Jordan & Coleman LOVE the food in Crested Butte!! Crested Butte has over 50 restaurants, bars, distilleries, and nightlife venues! Please view the Q&A tab for our personal recommendations, or see the link below for the city’s food guide.
Take a relaxing stroll down Elk avenue (Crested Butte’s main street) and find your fill of retail shops, specialty stores, and galleries. There aren’t any corporate chain stores here. In fact, historical preservation guidelines help prevent them from popping up, and instead give a boost to locally owned Crested Butte shops. Each store offers unique styles and hidden gems you won’t find anywhere else.
Known as the wildflower capital of Colorado, CB is an incredible place to experience summer flowers in incredible mountain landscapes. Crested Butte has 750+ miles of trails for hiking! We recommend downloading the “All Trails” app! You can find trails nearby and sort by activity, difficulty, length, reviews, pictures, etc! Note, due to snowmelt trails might be a little muddy in June, so pack hiking shoes accordingly :) Also, we are not sure how many of the wildflowers will be bloomed by early June!
Chairlift rides on Silver Queen and Red Lady Express lifts offer tremendous views, great photo opportunities and plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore. Other activities on the mountain include the evolution bike park, disc golf and a seasonal 3D archery course. Disc rentals are available at the ticket window. For more information regarding summer chairlift rides visit the Crested Butte Mountain Resort website.
Get ready to hit the longest drives of your life! The thin atmosphere at 9,000 feet of elevation ensures a golfing experience like no other. Add to it teeing off surrounded by unobscured dramatic peaks and it's no wonder Crested Butte's course is also rated one of the best in the country and the “Best Mountain Golf Course” in Colorado by Mountain Golf Magazine. The Club at Crested Butte features the only golf course in town. Designed by world-renowned course architect, Robert Trent Jones II, this championship golf course is one of Colorado’s hidden gems. Play on over 160 acres among a tranquil setting of trout filled lakes, aspens, and pristine wilderness, all surrounded by spectacular views of the Elk Mountain Range. You can also practice your swing regardless of the weather at Birdies Golf Bar, right next to Pitas in Paradise off Elk Ave. Enjoy their virtual golf simulation with great food and drink.
Tour a local Distillery! Or check out their tasting room on Elk Ave (Main Street) CB! Located 10 minutes outside of Crested Butte they offer facility tours and guided tastings of their rums. They offer two tours (our regular tour/tasting, and our connoisseur tour for those desiring a more in-depth experience) where you will get a close look at fermentation vessels, wash tank, and their custom copper pot still. You'll also learn about the history of Montanya and how they craft delicious high-mountain rum.
Mining roads from the late 19th and early 20th century make Crested Butte an awesome destination for off-roading, dirt bikes, and ATVs. Many roads will take you over 12,000 foot mountain passes and through historical camps. Be sure to check road conditions in advance to avoid getting turned around by snow drifts and downed trees.
Looking to relax? Care for a massage or suffering from high altitude sickness? Here are a couple places to check out in CB: - Elevation Spa: https://elevationspa.com/ - Creekside Spa: https://www.crestedbuttespa.com/ - Sea Level Spa: https://sealevelspa.com/
The Taylor River, only a 20 minute drive away, offers the some of the best rafting close to Crested Butte. This fast and technical whitewater delivers fantastic canyon scenery, a wild ride and memorable experiences. Upper Taylor will be more action packed and nerve-racking while the Lower Taylor will still take you on a sweet, but less intense trip. Three Rivers Resort, located in Almont on the Taylor River, offers guided rafting trips along with lodging, fishing, kayaking, and hiking. Additionally, Three Rivers Resort can help you book ATV rentals, 4 wheel drive tours, horseback riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and hot air balloon rides. The one stop shop for recreation
Stand up paddle boarding or SUP is a relatively new activity that was created in Hawaii as an offshoot of surfing. The simplicity of standing on a board with a single paddle makes this a great choice for the whole family. With a number of picturesque lakes and rivers in the Crested Butte area, it’s easy to see why SUP is growing in popularity. Wheelies and Waves is a local shop in Crested Butte, and the owners and employees are all general outdoor enthusiasts and adventure seekers. They bring our first-hand knowledge about paddle sports, equipment and local access to you in a welcoming and friendly environment. For more information: https://travelcrestedbutte.com/crested-butte-sup-guide/
Around a 1 hour drive from Crested Butte (near Montrose), visit the Black Canyon National Park! The Black Canyon of the Gunnison provides opportunities to see spectacular and important geologic features, including some of the steepest cliffs in North America. When you visit, take a hike on one of the nature trails to see the rock formations called Painted Wall and Dragon Point.
Whether you're looking to get outside on some real rock or hitting the indoor gym for the first time, CB has you covered. Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley offers climbing for all skills levels. World renowned bouldering is right next to town while further down the valley Taylor Canyon offers Traditional multi pitch routes and Hartman Rocks has a plethora of Sport and Top Rope routes. Looking for assistance? Crested Butte Adaptive Sports Center (https://www.adaptivesports.org/) will equip you with the skills you need to fully experience your adventure and help make rock climbing accessible to a broad range of ability levels.
