Blue Lakes – Evening
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
This is my most popular summer location! So there are lots of examples on my blog. It is nice that you can drive to this view and not have to hike! The road is a dirt road to get to this spot. That is something to be aware of, but it is totally passable in a car. Once you get to the parking lot, it’s a very short walk down a hill to get to the level of the lake. If there are people in your group that are unable to make the walk down to the lake, we can shoot at the level of the parking lot.
If you choose this location, I will monitor the weather. Sometimes it can get windy and chilly up there. If it looks like this is the case, I will give you the option to choose an alternate location.
Can you shoot at Blue Lakes in the morning? Yes, BUT the view is not the same as I have to shoot the opposite direction. Also you don’t want to shoot to late in the morning as it gets crowded and the sun can get very bright. So If you want to do this location in the morning, I’d suggest early morning.
Blue Lakes – Morning
When shooting at Blue Lakes in the morning, I typically shoot the opposite direction so your view is different. I may be able to shoot towards the lake for some candids. As I mentioned earlier, I’d suggest an earlier morning time, like 7ish before it gets crowded.
Tiger Road
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
Sapphire Point
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
This is half way between Breck and Frisco. It does get really busy here but nice views. I tend to shoot over on the rec path or in the trees to avoid the people walking to the overlook.
It is important to note that there are some dates in 2025 that Sapphire Point will not be open due to some construction.
McCullough Gulch
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
You can actually drive to McCullough Gulch , the road is a bit bumpy though.
Update as of Summer of 2024: this road is in much better shape. No big potholes, but still very rocky. If you are interested in this spot, ask me and I will update you on road conditions.I live close by so I can go check it out.
There are some seriously amazing views here! If you like this location, but aren’t willing to do the drive, you can hike here. Its a little over a mile one way but has a good elevation gain. I’d say about 600 foot elevation gain. Time wise we’d have to do this more as a hiking session if you didnt want to drive up there.
You have views of Quandary here and plenty of aspens. Past the 1st week of October, Id say there isn’t much color anymore. The trees will have dropped their leaves by then. Still pretty until the road closes for winter, but have to keep in mind the bushes and aspens won’t have any more leaves on them.
Larium Open Space
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 10 minutes
This location is not too far from main street in Breck. Maybe about 4 miles. What you get here is some old cabins, lots of pine trees and a view of Breck. For the Mountain View you do need to be able to walk a short distance up a hill. This is a pretty quiet area, unless it’s a major holiday. They have updated the parking area this year. I previously didn’t want to offer this location due to the small parking lot.
Rainbow Lakes Trailhead
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
This location is in Frisco. But offers some great views right from the parking lot. The trees here will be green until mid Sept. The Aspens will change around mid September. Once the leaves change, you will have bare tress in the background.
Secret Spot in Frisco
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
I don’t know how secret this really is, but its tucked away just behind a parking lot. Views of Peak 1, and lots of trees. We can get mountain views here and we get photos in the trees too. It’s a nice mix!
Miners Creek in Frisco
Time of Day: Evening
This location is nice for lots of fall color (or green in the summer). The mountains peek out from the tops of the trees. The trees are bigger and more plentiful here than the location above.
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
Trailhead in Breckenridge
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families (for extended families I’d say groups of 10 or less)
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
I know of a trailhead in Breckenridge that overlooks the ski mountain. This is a lesser known spot. Here you have lots of pine trees and some mountain views.
Hoosier Pass
Time of Day: Afternoon/Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
There are several options for sessions on Hoosier Pass. First, there is a pull off at near the top of Hooiser pass that offers some great mountain views.
Or park at the top of the pass and head across to highway 9 to these wonderful views.
Clinton Gulch Reservoir
Time of Day: Morning
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 30 minutes
This spot is not to far from Copper Mountain so its a little longer of a drive from Breckenridge. But you have mountains and a lake. This is one of the few spots I recommend for a morning shoot.
Due to the distance from where I live I do add on a small travel fee. This fee is $25.
Woodsy Backdrops
Time of Day: Morning or Evening
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 10 minutes
If you aren’t so concerned with the Mountain View then there are lots of places with trees, water, or wildflowers or the middle of the woods.This first picture was taken right in my neighborhood in Blue River. You can’t see the mountains here, but in July and August there are usually lots of wildflowers. If you have a specific idea, such as a river, let me know and we can figure out a good spot.
