From the famed extreme skiing and riding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort to world-class Nordic skiing, snowmobiling, backcountry skiing and fat biking to shopping, dining and relaxing, this historical mining town turned bucket-list outdoor-adventure destination is the perfect locale for your next wintertime getaway.
You’ll also find a wide array of comfortable accommodations, a full spectrum of top-notch food and drink options and a local community of diehard winter-sports enthusiasts. Here then are a dozen items for you to do during your next trip to Crested Butte in winter.
1. Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
Considered one of the country’s most iconic ski towns, Crested Butte’s No. 1 wintertime claim to fame is its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding. Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), which is part of the Epic Pass, features some of the most challenging expert terrain on the planet and is widely considered the birthplace of modern extreme-skiing competitions. But don’t worry if hucking off cliffs or dropping into narrow no-fall-zone chutes isn’t your jam. CBMR also has plenty of family-friendly beginner and intermediate terrain.
Key metrics of this resort that first opened in 1960 include 1,547 skiable acres, 15 lifts (including four high-speed quads), 165 trails and an average annual snowfall of 236 inches. The base area sits at 9,375 feet, while the peak of Mount Crested Butte (which you can ski off) resides at a sky-scraping 12,262 feet. CBMR is also home to the steepest cut run in North America (Rambo at 55 degrees) and has 561 acres of double-black-diamond terrain, where you’ll find enough nooks and crannies to keep you entertained for weeks.
Expert skiers will likely want to do a few warm-up laps on the high-speed terrain accessible from the four-person Silver Queen lift, then load one of the two T-bar surface lifts (the High Lift and the North Face Lift) to gain access to the resort’s extreme terrain. From the High Lift, you can check out the exhilarating open face of Headwall or cruise through the trees into Teocalli Bowl. The North Face serves an even larger area, including North Face Glades, Phoenix Bowl, Spellbound Bowl and Third Bowl. There are also several terrain parks that range from beginner-friendly to advanced-skills required.
Learn about the best runs at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
If you’d rather carve smooth arcing turns on wide-open groomers, there’s great beginner terrain accessible from the Red Lady and Painter Boy lifts. Or check out the wide variety of groomed and ungroomed intermediate options served by the Paradise Express, East River and Teocalli lifts. The base of Paradise is also where you’ll find the Paradise Warming House, which serves a wide selection of food and drinks.
And whether you’re brand new to the sport or an expert skier looking for secret powder stashes, CBMR’s highly trained instructors can help you progress and safely explore. The ski area offers private and group lessons for every skill level, and the CB Steeps Guide program is designed specifically for advanced skiers and riders who are ready to take their next step into the extremes.
Watch a video about skiing in the Gunnison Valley
2. Nordic Skiing
Nordic (aka cross-country) skiing is a great wintertime activity that lets you venture into the outdoors and get a great aerobic workout in the process. In Crested Butte you can step into your skis right in town and find yourself surrounded by miles of pristine Rocky Mountain wilderness within minutes.
With 55 km (or about 35 miles) of expertly groomed skate and classic trails, the Crested Butte Nordic Center has some of the state’s best — and most scenic — cross-country skiing. Trail types range from ever-rolling expert-rated trails to flat and mellow options perfect for even the most novice XC skiers.
Nordic skiing is also easy to learn and fun for all ages. You can even bring along the family dog on some of the Nordic center’s trails. The center also offers equipment rentals, lessons and numerous events, including the Alley Loop race that attracts competitors from all over the country.
At the other end of the Gunnison Valley, you’ll find more cross-country skiing opportunities at the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area, where the Gunnison Nordic Club maintains groomed trails on the spiderweb of roads that crisscross this high-desert wonderland.
Find the best places to cross-country ski in the Gunnison Valley
3. Snowmobiling
Yet another great way to explore the Crested Butte area in winter is from the seat of a snowmobile. Indeed, the Gunnison Valley’s expansive network of forest roads and over 2 million acres of public lands transform into a powder-laden playground when the snowflakes fall. And thanks to a handful of expert guide services, almost anyone can experience this thrill for themselves.
