Crested Butte is a must-visit for mountain lovers. Located 30 miles from Aspen, as the crows fly, but not that accessible, it offers a more secluded experience than the I-70 resorts. An advertisement in Ski magazine in the early ’90s caught my attention with the line, “It was what Aspen used to be and Vail never was.” Here’s a concise guide to help you plan your trip to this hidden gem.
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✈️ Getting There
By Air
- Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC): ~30 min from Crested Butte via Highway 135. Served by United Express and American; daily flights in-season. Also, some flights by JSX from Dallas (seasonal). You can check flights into Gunnison here.
- Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ): ~1 hr 15 min drive. Good backup if Gunnison flights are limited.
- Denver International (DEN): ~4½ hr drive via Monarch Pass/US 50 or 5 hr to Crested Butte. Many visitors fly into DEN, as there is much more flights availability. Lots of direct flights from Europe.
By Road
- From Denver: Scenic ~4–4.5 hr drive over Monarch Pass (US 50). You can choose to go via I-70 via Vail and turning in Minturn to take the Leadville pass and south into the US 50 or go south to Colorado Springs and turn west on US 50.
- From Gunnison airport: Easy 30 min cruise on Highway 135.
- From Aspen: drive CO-82 W to CO-133 to Crawford. From there take CO-92E – you will go over the Black Canyon of Gunnison- an amazing view and drive. Keep on going until US-50 and drive E once in Gunnison, turn left onto CO-135 N all the way to Crested Butte. (If you are a fan of Joe Cocker, go to visit his grave at the local cemetery of Crawford, CO).
- Driving seasonally: Summer-only gravel roads (e.g. Kebler Pass, Schofield Pass) add adventure.
You can compare rates for renting a car for driving in Colorado here.
🚕 Ground Transportation
- Alpine Express: Shuttle from GUC (Gunnison) & MTJ (Montrose) to town; excellent for private tours, weddings
- Ride Bustang is a service from Union Square in Denver all the way to the 4-Way Stop in Crested Butte, passing through Almont and Gunnison.
- Check Gettransfers.com as they have competitive rates for rides from Denver or Eagle, if you do not fancy driving.
- Local buses: Free RTA/Mountain Express link town and mountain with stops every 15 min (skicb.com).
- Taxis & Bike Taxis: Convenient for downtown hops.
🏨 Where to Stay
In Town (Crested Butte)
- Cozy/Victorian lodging: Old Town Inn, Elk Mountain Lodge—packed with charm (cookies, historic vibes)
- Cristiana Guesthaus– lovely European service.
- Boutique options: Sopris House, Public House (Eleven Experience)—luxury in town centre
- Renting a house. A selection with lots of option via VRBO.
On the Mountain (Mt. Crested Butte)
- Elevation Hotel & Spa: The only true ski‑in/ski‑out hotel at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with 262 rooms, spa, fitness centre, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and ski valet service. Numerous dining options on‑site: José(modern Mexican), Billy Barr (casual cocktails/bites), and Matchstick Lounge (pool‑table chill)
- The Grand Lodge Hotel & Suites: 3‑star, full‑service property just ~200 yd from the lifts, with indoor/outdoor pool, spa treatments, 24‑hour reception. Great value, very walkable to the lifts, dog‑friendly, and ideal for families.
- The Lodge at Mountaineer Square: A cozy, comfortable lodge located steps from Silver Queen and Red Lady lifts; indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub; free Wi-Fi Highly rated for its superb location and amenities
- The Plaza Condominiums: Mountain‑style condos offering hotel‑style services; similar ski‑in/shuttle convenience, a good mid‑range option
🎿 Ski School & Rentals
- Ski & Snowboard School: Offers lessons for all levels (including steep/Extremes clinics) (skicb.com).
- Guides: CB Steep Guides specialize in expert terrain; consider a guided tour for Upper-level challenges.
- Mountain shops and local ski shops rent gear—plus ski-in folks can get equipment on-site.
🍽️ Eat & Après
On‑Mountain
- Uley’s Cabin: Legendary après spot with rustic ambiance and fireplace
- Paradise Warming House- at the bottom of Paradise Run- it has a buffet and self-service area and a seated restaurant area. Nice decks to observe the skiers and borders coming down! In the old days, as an employee one used to get free cocoa (not sure if that stands anymore!), and people skiing with me wanted to get it and stand on the queue for the lift…. So not my style!
