It had been years since I stayed at The Lodge at Breckenridge. Returning while the golden aspens are putting on a show remind me what makes this mountainside property special. It’s the view.

Perched at 10,200 feet on a forested cliff above town, The Lodge has a spectacular view of Breckenridge Ski Resort and the Tenmile Range. It feels tucked away in the mountains, yet downtown Breckenridge is only about five miles away.

I stayed in Room 202, Mount Lincoln, a double queen room. The name immediately made me smile. I’ve summited 14,293-foot Mount Lincoln, one of Colorado’s 14ers.

A Little Lodge History

The property dates to the 1970s, when it was built as an athletic club on Boreas Pass Road. It was Breckenridge’s first fitness center.

In the 1980s, it became The Lodge and Spa at Breckenridge with 31 guest rooms and a restaurant. Fourteen additional rooms were added in the 1990s. More recent renovations updated the guest rooms and other spaces while retaining the lodge’s Colorado mountain character.

Inside Room 202

Mount Lincoln has the cozy feel you want in a Colorado mountain lodge. Large trees outside the windows add to the tucked-in-the-forest setting. Wood accents throughout the room give it a touch of log cabin style without going overboard.

Splashes of colorful artwork brighten the otherwise earthy decor.

The closet has plenty of practical extras, including robes, additional bedding, a heater, fan, ironing board and iron. Those little details are especially useful during Colorado’s shoulder seasons, when temperatures can swing quickly.

The bathroom is small but makes good use of its space. There’s storage in and below the vanity, and I particularly like the black-and-white tile floor.

But, it’s the balcony for why I love the room.

The Million Dollar View

The best part of Room 202 is on the other side of the glass.

A table and two chairs create a comfortable seating area next to the window. Step onto the balcony and the view steals the show.

Breckenridge Ski Resort stretches across the mountains directly in front of you. The view also extends down the valley and across the surrounding peaks. During fall, golden aspens add brilliant streaks of color to the landscape.

It’s the kind of balcony where you walk outside for a minute and end up staying much longer.

Dinner With a Sunset

Instead of taking the Lodge’s free shuttle into today, I opted to have an early dinner in the bar at Traverse Restaurant. I enjoyed a burrata salad with shrimp, paired with a refreshing Lemon Fizz mocktail.

Since I didn’t splurge on the truffle fries that were calling my name, the bartender talked me into ordering the Italian lemon cake for dessert. Before it came out, Mother Nature served up a delight in the sky.

A gorgeous sunset over the mountains topped off the evening. With the lodge sitting high above Breckenridge, there are plenty of reasons to linger outside as daylight fades.

A Chilly Start to Leaf Peeping

I woke the next morning to temperatures in the 40s. It was officially boots-and-sweater weather, and a perfect chilly start to a day of leaf peeping around Breckenridge.

Golden aspens, crisp mountain air and sweeping views are a hard combination to beat.

The balcony made for the perfect backdrop for my live segment on where to go for fall colors on The Weather Channel.

My Take on The Lodge at Breckenridge

The Lodge at Breckenridge is a great choice if you want mountain scenery and a quieter setting instead of staying in the middle of downtown.

Room 202 is comfortable with plenty of Colorado mountain character. The bathroom is on the smaller side, but the room has everything I need for a mountain getaway.

And then there’s that balcony.

For me, the sweeping view of Breckenridge Ski Resort, the golden aspens and a gorgeous sunset made this return stay memorable.

My only mistake? Staying just one night.