11 Fun Things to do in Keystone, Colorado in Summer
Looking for all the best things to do in Keystone, Colorado in summer? We’ve been to many of the Colorado mountain towns and recently stayed a few nights in Keystone. This cute little mountain town is often more affordable than surrounding towns, but still pack its own list of fun activities.
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It’s a great town for families, too. From gondola rides to paddle boats in the little village to walks along the river and nearby fun, Keystone is a great place for families to slow down a little and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
Pack your bags for a great Colorado mountain getaway with all these fun activities in Keystone, CO in the summer!
Keystone Colorado Summer Activities
Many people flock to Keystone and the surrounding areas in winter for the fabulous skiing (Keystone was always one of my favorite). But heading to the Colorado mountains in summer is just as fun, and you don’t have to lug around all your gear.
Here are the best things to do in Keystone, CO in summer!
Please Note- Many summer activities in Keystone, CO do not open until mid- to late-June!
1. Paddle on Keystone Lake
In Keystone Lakeside Village is Keystone Lake, a smaller but fun lake right in the middle of a walking path, restaurants, and lodging.
Activities on the lake are seasonal, of course. But if you visit Keystone in summer, you can take advantage of paddle boats, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and canoes. Check out the lakeside Keystone Adventure Center that offers rentals of all these watercraft items, then enjoy a gentle paddle in this quaint village area.
We finally bought our own paddle board because it’s SO much fun for the family. Consider bringing your own, as you’ll have a chance here and later at Dillon Reservoir to paddle!
👉🏼 Here’s the one I recommend thanks to having a dual action pump (it pumps air in to inflate and out when you’re done), a nice size, and non-slip standing area. Plus, the double sided oar is great when you want to sit and paddle (I wish my own oar had this!)
2. Enjoy Pizza on the Water’s Edge
There are a few restaurants around the lake, including a pizza parlor on the north side. Kids will love this option, and adults will love the relaxing vibe of eating lakeside.
There’s also a bistro bar on the the northwest side of the lake, though not right at the water’s edge. It’s convenient to walk to if you’ve been on the water though.
3. Walk or Bike the Rec Path in Keystone
The recreation trail runs through Keystone Lakeside Village and all the way over to Lake Dillon. Sections of the trail run right along the Snake River, making it a classic mountain town stroll.
The path is easy and flat and also welcomes cyclists (if you’d like to bike your way through town instead of walking).
The path will end at the Sapphire Point Lookout along Swan Mountain Road, over in the neighboring town of Dillon. I’d definitely recommend bikes if you want to take it that far, as it’s roughly 5 miles from Lakeside Village to Sapphire Point via the rec path.
Otherwise, just enjoy a leisurely stroll along the river, making sure to stop at the bridges to stand above the flowing waters.
4. Walk Through Keystone Resort’s Village
While Lakeside Village offers a relaxing, slowed-down pace, Keystone Resort’s village offers a little more activity. Here is where you’ll find plenty of shops, restaurants, and services. The village is located right at the bottom of the ski resort, so you’ll also find some easy trailheads, or just a path to walk through some of the impressive mountain homes.
5. Hiking in Keystone
For a family-friendly hike in Keystone with stunning views, take the hike on the resort mountain.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to hike to the top. You’ll actually need to take the River Run Gondola up Dercum Mountain. Then get off and enjoy a 2.3 mile hike on the Dercum Summit Hiking Trail.
You’ll also find an easy, scenic trail if you head further down US-6. Park at Pass lake and enjoy the trail that goes by that lake, as well as Lake Kaz.
Don’t forget your hiking gear to make for a smooth hike for the whole family
👉🏼 Check out my rundown of the best backpack child carriers to make sure even the youngest ones are comfortable on your hike!
6. Enjoy a Special Event in Keystone
Throughout the summer (starting about in Mid-June), Keystone holds many events that are great for the whole family. Bacon lovers can unite at the Bacon and Bourbon Festival, celebrate America with their 4th of July events, check out the 3 day art festival, or get festive at Oktoberfest.
These kind of events are what really brings a smaller mountain town to life, especially the Jazz or Bluegrass festival. While places like Telluride offer festivals that require you pack in with tens of thousands of people, Keystone opens to a few thousand. This brings the town alive without overpacking it at every turn.
7. Ride the Gondola
The Keystone Gondola is a real treat, giving you views of the Continental Divide, Lake Dillon, and surrounding mountains.
The top will treat you with a trail (see #5) or a mountain top restaurant to enjoy lunch.
The unfortunate part here is that unlike Breckenridge’s free gondola, the ride here will cost you. Check the website for costs and operating times.