Or let me know if you would prefer a more woodsy backdrop.
Dirt Road, Cabin, and lots of Pine Trees
Time of Day: Early Morning or Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
I seriously love this spot! think this spot is rather cute. It doesn’t have majestic mountain views, but it is kinda of remote and quiet. As far as time of day, I can do morning or evening. When I say morning, I mean on the earlier side. It does get kind of bright after the sun gets up high. Maybe around 7am? At the end of the road is a creek. This location is very secluded and we won’t see many people around.
Cucumber Gulch
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 10 minutes
I would suggest evening for this location, if you want views of the mountains. This location does not open to the public until early July. Breckenridge closes off the trails for the Moose in the spring. Then the trails get closed again in the fall timeframe.
Sawmill Reservoir
Time of Day: Late Afternoon / Evening
Group Size: individuals, couple, small families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 10 minutes
Another great late afternoon/evening location. Here you have a lake, tree, and mountains. Something to keep in minds, is there is a short walk to get to the lake from the parking lot. I’d say 5-10 minutes. Keep in mind this location does get busier.
Very Short Hike in Alma
Type of Sessions: Long sessions only
Time of Day: Afternoon/Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 30 minutes
Are you staying on the other side of Hoosier Pass, in Alma or FairPlay?
My ideas for this area are near Montgomery Reservoir. If you don’t mind about a 1/2 mile hike/walk then we can get to this view. I think this would be good for a small family, couple or senior session.Although there is plenty of space and if you have a large family and everyone is up to the walk we can do that.
Due to the time to get to this spot, I can only do this location for a long session. It is a gorgeous spot and we can stop along the way to take some pictures to break up the walk.
Montgomery Reservoir
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couples, Individuals, small families, large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 25 minutes
Montgomery Reservoir is located in Alma, CO. Alma is a short drive from Breckenridge. I’d say about 25 minutes from downtown Breck. In Alma there is a reservoir that has nice views and even a waterfall at the back of the lake. I can shoot a large family at the lake but the waterfall may be more challenging for larger families. Although we could do the smaller groups or individual kids pictures at the waterfall. The view from the lake is right next to the parking lot, so you don’t have to walk to far.
Trailhead Overlooking Breck
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 10 minutes
This location has a great view of Breck. The terrain is rocky though, so if anyone in your party needs a flat surface this may not be a great location.
Click this link if you’d like to see this location. This spot has great views of the ski slopes.
Aspens
Time of Day: Morning or late Afternoon
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: varies, but this specific location is about 20 minutes away
Are you interested in a session with just aspens? We can do that! I have some great aspen groves. One of them is at a trailhead, so I prefer to shoot here in the late afternoon so that the parking lot has thinned out some.
Here are some sample pictures from an aspen grove in Frisco
Lake Dillon
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families or large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 30 minutes
Lake Dillon will give you the Lake and Mountain views with out driving up to Blue Lakes. There are several spots along the lake that we can go depending on the size of your family/ group. Since you are on the water it can get a bit windy.
Frisco Adventure Park – Pine Trees and Mountains
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15 minutes
This spot is not huge so I would not choose it for a large family. This is s a good spot for individuals, couples, and small families. There are lots of pine trees with the mountains peeking out above the trees.
Field in Frisco
Time of Day: Morning
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15-20 minutes
I get asked sometimes about morning sessions. I typically shoot with the mountains to the west which means you’d be looking into the sun during a morning session. So for morning sessions I have to change up locations. This particular spot looks eastward towards Keystone. I do suggest if you want to do a morning session to go as early as possible. (Before 9am). The longer you wait the brighter it gets and then you may be squinty.
Prospector Campground Area
This spot is quiet. It offers mountain views and lots of pine trees.
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15-20 minutes
Officers Gulch
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 20 minutes
This spot is close to Copper Mountain. Here you have water, a small bridge, some rocks, and mountains.
Pass Lake
Time of Day: Morning/ Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 30 minutes
This location is further from Breck, but does have some nice views. I always warn people that this location has a high elevation. That means it can be a lot cooler!
Photos coming soon!
Lake Dillon in Frisco
Time of Day: Evening
Group Size: couple, individuals, small families , large families
Distance from Downtown Breckenridge: about 15-20 minutes
This spots is a short 10 min walk down to the water from the parking lot.
Photos coming soon!
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