Just 30 minutes from Crested Butte, Gunnison is its own lil’ sleepy mountain town that’s still close to the action. Stay at The Wanderlust Hostel for a nothing-fancy bed setup that’ll give you more time (and money) to play all day outdoors.
You’ll love the cheerful, brightly colored decor from the moment you walk in with your travel backpack. From the cozy pillows to the rag rugs to the wild wall colors and even the painted dining-room chairs, it’s gonna feel like you’re temporarily living in a rainbow.
No doubt, you’ll make some new friends, too, given the hostel’s communal setup. Share your travel tales in the open-to-everyone kitchen and cozy living spaces, shared co-ed bunk rooms, the roomy backyard or the front and back patio (with an outdoor BBQ grill, of course). Private bunk rooms are also available, along with laundry, gear storage, lockers (BYO lock) and complimentary parking.
This bed-between-adventures spot is purely no frills in the best ways imaginable. You’ll feel like you’re staying at a best friend’s house who happens to be super clean and neat with lots of extra guest beds, board games and herbal teas to drink.
It’s gotta be the hostel’s owner Amy Stevens, an avid guide and telemark skier who infuses her love for the Colorado lifestyle into every aspect of Wanderlust since it was founded in 2009. Read an interview with her here.
We’re going with Cole, the hostel’s fluffy resident doggo. Other guest pups will be considered for $10 a night, but you must inquire ahead of time.
Spend the evening cozying on beanbags and couches by the crackling fireplace, enjoying conversation with your fellow travelers and maybe even some impromptu live music courtesy of a guest (if you’re lucky).
“A very well taken-care-of hostel full of characters; one of the best I've ever stayed in. Friendly staff and owner; clean, clean, clean and quiet, quiet, quiet. Other guests (some regulars) were super friendly and respectful; I think the way the environment is affects how people respond and react (in it). Gunnison is a low-key town with a cute main street...a good place for anyone looking for a break from the hustle-bustle of city life!” — Jane, Tripadvisor
Motor over to Crested Butte for all manner of wintry snow sports, including world-renowned resort skiing (and snowboarding), or wildflower hikes in early summer. See Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park — about an hour away — for its vast canyonland, rocky spires and high-desert grandeur (believe us, it’s something to see).
Check out this action-packed, two-day itinerary for more things to do in Gunnison and Crested Butte