In‑Town
- Soupçon: French‑inspired fine dining, seasonal tasting menus.
- The Sunflower: Light, California‑style soups, salads & brunch.
- Secret Stash: Locally beloved pizza joint.
- Slogar: My favourite from when I used to live there, and it still runs. Family-style dinners with fried chicken, mashed potatoes and bread rolls with butter to die for! Cheap and cheerful, you’ll get all your family fed and happy.
- Bonez: High-energy Mexican, happy hour 4‑5 pm, tequila specials.
- Montanya Distillery: Local rum cocktails with alpine twist, they have a tasting room in town.
- Bars like Wooden Nickel, Talk of the Town, The Eldo and Kochevar’s for casual beers – we used to go from bar to bar when we were younger! Lots of fun. Ask the bartender at the Kochevar’s to tell you the story on how Butch Cassidy escaped from the back door and left his gun. Now it is exhibited at the bar!
🛍️ Shops
- Quaint, local retailers and art galleries along Elk Ave
- Mountain gear shops in town and at Mountaineer Square.
❄️ Other Activities
Nordic & Snowshoe
- Crested Butte Nordic Center: ~55 km of groomed cross‑country trails including Slate River loop with Magic Meadows yurt lunches. The views there are amazing, really worth taking time to try it!
- Scenic snowshoe tours available
Snowmobile & Cat Tours
- Guided snowmobile trips around alpine lakes/aspen groves; snowcat driving experience.
Fat‑Bike & Tobogganing
- ~23 km of fat‑bike trails; toboggan hills for all ages.
Ice Rink & Fishing
- Natural‑ice rink at Big Mine Ice Arena; ice‑fishing (with guide)
Cinema & Arts
- Crested Butte Film Festival every autumn featuring indie films
- Center for the Arts hosts concerts, gallery shows & community events.
Summer-Season Extras
- Mountain biking birthplace; hiking (e.g., Mt Crested Butte), rafting, ATV tours
- Wildflower Festival each July celebrating blooms & arts
- Scenic lift rides, climbing walls, gem‑panning & trampolines.
- Visit Almont (18 miles south of Crested Butte) for some fly fishing, white-water rafting and kayaking, and mountain biking.
- Go and visit the picturesque town of Gunnison and visit its main street, galleries and bars. You can have some beer at the High Alpine Brewing Company and eat at the Ol’Miner Steakhouse for all day dining.
🧭 How to Ski Mt Crested Butte Quick Tips
- Terrain split: ~26 % beginner, 57 % intermediate, with thrilling expert terrain like “The Extremes”
- Best times: Weekdays in-season for minimal lift lines.
- Vail acquisition: Some infrastructure upgrades but town remains authentically independent. It did however, affected the length of its ski season and now the Butte tends to close earlier than in the time I used to live there.
🎿 Skiing Crested Butte by Skill Level
- Beginners
- Lifts: Peachtree, Red Lady Express, Painter Boy.
- Runs: Splain’s Gulch, Topsy, Prospect.
- Intermediates
- What you’ll love: Paradise Bowl, East River, Prospect, Gold Link lifts.
- Runs: Treasury, East River, Resurrection (only if you like moguls/bumps, and/or if groomed on the side – check the daily grooming report!). Also, Upper and Lower Forest Queen and Bushwhacker.
- Advanced
- Lift Zones: Silver Queen Express, East River Express.
- Runs: International, Twister, Resurrection Trees.
- Experts / Extreme
- Terrain: High Lift & North Face T-bars. Just do laps there and you have plenty to get entertained with! If it was good enough to host for several years the US Extremes, it is good enough for you!
- Extreme Runs: Staircase, Phoenix, Spellbound, Headwall, Hawk’s Nest, Teocalli Bowl.
- Advice: Suitable for true experts. Check with locals or guides and follow safety policies.
✅ Tips & Resources
- Seasonal Advice: “Extremes” open safely after fresh snow and avalanche control—often January onward
- Gear Tip: For steeps and bumps, bring strong ski edges, backpack with safety gear.
- More info at gunnisoncrestedbutte.com
You can read our Must-Read Guides to Vail and Aspen if you want to plan a road trip.
Start planning your next trip!
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Featured Image: Mont Crested Butte. Photo Danica Bona. Courtesy GunnisonCrestedButte.com. The Must-Read Guide to Crested Butte.
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