Crested Butte

Downtown Crested Butte

Crested Butte is a ski resort in the Rocky Mountains region of Southwestern Colorado. Crested Butte is a destination for skiing, mountain biking, and outdoor activities.

Understand

In 2020, the town had a permanent population of about 1,600. Crested Butte is high in the Colorado Rockies on the western slope, at 8,885 feet. Mt. Crested Butte is three miles north of Crested Butte, at the base of the ski resort at an elevation of 9,350 feet.

The winter season is a long, bitterly cold period with short, clear days, relatively little precipitation in the form of rain, but massive amounts in the form of snow, and low humidity.

Get in

Crested Butte is at the north end of the Gunnison Valley, 231 miles southwest of Denver.

• Gunnison-Crested Butte Airport (GUC ^IATA) (28 miles from town). Seasonal flights from Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Dallas–Love, Denver, and Houston–Intercontinental. (updated Apr 2023)

Get around

Crested Butte proper is a small, pedestrian friendly town with most places of interest within walking distance. There is a free shuttle service running from Mt. Crested Butte to the town of Crested Butte which also services several stops in town: the four-way stop at the center of town, the main street Elk Avenue, and the Majestic Plaza, near the movie theater and several stores and coffee shops.

Do

High in the Colorado Rockies, fresh air, sport, and relaxation are abundant. Pristine mountains and wilderness are the backdrop for the Victorian architecture of this historic mining mountain town, giving Crested Butte a Shangri La appearance. In the summer the valleys are bursting with blooms, which is why Crested Butte is the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. In the winter the mountains are buried in white powder, providing a skiing and boarding paradise. All year round additional sports abound, such as mountain biking, horseback riding, and fly fishing.

Crested Butte hosts a number of festivals and parades throughout the year. These include Torchlight, New Years, Winter Carnival, Butte Bash College Ski Week and Mardi Gras during the winter months; Extreme Board Fest, Slushuck and Flauschink during spring; the Crested Butte Bike Week, Crested Butte Music Festival, Crested Butte International Film Festival, 4th of July, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, Alpenglow Concert Series, Festival of the Arts and Ball Bash during summer; and Fall Fest, Vinotok, and Paragon Peoples' Fair during fall.

Eat

• Gourmet Noodle (Located near 3rd and Elk). Italian cuisine: excellent quality, decent selection, very nice atmosphere. A good place to go for special occasions. 

Sleep

• Crested Butte International Lodge & Hostel, 615 Teocalli Ave, toll-free: +1-888-389-0588. Offers dormitory beds, private rooms, and apartments. Rates vary according to room type and season. 
• The Crested Butte Retreat, ☏ +1 970-349-1658. A private mountain lodge, completely remodeled to provide luxury lodging. 
• Elk Mountain Lodge, 129 Gothic Ave (At 2nd and Gothic in the heart of downtown Crested Butte), ☏ +1 970 349-7533. Bed and breakfast with 19 completely and beautifully renovated rooms, each with private bathroom and cable TV. Hearty, full breakfast includes homemade granola, locally-baked bagels and bread, in-season fresh fruit, and specialty hot dishes. 
• Nordic Inn, 14 Treasury Rd, ☏ +1 970 349-5542, toll-free: +1-800-542-7669. The only bed and breakfast within walking distance of the ski lifts. 
• The Ruby of Crested Butte - Bed & Breakfast, 624 Gothic Ave (Downtown Crested Butte), toll-free: +1-800-390-1338. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $200 (June date).