Carter Park pickleball courts

Free summer drop-in on 12 courts at 9,600 feet.

Breckenridge’s town park, a few blocks off Main Street, has 12 pickleball courts lined on four tennis courts, with temporary nets and loaner paddles. The Summit County Pickleball Association runs free drop-in mornings here from late May to mid-October, splitting courts between rec play and challenge play. Expect thin air and a friendly local crowd; in winter the club moves indoors to the Breckenridge and Silverthorne rec centers.

At a glance

Courts

12, lined on 4 tennis courts

Nets

Temporary, with loaner paddles

Drop-in

8 am–noon, free, no membership

Format

Half rec play, half challenge

Elevation

About 9,600 ft

Good for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

What’s here

• Outdoor
• Open play / drop-in
• Free to play
• Lessons and clinics
• Tournaments

Lessons, clubs and gear

• Summit County Pickleball Association

  Runs the drop-in schedule at Carter Park and around the county, plus clinics, round robins and tournaments. Membership $20.

• Breckenridge Recreation Center

  Winter drop-in on 3 temporary gym courts (entry fee).

• Silverthorne Recreation Center

  Winter drop-in on 4 gym courts, 20 minutes away; Silverthorne’s Rainbow Park has 8 outdoor courts in summer.

Events

“Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• TournamentMar 2–3Usually

  Pickle in the Snowy Peaks

  Second year of the winter tournament at the Breckenridge Recreation Center.

• TournamentLate JuneUsually

  Elevated Paddle Battle

  DUPR-reported tournament at Carter Park (June 26–28 in 2026).

• TournamentMid-JulyUsually

  Pickle in the Peaks

  Summit County’s biggest summer tournament, at Rainbow and Trent Parks in Silverthorne (July 16–19 in 2026).

Where to stay

• hotelGravity Haus Breckenridge

  Modern hotel with a gym, hot pools and a social lobby near the Peak 9 base.

  5 min drive
• condoBeaver Run Resort

  Large condo resort at the base of Peak 9 with pools and hot tubs.

  5 min drive
• b&bFireside Inn

  Small inn in the historic district with B&B rooms plus cheaper Base Camp rooms.

  10 min walk
• hostelThe Bivvi

  Social mountain hostel with bunk rooms and private rooms just south of town.

  5 min drive

Nearby

• Breckenridge Brewery · 10 min walk

  The original brewpub on South Main, an easy walk from the park.

• Barney Ford Museum · 5 min walk

  The story of a formerly enslaved man who became a Colorado business leader, told in his Victorian house.

• Breckenridge Distillery · 5 min drive

  Bourbon distillery with a tasting room and restaurant.

Getting there

• Denver International Airport (DEN) · about 1 hr 55 min drive
• Denver · about 1.75 hr
• Colorado Springs · about 2.25 hr

Directions in Google Maps