Locals and returning visitors have done their best to keep the area's world class terrain, historic downtown and glorious wildflower summers a secret- and we don't blame them! This former mining town turned "the last great Colorado ski town" is the perfect destination for all things skiing, mountain biking, and any other outdoor activities.
Fun Fact
James Cameron, filmmaker known for Avatar and The Titanic, owns a home in Crested Butte. Many people believe that the fictional universe of Avatar, called Pandora, was mirrored after Crested Butte.
Recommended Activities
With deep powder and epic backcountry terrain, Crested Butte ski resort is a must visit! It features 14 ski lifts spread across 1,058 acres of terrain- with 448 acres being double black diamond runs. Crested Butte's extreme skiing conditions attracts many famous skiers and has even hosted the US Extreme Skiing Championships and the X-Games.
Hiking
Hiking in Crested Butte offers amazing views of wildflower fields and incredible mountainous landscapes in the summer and glowing aspens in the fall. This town has hundreds of miles of epic hiking trails, wilderness areas, National Forest, and public lands to explore. Click here to view the complete list of hiking trails.
Mountain Biking
Crested Butte has been a mountain bikers paradise for many years, with over 750 miles of single-track. Click here to view the different mountain biking trails.
Fly Fishing
If just wetting a line in the Crested Butte area’s wilderness isn’t enough, add in some of the best trout fishing, incredible mountain views, and Colorado sunshine! Surrounding mountain streams, rivers, and lakes around Crested Butte are great places to catch Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Cutthroat trout.
Kayaking & SUP'ing
There are plenty of great kayaking spots along the Taylor and Gunnison Rivers- from wild rides to more mild waters. Paddle boarding is a relatively new activity that has grown in popularity in Crested Butte. Explore miles of mellow rivers, alpine lakes, and Colorado’s largest body of water, Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Recommended Lodging
The Lodge is located in the heart of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area– just steps from the ski lifts, hiking, shops, restaurants, and more. It features some of the finest amenities, such as an enclosed heated parking, outdoor/indoor pool, and a fitness center.
Recommended Dining
Gourmet pizzas with unique toppings and an electric atmosphere. Open in the mornings for Secret Stash AM!
Fine dining in French and American tradition in the charm of a old mining cabin.
Signature Events
This annual rubber duck race benefits local charities and student scholarships. It is considered an integral part of summer in Crested Butte.
This thrill seeking race starts at the top of Kebler Pass for the traditional Le Mans start, where participants run 50 yards to their bikes. Once the find their bikes, participants begin the 7 mile coast into town. The only two exceptions are no peddling and no chains.
This festival includes over 200 programs to celebrate the wildflower season in Crested Butte- hikes and walks, photography classes, art workshops, garden tours, culinary/ medicinal classes, birding workshops, and more!
We know many Front Range residents enjoy recreating in the mountains of Colorado, but have you ever considered buying a home in your favorite vacation destination, like Crested Butte? Our company, WK Real Estate, is a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, a powerful network of over 500 top real estate companies with 130,000 sales associates, in over 70 countries. Through our connections with this global network, we can introduce you to an excellent, experienced real estate professional in your areas of interest. Buying a second home is an exciting opportunity and our partners will able to help you research and determine if this kind of a purchase is right for you. To get this process started, please contact WK's Relocation Department or your favorite WK associate and tell us the areas you may be interested in purchasing. We would like to thank our LeadingRE affiliates, Bluebird Real Estate, for providing these amazing recommendations!