Top 10 Things to Do in Crested Butte This Summer

Welcome to Crested Butte, a former mining town in the heart of the Colorado Rockies, and one of the best places to visit in Colorado in summer. What makes Crested Butte so special? Crested Butte is well off the beaten path. It’s relaxed and has avoided much of the commercialization you find in many Colorado mountain resort towns. It’s known for its incredible alpine and cross country skiing, beautiful wildflowers in summer, and amazing hiking and mountain biking. There is so much more to do in Crested Butte though. You’ll find festivals, outdoor concerts, scenic drives, and plenty of galleries and shops to explore. After many visits to Crested Butte, here are our top 10 things to do in Crested Butte during the beautiful summer months.

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Our Top 10 List

• Hiking the Wildflower Capital of Colorado
• Mountain Biking Adventures
• Scenic Chairlift Rides at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
• Attend an Outdoor Concert in Crested Butte
• Fly Fishing Pristine Rivers
• Explore Historic Downtown Crested Butte
• Whitewater Rafting on the Taylor River
• Paddleboarding Down the River or on a Lake
• Relax at Lake Irwin
• Scenic Drives in Summer and Fall

How Many Days to Spend in Crested Butte

Spending 3-5 days in Crested Butte during the summer months is ideal to fully experience the breadth of what this town has to offer. This timeframe allows visitors to delve into a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking among the wildflowers, mountain biking on world-class trails, and exploring the scenic landscapes through paddleboarding or fishing. Additionally, this leaves visitors time to enjoy the cultural aspects of Crested Butte, including its historic downtown, local art galleries, and seasonal festivals without feeling rushed. Each day can be a blend of adventure and relaxation, giving you a well-rounded experience of this unique Colorado destination.

1. Hiking the Wildflower Capital of Colorado

Crested Butte is proudly known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Don’t miss the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival in July each year, featuring workshops and events throughout. Some of the best wildflower trails to explore are included below. Keep in mind that many of these (such as Lower Loop) can be shortened as an out and back if you don’t want to complete the full distance.

Trail (with Alltrails Link)	Difficulty	Distance/Elevation Gain
Lower Loop	Easy	7.2 miles, 452 ft. elevation
Upper Upper Loop	Moderate	7.8 miles, 1,322 ft. elevation
Snodgrass Trail	Moderate	5.8 miles, 1,594 ft. elevation
Rustler Gulch Trail	Moderate	9.0 miles, 1,791 ft. elevation
West Maroon Pass	Hard	7.8 miles, 2,050 ft. elevation
West Maroon Trail (1-way Crested Butte to Aspen)	Hard	10.3 miles, 2,247 ft. elevation

Don’t miss also exploring Crested Butte’s hiking trails in Fall, the colors are fantastic!

2. Mountain Biking Adventures

Crested Butte is renowned for its mountain bike trails. Choose from beginner-friendly routes like the Lower Loop or thrilling paths like the Doctor Park Trail and Trail 401.

Trail	Difficulty	Distance/Elevation Gain
Lower Loop	Easy	Up to 7.2 miles, 452 ft. elevation
Lupine Trail (loop from town)	Moderate	10.7 miles, 888 ft. elevation
Doctor Park	Hard	19.4 miles, 2,765 ft. elevation
Trail 401	Hard	16.4 miles, 3,195 ft. elevation

3. Scenic Chairlift Rides at Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Catch breathtaking panoramic views of the Elk Mountains by taking a scenic chairlift ride on either the Red Lady Express or Silver Queen Express. The Silver Queen lift offers heavenly views that are not to be missed. Once on top, you can choose to hike or mountain bike down, play disc golf or 3D archery. Or, simply enjoy the views and take the chairlift back down.

4. Attend an Outdoor Concert in Crested Butte

Crested Butte has a variety of concerts throughout the summer. In 2024, check out the Alpenglow Series, Summer Classics in the Courtyard, and others from the Center for the Arts. Additional concerts are held in Almont (just south of Crested Butte), at Mt. Crested Butte, and at a number of venues in town.

5. Fly Fishing in Pristine Rivers

There are prime spots for fly fishing on the Taylor River, Gunnison River, and East River. There are plenty of other lakes and streams to choose from in and around Crested Butte. You’ll find serene waters and abundant trout for both novice and seasoned anglers. If you don’t have gear or want to lean how to fly fish, you’ll find plenty of guides in town.

6. Explore Historic Downtown Crested Butte

Stroll through the historic downtown with its colorful Victorian architecture. It’s now home to charming boutiques, galleries, and eateries. Don’t miss the Crested Butte Museum to explore the town’s rich past. We’d recommend Camp 4 Coffee for your morning coffee, the Secret Stash for pizza, and Bonez for contemporary Mexican food.

7. Whitewater Rafting on the Taylor River

Dive into a whitewater rafting excursion on the Taylor River. Suitable for all experience levels, it’s a refreshing way to beat the summer heat. Be sure to go with a guide, as the waters vary heavily depending on snow melt. One of the top rated outfitters for your rafting adventure is Scenic River Tours.

