Crested Butte Hiking and Backpacking Travel Guide

Crested Butte Hiking and Backpacking Travel Guide

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Travel Guides Near Crested Butte

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Hikers in the mountains near Crested Butte, Colorado
Hiking in Crested Butte, Colorado (courtesy, Colorado Tourism)
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Crested Butte Hiking and Backpacking Travel Tips

By Kim Lipker
  • The National Forest surrounding Crested Butte contains miles of trails and five wilderness areas. Pristine, scenic, remote, rugged, and full of wildlife—that about covers it. These are remote areas with few human visitors.
  • The West Elk Wilderness has the most trails and longest routes and loops. Take Swampy Pass Trail to Castle Pass, or make a loop with Mill Castle Trail. This hike has varied scenery including castle-like rock formations and alpine terrain. The west side of Castle Pass has possibilities for one-way treks, or you can head north at the first intersection and cross back over to the Crested Butte side.
  • Another jewel of the Crested Butte backcountry is the Fossil Ridge Wilderness. Choose from the South Lottis Creek drainage or the more rugged and harder-to-reach Crystal Creek Canyon.
  • From Gothic, head toward Aspen on the Conundrum Trail. A nine-mile hike through native Colorado backcountry takes you over Triangle Pass and to Conundrum Hot Springs. Camp in this area, or continue another eight miles downhill to Aspen.
  • Neighboring East Maroon Pass and West Maroon Pass provide more opportunities for town-to-town trips. After miles of solitude you will reunite with civilization and the people who frequent the lower parts of the Maroon Bells.
  • Drop 1,200 feet from the canyon rim down to the Gunnison River in the pristine Gunnison River Gorge. The 4.5-mile Ute Trail has four hiker camps and a Gold Medal trout fishery. There are also several shorter routes into the Gorge.

Crested Butte Travel Guide

A delightful little gem of a town, Crested Butte is a year-round destination resort, with wonderful skiing in winter, and hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor recreational activities in warmer weather. In fact, Crested Butte has the best mountain biking in the state, and boasts of having some of the most colorful displays of wildflowers you'll see anywhere. Read More

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Hotels

Elk Mountain Lodge

129 Gothic Ave.
Crested Butte, CO 91224 Map

Distance: 0.1 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Elizabeth Anne Bed & Breakfast

703 Maroon Ave.
Crested Butte , CO 81224 Map

Distance: 0.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
from: $179

Hotel Jerome, A RockResort

330 East Main Street
Aspen, CO 81611 Map

Distance: 24.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 4 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0
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Attractions

Mill-Castle Trail

expert favorite attraction
Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Approximately four miles from Gunnison
Crested Butte, Colorado

Distance: 14.4 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Climbing 3,000 feet in eight miles, the Mill-Castle Trail overlooks spectacular rock formations.... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Maroon Bells

expert favorite attraction
Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Maroon Creek Rd.
Aspen, Colorado 81611

Distance: 23.9 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Together, South and North Maroon Peak form Maroon Bells, or the "Deadly Bells"—consider the... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
5_0

Granite Basin Trail

Good For Hiking and Backpacking
Crested Butte, Colorado

Distance: 9.7 mi. (from destination center)
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Crested Butte

Distance (mi.)
Colorado Springs Municipal Airport 122.4 map
Denver International Airport 140.6 map
Albuquerque International Airport 265.1 map

Other Smaller Airports near Crested Butte

Distance (mi.)
Eagle/Vail Eagle County Airport 52.9 map
Montrose County Airport 54.7 map
Grand Junction Walker Field 84.0 map

Flight Deals to Crested Butte

Originating From
Phoenix (PHX) to Colorado Springs (COS) $165
Ontario (ONT) to Colorado Springs (COS) $233
Baltimore (BWI) to Colorado Springs (COS) $242
Chicago (CHI) to Colorado Springs (COS) $381

Feature Articles

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