Main Street Breckenridge at dusk with the ski runs and a full moon behind

Best runs

Four O’Clock: ski back to Breckenridge

Four O’Clock is Breck’s longest run at 3.5 miles, from the top of Peak 8 back to town. How to ski it and when to avoid it.

Photo: 420 Photography, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The run home

The longest run at Breck

Four O'Clock is 3.5 miles long, the longest run at Breck, and it takes you from high on Peak 8 all the way back into town. It was probably the first run cut through the woods here, and it got its name because it was the way back to town at closing time.

The top half is blue, the bottom half is green, and it finishes at the edge of town, a short walk or bus ride from Main Street. Any confident beginner can ski it. The catch is timing. At 3:30 on a busy day, half the mountain is going the same way.

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  • Length3.5 miles
  • StartsNear Vista Haus, Peak 8
  • EndsTown
  • DifficultyBlue, then green
  • Busiest3pm to 4pm

The route

Top to bottom, section by section

Upper 4 O’Clock

Where it starts.

High on Peak 8, near the top of the Colorado SuperChair. Blue, wide and usually groomed, with a look across Summit County before you drop into the trees.

Middle 4 O’Clock

Still blue.

The next section down. Still wide and easy for a blue.

4 O’Clock

The long middle section.

Winds down the Peak 8 side of the mountain toward town. Plenty of people use it in the afternoon, so keep an eye uphill when you stop.

Lower 4 O’Clock

Green from here.

Brings you down past the mid-load station of the Snowflake lift. Gentle, but busy after 3pm.

Lowest 4 O’Clock

The last bit into town.

The final green stretch to the edge of town.

Gondola Ski Back

The other easy way down.

A green alternative toward town if you'd rather skip the end of Four O'Clock.

Tips

How to ski it well

Go before 3pm or after 4pm

Miss the rush.

The resort says 4pm is the busiest time for lots and roads too, so leaving the hill a bit early or a bit late helps with everything.

Stay together

It’s long.

It's a long way for small legs. Stop where you can see uphill, and agree on a meeting point at the bottom.

Take the gondola

If your legs are done.

The free gondola from Peak 8 runs down to town until 5pm. No shame in it.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How long is Four O’Clock at Breckenridge?

3.5 miles, from near Vista Haus on Peak 8 down to town. It is the longest run at the resort.

Why is it called Four O’Clock?

Because it was the way down to town at closing time, according to local history of the run names.

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.

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