Peak 8 · Imperial SuperChair
Imperial Bowl
The way in to the high terrain.
The open, obvious line from the top of Imperial SuperChair, at nearly 13,000 feet. Steep, exposed and often wind-affected.
Best runs
Best double black runs at Breckenridge
The best expert terrain at Breck: Imperial Bowl, the Lake Chutes, the North Chutes, bump runs and the Peak 6 bowls.
Photo: Adam Ginsburg, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Expert
Breck’s steepest terrain
About a third of Breck is rated expert, and most of it is high, above treeline on Peaks 6, 7 and 8 at close to 13,000 feet. It's also avalanche terrain, which ski patrol opens gate by gate, often later in the day after a storm.
Only go in through open gates, carry a phone and don't ski it alone. If you're new to Breck, start with the bump runs between Peaks 8 and 9 and the North Chutes. They're steep, but they're lower down and easier to get out of.
Some links on this site may be affiliate links. If you book through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
- HighestPeak 8 summit, 12,998 ft
- Extreme (EX)Lake Chutes, Serenity Bowl, Six Senses
- Best bumpsMach 1
- Best treesNorth Chutes
- Hike-toPeaks 6, 8 and 9
Double blacks
Fifteen expert runs
Peak 8 · Peak 8 summit
Easy Street
The least technical way off the top.
From the summit, a short hike above Imperial. Easier than the chutes around it, but still a double black.
Peak 8 · Peak 8 summit
Lake Chutes
Narrow, steep and technical.
Rated extreme terrain, with steep entrances and rock drops, reached by a short bootpack from the top of Imperial. They often open later than the rest of the upper mountain.
Our tip: If you're waiting for the Lake Chutes to open, it's worth it.
Peak 8 · Horseshoe Bowl T-Bar
Horseshoe Bowl
A big, open bowl.
Fine in good visibility. Off the Horseshoe Bowl T-Bar, and the south side keeps its snow longer.
Peak 8 · Lower Peak 8
Contest Bowl
Next door to Horseshoe.
Another open bowl that skis best on a clear day. Lower than Imperial, so a good place to start.
Peak 8 · Between Peaks 8 and 9
Mach 1
Steep bumps, below treeline.
A local favourite when the moguls are in good shape. Between the 6-Chair and the Peak 8 SuperConnect.
Peak 8 · Between Peaks 8 and 9
Southern Cross
Relentless bumps.
Next to Mach 1, and just as steep and bumpy.
Peak 8 · Between Peaks 8 and 9
Tiger
More bumps.
The third of the big bump runs in this area. Ski them all and your legs will know about it.
Peak 9 · E-Chair, North Chutes
Tom’s Mom
Tight trees.
One of the North Chutes off the E-Chair. Short, steep shots through the trees, and not a place to explore alone.
Peak 9 · E-Chair, North Chutes
Devil’s Crotch
Steep and tight.
Some of the steepest and tightest skiing at Breck, in the trees on the north side of Peak 9.
Peak 9 · E-Chair, North Chutes
Mine Shaft
More North Chutes trees.
Another tight tree line off the E-Chair. Go with someone who knows the way in and out.
Peak 7 · Peak 7 bowls
Magic Carpet
Start of a favourite line.
Traverse north from the top of Imperial to reach it. Magic Carpet into C.J.'s is one of the lift maintenance director's favourite lines.
Peak 7 · Peak 7 bowls
C.J.’s
The finish.
Further along the ridge from Whale's Tail, and where the Magic Carpet line ends up.
Peak 6 · Kensho, hike-to
Serenity Bowl
The easiest way in to the Peak 6 hike.
A steep hike of at least 30 minutes from the top of Kensho SuperChair. Rated extreme, but the least technical first run up here.
Peak 6 · Kensho, hike-to
Beyond Bowl
Wide and steep.
To the north of the Peak 6 hike. Big, wide and steep.
Keep exploring
More from Best runs
Quick tip
Ski & snowboard rental
Book online before you arrive and pick your gear up in town the evening before. The morning rush at the base shops can eat your first hour, and booking ahead can be cheaper.
Quick tip
Lift tickets & the Epic Pass
Breck is on the Epic Pass. Buying a ticket at the window on the day is the most expensive way up the hill, so buy ahead online or look at an Epic Day Pass if you're here for a few days.
The Friday snow email
One short email a week in season: what fell, what's open, and where to ride this weekend.