Crested Butte Attractions

By Amanda May
Staff Writer
Rockies.com

Crested Butte’s historic downtown remains unspoiled by too much development, ironically making it a great tourist destination. Crested Butte lodging is available as economic accommodations or as full-service resort hotels.

Skiing is sublime on Mount Crested Butte, whitewater rafting exhilarating and strolling around the National Historical District downtown will relax even the most high strung visitors upon arrival.

Check out these activities that are just a few options on things to do in Crested Butte, Colorado.

SKI CRESTED BUTTE
Crested Butte Ski Resort has a Victorian look and offers excellent terrain for skiers and snowboarders of every level. Easy groomed cruisers and beginners classes are great for first-timers, while double blacks, terrain parks and backcountry skiing await the experienced. Their trail Rambo will have you skiing down North America’s steepest cut trail. While its runs are shorter than the monster trails on Vail or Aspen mountains, there are lots of runs to try and lift lines are very short even on powder days!

WHITEWATER RAFTING NEAR CRESTED BUTTE
Lake Fork, the Gunnison River and the Taylor River provide the area with Class II to IV whitewater rafting and kayaking. Just a short drive out of Crested Butte, these rivers rushes through beautiful alpine canyons.

CRESTED BUTTE NORDIC CENTER
Guides based in the Crested Butte Nordic Center are available to take visitors on half-day skiing and snowshoeing tours in the Gunnison National Forest and Washington Gulch. The center also grooms 31 miles of trails that wind around just outside of town. They also have a free, outdoor skating rink with ice skates available for rent and a sledding hill that will have you feeling like a kid again.

SCENIC DRIVES AROUND CRESTED BUTTE
Kebler Pass
This high mountain pass is one of the best places to see the changing colors of fall aspen trees in the Colorado Rockies. It runs between Highway 133 close to Somerset, Colorado, and Crested Butte. It is a gravel road, but is accessible by all passenger vehicles. Closed in the winter.

Shofield Pass
This road is an old wagon route that was built in 1883. It runs between the central Colorado ski town of Crested Butte and the sleepy mountain village of Marble. It is known to be very challenging, even dangerous, and is a shelf road that has been hacked out of the jagged mountain rock.

MUSEUMS
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum
As Crested Butte is one of the places that claims to be the birthplace of mountain biking, it is natural that they would have a museum dedicated to it. Check out this sports museum while you’re in the area

Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum
This new area museum is in a restored old blacksmith shop and has all the history of the area you could ever want. Tour guides also teach visitors about the local geology and people, from the Ute Indians to the miners, ranchers, skiers, mountain bikers that have all called Crested Butte home.

SUMMER OUTDOOR RECREATION
Mountain biking is very popular here, as is backpaking, camping and hiking. Fishing in the snow-melt streams is a great way to catch your dinner, and whitewater rafting and kayaking will test your nerve here in the Rocky Mountains. The Gunnison National Forest and Curecanti National Recreation Area with Blue Mesa Lake are just a couple of the beautiful nature-rich areas worth exploring. Horseback ride or ride the off-season chair lifts to really get to know Crested Butte in the summer!

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Blue Mesa Fishing: This company is the place to go for guided fishing trips on the Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Gunnison River. Trophy winning wild Kokanee salmon and lake trout await anglers in this part of Colorado. Contact Blue Mesa Fishing about a customized trip exploring the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Corecanti National Recreation Area or the Black Canyon National Park. Tackle included!

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Colorado Rafting: This company offers rafting trips of all levels. They have seven outposts and rafting on five different rivers in the state- (the Arkansas River, Clear Creek, Eagle River, Blue River, Dolores River, Animas River and the mighty Colorado River). Their expert guides have an average of eight years of experience, so relax, climb onboard and get ready to have some fun!

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Breckenridge Whitewater Rafting: This Colorado rafting company has river trips for every age and ability. With outfits all over Colorado, they pride them selves on having the best equipment and best service in the industry, so you’ll be in good hands. Let their enthusiastic and professional employees guide you through the best outdoor experience possible! From family-friendly floats to Class-V rapids, Breckenridge Whitewater Rafting has the perfect trip for you!

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