mountain goats, foxes, or even a bear.

The largest waterfall around Breckenridge is Continental Falls along the Mohawk Lakes trail. If you go all the way to Upper Mohawk Lake you've got yourself a challenging 6.7-mile hike round-trip. This is one of the more popular hiking trails in the area, so if you do this one on the weekend you can expect to encounter plenty of company. You can access this hike from the Spruce Creek Trail, about 2 1/2 miles south of town.

All three of these hikes are going to be beautiful, they feature waterfalls, and will make for a perfect hiking destination during the hottest days of the summer.

[GO BRECK]

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