Winter Travel Guide: Crested Butte
Whether it’s your first Colorado ski trip or you’re ready to escape the I-70 traffic, venture off the beaten path to the small town of Crested Butte for your next ski vacation getaway.
Sure, it has a year-round population of 2,000 people and a downtown corridor consisting of just a few square blocks that you can walk in about eight minutes. But Crested Butte punches well above its weight, with access to some of the steepest and gnarliest ski terrain in the state, charming restaurants and watering holes where everyone knows the bartender’s dog’s name, and an unforgettable mountain town vibe that will have you booking your return trip before you make it back home.
To make the most out of your trip to CB, we gathered the best places to ski, eat, stay, and après while you’re in town.
Where to Ski
Groomers: Paradise Bowl
Start out your CB ski day warming up with a few groomer laps. Hop on the Silver Queen lift from the base and head on over to Paradise. From there, take your pick of fast and flowy blues to get your freshly pressed corduroy fix. Local’s favorite runs: Paradise Bowl, Upper Gallowich, Lower Forest Queen.
Intermediate/Advanced: East River
Tucked along the backside of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, East River is home to can’t-miss tree skiing and a few hidden stashes of powder-day leftovers that can still be found after the rest of the mountain is picked clean. Conquering the bumps more your style? Look no further than Resurrection for an under-the-chairlift mogul field that will put any skier to the test in front of a very vocal audience. Local’s favorite runs: Bakery Trees, Double Top Glades, Resurrection.
Expert: The Extremes
Welcome to Crested Butte’s pride and joy: The Extremes. Only accessible by T-bar (High Lift and North Face Lift), this zone is a double-black-diamond studded treasure trove. Comprised of exclusively double-black-diamond extreme terrain—steep chutes, rocky cliff bands, and hike-back-only powder fields—The Extremes are for only those who dare to take on some of Colorado’s most infamous in-bounds skiing. For a bucket list lap, check out Rambo, North America’s steepest tree-cut run, but be ready for some base repairs if it hasn’t snowed recently. Local’s favorite runs: Teocalli Bowl, Headwall, Spellbound Bowl, Sock-It-To-Me Ridge.
Where to Eat
Secret Stash
No trip to Crested Butte is truly complete without a visit to Secret Stash. Home to wacky decor and delicious pizza (local’s favorites include the Notorious F.I.G., Asher’s, and the Hamptons), there’s really no wrong order at the Stash, as long as you start off with their Crack Fries (with parmesan, truffle oil, and cracked pepper). They don’t take reservations, so be prepared to grab a drink around town while you wait for your table.
Slogar
Serving up family-style fried chicken and other home-cooked comfort food, Slogar is the spot if you’re visiting with a larger group. Enjoy their three-course meal with bottomless sides of mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and biscuits, and be sure to save room for an ice cream sandwich for dessert.
Butte Bagels/Burgers
Just like the Stash, no trip to CB is complete without a stop into Butte Bagels. This funky breakfast sandwich mainstay (don’t be surprised if the workers are dancing and singing as they schmear) is the best way to fuel up for a big ski day or recover from a few too many drinks from the night before. Even better, the folks behind the bagel shop recently launched Butte Burgers, one of the few (if not only) spots in town dishing out food after 9 p.m.
Where to Après
Uley’s Cabin
Ready to kick off apres before you’re even off the hill? Hit up Uley’s Cabin, accessible via the Red Lady lift, for an outdoor deck serving up great spicy bloodies with an unbeatable view of Mount Crested Butte.
Iron Horse Tap
Don’t let the loud DJ and boisterous crowd at the base distract you (unless that’s your thing). Take the two-minute walk down to the Iron Horse for cheap drafts and excellent bar food. Home to the local crowd once the lifts stop spinning, be sure to tip your lifty, patroller, or ski instructor with a beverage. Giddy up!
The Dogwood
If you’re looking for an unforgettable cocktail or just need to kill some time before your dinner reservation, Dogwood is the place to be. Located in an old miner’s cabin just off CB’s main drag, the vibes (and spirits) are hard to beat.
Where to Stay
Elevation Hotel and Spa
While Crested Butte’s smaller base area makes it hard to go wrong with places to stay (because there just aren’t that many), this slopeside hotel will have you clicked into your skis in a matter of minutes, and it has enough amenities to keep the whole family busy. For Colorado locals, Elevation (soon to be "The Beckwith") also offers a 15% discount. Pro tip: No matter where you stay in Crested Butte—in town or on the mountain—leave the car keys in your bag and take advantage of the free Mountain Express buses that run every 15 minutes.
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Article by Jack Foersterling
Jack Foersterling is a professional writer and editor with a passion for all things outdoors. Born and raised in the Midwest, he made his way out West in search of big mountains and even bigger adventures. Now based in Crested Butte, Colo., you can find him skiing, mountain biking, fishing, or tossing on a jersey for beer league hockey.