8. Play a Round of Mini Golf
Right in River Run village is a mini golf place that opens late June from Thursday to Monday. You’ll be surrounded by shops, restaurants, amenities, and even a playground. Find it in Dercum Square.
9. Keystone Fun Park
One of the best attractions in Keystone in the summer is located at the resort where you’ll find Keystone’s Fun Park.
The kids will love panning for gems, trampoline time, bounce house fun, and a chairlift ride. Find opening dates for the Fun Park here.
10. Summer Snow Tubing
One of the most fun and unique things to do in Keystone in summer is actually a traditional winter activity. In winter, Keystone resort hosts the largest snow fort in the world. Come summer, they fort is taken down and piled into 2 tracks for summer tubing.
Once that snow starts to melt, they combine it into 1 lane. The goal is for the snow to last until at least late August.
This makes Keystone the only place to snow tube in Colorado in the summer using real snow! Enjoy the thrill of tubing down the hill without having to bundle up.
👉🏼 Reserve your summer tubing adventure here.
11. Keystone Bike Park
Does your family enjoy a little mountain biking? Keystone bike park is a great place for the whole family to enjoy a day on the mountain.
The bike park has drops, rock gardens, and other skills set features, including a base skills area. The downhill park makes it so you’ll have fun without too much exertion.
More Fun Close to Keystone
If that list isn’t enough to keep you busy for your stay, there are ample opportunities to find fun in nearby towns.
Closer to I-70 (just a few minutes drive away), is the town of Dillon. This town offers:
- Lake Dillon Marina with water rentals
- Sapphire Point Trail with great overlooks of Lake Dillon and beyond into the mountains
- Dillon Amphitheater offers shows and concerts with the lake as the backdrop
On the other end of Swan Mountain Road (or one exit further up I-70) is the town of Frisco. Here you can find:
- Frisco Adventure Center with hiking, biking, disc golf, chuck wagon rides, and other activities
- Frisco Bay Marina provides a large sandy beach area, water rentals, and a park for kids. This is one of the coolest lakes in Colorado you can hang out at.
- Island Kayak Tour where a guide will arrange your kayak and guide you to the most beautiful spots of Dillon Reservoir
And just beyond Frisco is the popular town of Breckenridge. This place is packed with summer fun and I highly recommend you make a stop over here if you have time. Just a few things to do in Breck inculde:
- Isak Heartstone is a famous Thomas Dambo troll just a short walk from the parking lot
- Hiking in Breck offers many family friendly trails
- See a few waterfalls, some which are super easy to get to and some which require a hike
- Ride the gondola, which as I mentioned earlier is free in Breckenridge
- Spend a day exploring everything the town offers on a fun family scavenger hunt
Where to Stay in Keystone
Keystone is a little different than other nearby mountain towns. You won’t find too many hotels in Keystone, but there are tons of condo rentals.
Red Hawk Condo-
⬆️ We stayed at this condo and really liked it:
- A short walk from River Run Village (and the gondola)
- A heated pool and hot tub
- Most affordable rental we found that could fit our family of 6
- BEDS for 6 people (a bed in the Master and 2 sets of twin bunks in a second room)
- Beautiful property with a lobby area with foosball and billiards
Springs Lodge
Though if we were willing to spend a little more money, we probably would have stayed here.
Solely because there was a small waterslide into the pool. Waterslides always win with my kids 🙂
But this place has 3 bedrooms, so you can sleep 6 people in beds or 8 people with a sofa bed. You’ll still get a billiards table, nice fitness center, and of course a pool.
Good To Know about Keystone
- Many activities open up toward the mid-to-end of June
- The gondola costs $
- There is a City Market (large grocery store) about 6 miles away toward I-70
- There are lots of restaurants, and even more toward I-70 in the Dillon/Silverthorne area
- If you forgot/need anything, there is an outlet mall area just on the other side of I-70
Best Things to do in Keystone Colorado in Summer
Before we went to Keystone with kids, we were unsure if there’d be much to do. We had been to neighboring towns like Breckenridge and Frisco before and there was so much to do. While Keystone may not offer as many activities, they offer plenty to have a nice weekend away.
And if you have more than a weekend in Keystone, make sure to head over to the nearby towns. This will give you a great taste of some of Colorado’s great mountain towns.
I found Keystone to be a little more low-key, which isn’t a bad thing. It moves a little slower while still offering some great fun and scenery. I definitely recommend waiting until later in June for your summer trip to Keystone, CO. We went at the very end of May, and not much was open.
Even still, we enjoyed our scenic visit of walking around and getting to know the town a bit without snow.
While I always loved skiing here in the winter, summer brings a whole new feel to it. We were happy to have found plenty of things to do in Keystone Colorado in summer to make it worth a trip.