Groomed roads off Kebler Pass and around Lake Irwin offer superb snowmobiling opportunities just minutes from Crested Butte. You can also explore other drainages, including Cement Creek, Brush Creek and the Slate River Valley. And there is great off-piste riding in Taylor Park and around the tiny town of Pitkin, 27 miles east of Gunnison.
Remember that some areas are not open to motorized travel and that many popular snowmobiling zones are also havens for fat bikers, snowshoers and Nordic skiers so please be mindful when you are in the backcountry. If you have any doubts about where you can and cannot go, check a map app such as On X Backcountry, or contact one of the local outfitters, the regional National Forest Service office or Gunnison County SnoTrackers, the local snowmobiling advocacy organization.
Also be aware that backcountry travel during winter comes with inherent risks, including avalanche danger. In order to mitigate this hazard, make sure to read the Crested Butte Avalanche Center’s daily forecast and always carry important safety equipment. It’s also a great idea to take an avalanche-safety course — many of which are offered right here in Crested Butte.
4. Backcountry Skiing
With its huge abundance of public lands, the greater Crested Butte area is among the best backcountry-skiing zones in the Rocky Mountain west. It’s also the only place in Colorado with its own dedicated avalanche center that forecasts solely for the Crested Butte area.
Local backcountry terrain can be reached via skis or snowmobiles. Potential objectives range from quick laps on mellow sub-30-degree slopes to the summits of towering technical peaks. Remember that any wintertime backcountry travel comes with inherent risks, so always carry the requisite safety gear and check the Crested Butte Avalanche Center’s daily forecast before venturing out.
With so much nearby backcountry terrain, Crested Butte is also a great place to learn about safe winter backcountry travel. There are several local outfitters that provide a wide variety of avalanche education courses, including Irwin Guides, which also offers daily guided snowcat skiing tours about 10 miles northwest of Crested Butte. Slopes skied with Irwin Guides are controlled for avalanches, and highly trained snowcat-ski guides show you where — and where not — to go.
5. Fat Biking
While the Crested Butte area is best known for its summertime mountain biking, the area’s fat-biking scene is among the best in the state. That’s thanks to abundant snow and the two local mountain-bike advocacy organizations (Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association and Gunnison Trails), which provide groomed trails at both ends of the Gunnison Valley.
The Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is arguably the best place to ride these special winter-specific bikes with their extra-wide tires that allow you to float on top of snow and ice. Located just south of Gunnison, the large expanse of Bureau of Land Management terrain sees regular fat-bike grooming during the winter for what becomes a near facsimile of the area’s superb summertime trail-riding experience. For a mellower, more beginner-friendly outing, check out the groomed fat-bike trails and roads around Crested Butte, including on some Crested Butte Nordic Center trails.
If you don’t own a fat bike, they’re available for rent from several local outfitters. Or come check out the Fat Bike World Championship, which is held in January and includes an expo with demo bikes.
6. Snowshoeing
If you’re looking to explore Crested Butte’s great outdoors but aren’t up for sliding on skis, give snowshoeing a try. Wintertime’s version of hiking is the perfect family-friendly activity that’s fun for all ages, delivering a true wilderness experience that’s accessible right from the town of Crested Butte. And there’s no learning curve: If you can walk, you can snowshoe.
Reasonably priced snowshoe rentals are available at most of the local ski shops, and the Crested Butte Nordic Center provides access to groomed and natural trails. You can even take your dog on some of the trails. Another fun option is to head up Snodgrass Mountain. To get there, drive up Gothic Road past the ski area until the road dead ends at the trailhead. Then head up the mountain on the groomed trail, which is an easy ascent on snowshoes. The trek to the top is about 3 miles one way.
You can also head out Cement Creek Road near Crested Butte South. To get there, turn off Highway 135 onto Cement Creek Road, then drive straight for about 4 miles until you reach the parking area and winter maintenance line. From there the initial road climb through a narrow rock-walled canyon is fairly steep, but soon things flatten out and open up to reveal a supremely scenic alpine meadow.