Crested Butte is known for having some of the best mountain biking trails in the world. The Gunnison Valley is home to over 750 miles of incredible singletrack. For detailed information please see links below. If you’re thinking about using Crested Butte’s vast trail system this summer, please download the CBGTrails map app before you arrive. Download maps of the Valley’s 750+ miles of mountain biking trails and hundreds of miles of hiking-only trails in our 5 Wilderness areas, making the trails safer and easier to access than ever before. CB Mountian Bike Trail Guide: https://crestedbuttemountainbike.com/trail-information/ General Information: https://crestedbuttemountainbike.com/ Evolution Bike Park: The Evolution Bike Park is designed to meet the needs of all riders; from cross-country aficionados, beginners on two wheels, and gravity experts. Evolution Bike Park is becoming one of the best in the state of Colorado. With 29 trails covering 30 miles of singletrack.
Although this town is renowned for its mountain biking, Crested Butte also has lots of paved trails for people to cycle!
Become a cowboy or cowgirl for an hour, a day, or even overnight with horseback rides. From the saddle, take in beautiful mountain wilderness and visit trails inaccessible to motorized vehicles. 2 options we recommend: 1. Fantasy Ranch 935 Gothic Rd, Crested Butte, Colorado 81224 http://www.fantasyranchoutfitters.com/ (970) 349-5425 2. Harmel’s Ranch 6748 County Road 742, Almont, CO 81210 https://harmels.com/ (800)-235-3402
A complete guide service, providing a full range of services to accommodate anglers of all levels. If instruction in any aspect of fly fishing is needed, they are more than eager and able to provide it. Fly casting, knot tying, and insect identification is offered. They cater to your personal needs as well as teaching dry fly presentation, nymph and streamer tactics. Trips can be designed according to your preference or the guides will lead you to known hot spots. The schedule is flexible and they try to arrange your trip during the most productive times of the day. For further information and reservations, please contact them toll-free at 800-491-3079. https://dragonflyanglers.com/
Crested Butte’s epic hiking and mountain biking trails make for idyllic trail runs. The athletic community here is strong, only surpassed by the camaraderie in welcoming all levels of participants and a desire to keep it casual and fun. Warning: The runs found here will quickly make you forget any mundane park laps taken in the city or suburbs and have you yearning for dramatic mountain views the next time you lace your shoes up.
Crested Butte is known for its outdoor playground, but often times conditions can get a bit tough or you may need a change of pace. Crested Butte has plenty of conveniently located options from Riverland just south of town all the way to the mountain. From large gyms and crossfit facilities, to pilates and yoga studios, there are endless options for indoor exercise. For more information, please view the website
Both public and private courts are available for you to get in some serves and volleys. Public courts are available at no charge on a first come, first served basis apart from days when there are clinics (In town Tues/Thurs midday, Wed mornings). The Club at Crested Butte also offers year-round tennis with indoor and outdoor courts (court fees apply). Pickleball: There are now 4 first come first served public courts located at Ted Scheske Park in the town of Mt. Crested Butte. Crested Butte Courts Elk Ave & 6th St, Crested Butte, CO 81224 Mt. Crested Butte Courts: Tennis & Pickleball 911 Gothic Road, Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225 The Club at Crested Butte 385 Country Club Drive, Crested Butte, CO 81224 (970) 349-6127 • https://theclubatcrestedbutte.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=353189&ssid=258965&vnf=1
There are 2 courses to hit while you’re in town. The Big Mine course is located in town off of 2nd and Whiterock by the Nordic Center. There is also an epic 18 hole course on Mt. Crested Butte that starts at the top of Red Lady lift called Ten-Three at CB. The Professional Disc Golf Association called it “spectacular”, with “breathtaking views”. Pay for a lift ticket, hike, or ride free on Twilight Fridays (end of June – end of Aug) in the summer.
Enjoy the stunning vistas from the comfort of your own car. Taking a drive can allow you to catch more colors, views, and scenery if your stay is brief. 4 wheel drive is not required for any of these trips, but cameras are certainly recommended. Keep in mind if you venture off the beaten path, the road may get increasingly rough.
Summers in Crested Butte are warm and stunning, which gives you the perfect excuse to get down to some rockin’ and groovy tunes. These music venues and events will serve up a variety of musical performers showcasing rock, jazz, blues, funk, bluegrass, swing, and more!
Please see their website for more information on plays.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort has developed a kid friendly Adventure Park that creates a welcoming alternative. The family can enjoy bungee trampolines, a climbing wall, mining sluice, and a zipline. The Adventure Park is conveniently located at the base of the ski area, next to the Treasury Building and the Red Lady lift.
Check back later for updated drive times between Crested Butte & the cities below. We can’t calculate drive time right now due to winter road conditions. All towns have hiking, camping, jeep tours, etc. here are a few other highlights: - Glenwood Springs- 2 hours from Crested Butte- Mountian top amusement park, Jordan & Coleman’s favorite hot springs- Iron Mountian - Aspen is only a 2ish hour drive from Crested Butte via the Kebler pass (90% non paved road). Shopping - Salida- White water rafting in the Arkansas River - Buena Vista- White water rafting in the Arkansas River - Leadville- Zip line - Lake City- beautiful lakes for kayaking/paddle boarding, etc - Telluride / Ouray- waterfalls - Durango: ride the train to Silverton & Mesa Verde National Park - Cañon City: The Royal Gorge