7. Ice Fishing
In summer and fall, the Gunnison Valley’s numerous fish-filled rivers, lakes and reservoirs have made the area famous among anglers worldwide. But there’s also plenty of opportunity to hook a big one during the winter months. Blue Mesa Reservoir (just west of Gunnison on Hwy. 50) and Taylor Park Reservoir (20 miles east of Almont on County Road 742) both provide ice-fishing opportunities. In fact the fishing is so good, that most years there are ice-fishing tournaments in both places.
Blue Mesa, the state’s largest body of water, is home to rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. It typically sees the development of some safe ice around the Gunnison River inlet in early December with the remainder of the reservoir freezing by mid-February. You’re likely to get the best action along coves and rocky shorelines, or probe the depths in hopes of snagging a trophy lake trout like the 50-pound state-record fish caught here in 2007. Taylor Reservoir is far smaller than Blue Mesa, but also provides habitat for rainbow trout, brown trout, lake trout and a small number of kokanee salmon and northern pike.
Before you head out, first check ice conditions by visiting icefishcolorado.com or calling Gene Taylor Sporting Goods in Gunnison or the Taylor Park Marina. Also be sure to carry the requisite safety equipment and, if possible, fish with a partner.
8. Photography
Whether you’re an aspiring Ansel Adams or are always on the hunt for Instagram content, Crested Butte in wintertime is a magical place to take pictures and shoot video. Subject matter ranges from majestic, snowcapped peaks to spectacular high-alpine valleys to all manner of Rocky Mountain wildlife (if you’re lucky enough to spot it). If people and places are more your thing, aim your lens at the rows of pastel, Victorian-era storefronts along Crested Butte’s Elk Avenue, capture images of the myriad historical miners’ cabins that dot the small town’s quaint residential neighborhoods, or post up safely out of the way on the side of Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s terrain park to capture your ski buddy getting big air.
9. Shopping
When you’re done playing outside in the snow, be sure to head into Crested Butte for a little shopping. This former mining town turned idyllic Colorado mountain getaway is a great place to pick up a unique souvenir or that perfect Christmas gift. During a stroll down Elk Avenue, you’ll find shops selling everything from T-shirts, books and postcards to fine art such as photographs, paintings and sculptures (much of it created locally). Crested Butte and Gunnison have several well-appointed outdoor-gear and apparel outlets just in case you need a new winter jacket, a fresh pair of goggles or are looking for new skis or ski boots.
10. Food & Drink
Though small compared to Colorado’s I-70 mega-resort towns, Crested Butte has plenty of top-notch food and drink options to satisfy even the most discerning palates. From elegant fine dining to fast-casual pizza, Mexican and Indian to breweries and burger joints, you’ll never go hungry (or thirsty) here. Among the local favorites are the Secret Stash (pizza and pasta), José Crested Butte (modern Mexican), Breadery (sourdough-infused farm-to-table), and Paradise Café (breakfast and lunch comfort food). Keep in mind that, like most mountain resort towns, things can get a little hectic during the winter high season, so it’s best to call ahead to make a reservation when possible.
Check out more restaurants in Crested Butte and Gunnison
11. Rest & Relax
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly lodging or prefer more luxurious slopeside accommodations, the Gunnison Valley (including Mount Crested Butte, Crested Butte, Crested Butte South, Almont and Gunnison) has a variety of places to stay, including quaint inns, cozy bed-and-breakfasts, modern hotels, motels and all manner of vacation-home rentals. Many of these properties are unique, boutique lodges owned and operated by long-time locals, some offering scrumptious homemade breakfasts and hosting lively après ski happy hours.
12. Get Cultured
While Crested Butte’s specialty is playing outside, there’s also plenty to do indoors. The Crested Butte Center for the Arts has a packed calendar of events that includes everything from live music and art exhibitions to ski films and wine tastings. Just up the street, kids can play at the fun-filled Trailhead Children’s Museum, while history buffs will love the Crested Butte Museum, which is packed with old photos and unique artifacts documenting the community’s rich and interesting past. You can also catch live music at the Public House or take in a performance at the Crested Butte Mountain Theater.