8. Paddle Boarding Down the River or on a Lake

For a different kind of water adventure, try paddle boarding on a lake or down the tranquil parts of the Slate River. It’s a relaxing way to take in the scenic beauty of Crested Butte from the water. If you don’t have your own paddle board, rent your boards from the Float Shack. Sign up for the Slate River Float Trip package, which includes paddle board, PFD, paddle, dry bag, and shuttle service. After floating and paddling down the river, they’ll pick you up and bring you back to the starting point. This makes for a very fun and easy day on the water. Prefer paddling on a lake? Rent a paddle board to take with you to Lake Irwin or Emerald Lake–these include life jacket (PFD) and paddle rental.

9. Relax at Lake Irwin

Spend a day at Lake Irwin, a perfect spot for picnicking, swimming, or just unwinding by the water. The lake’s picturesque setting is ideal for capturing stunning photos or simply soaking in the peace of nature. The drive to Lake Irwin is on dirt roads, which can be a little bumpy at times. That said, they are well maintained and normally don’t require a high clearance vehicle. The parking lot by the lake can get crowded especially on weekends during the summer (arrive early to avoid this).

A few other notes on Lake Irwin:

• Lake Irwin has a beautiful campground just above it. If you decide to camp here, the road past the lake can get quite bumpy. We’d recommend using an all wheel drive car.
• There is a short and relatively easy hike around Lake Irwin you can do while there that is quite scenic.
• For a more challenging hike, the Scarp Ridge Trail starts a bit past the campground. It is only 3.9 miles, but gains 1,430 ft. of elevation in that short distance. Come prepared for a stunning, high altitude hike.

10. Scenic Drives in Summer and Fall

The area around Crested Butte offers some of the most breathtaking scenic drives in Colorado, especially beautiful in the summer with wildflowers and in the fall with golden aspen foliage. Always check road conditions and status before heading out on these drives. Here are a few of our favorite must-do drives that showcase the natural beauty of the region:

Kebler Pass

Connecting Crested Butte to Paonia, Kebler Pass is renowned for having one of the largest aspen groves in the United States. This drive is particularly spectacular in the fall when the aspen leaves turn a stunning gold. The road is mostly gravel but is well-maintained and suitable for most vehicles. If you turn north after Kepler Pass onto McClure Pass (towards Carbondale), you can easily continue on towards Redstone and Aspen.

Gothic Road

Leading north from Crested Butte to Gothic, this drive offers dramatic views of the rugged Elk Mountains and the lush valleys below. The road continues to Schofield Pass and eventually to Marble, presenting more adventurous driving and breathtaking scenery. Don’t miss stopping at the ghost town of Gothic and at Judd Falls for a waterfall hike. We do not recommend driving over Schofield Pass unless you have a 4 wheel drive while good clearance, and are experienced with off road conditions. The road narrows to a single lane road with a steep drop-off to one side, without being able to see oncoming traffic.

Cottonwood Pass

This scenic route connects Buena Vista with Almont, which is just south of Crested Butte. The drive is known for its extraordinary views, dense forests, and alpine tundra. It is especially beautiful in summer with wildflower blooms and in fall with changing aspen colors, Cottonwood Pass is accessible to all types of vehicles, though check CDOT for road conditions before heading out. Be sure to make a stop at the summit for stunning views and hiking options.

Ohio Pass

Ohio Creek Road is a less-traveled route, which connects Gunnison and Crested Butte. It offers stunning views of the Castles, a unique rock formation that resembles castle towers.

Crested Butte in summer is a wonderful destination for those seeking both adventure and relaxation with a laid back atmosphere. You’ll find exhilarating hikes and rides, lively festivals, peaceful water activities, scenic drives, and relaxing nature escapes. Don’t miss visiting Crested Butte in Fall as well. With its spectacular fall colors, scenic drives, mountain bike rides, and hikes, it’s one of the best places to see fall colors in Colorado.

Where to Stay in Crested Butte

One of the main choices in Crested Butte is whether to stay in town or on the mountain. They are only a 10 minute drive apart, and well connected by the bus. We personally prefer to stay in town, making it easy to walk to shops, restaurants, concerts, and to some of the trails (such as the lower loop). In winter, this makes for easy cross country skiing as well. Others prefer to stay in Mt. Crested Butte, for closer access to the chairlifts, alpine skiing in winter, and some of the great trails. This is truly a personal preference and both areas have their highlights.

There are a wide range of places to stay in Crested Butte, ranging from hostels to B&B’s to luxury villas. Here are some of our top recommendations:

Vaquera House	Wonderful upscale rooms with terrace, garden, free bikes, and an on-site restaurant with room service. Guests can play tennis and pool.
Public House Lofts	The Public House has large modern suites located right on the main street, with a restaurant and bar conveniently downstairs. The shuttle to the ski mountain stops just across the street.
3 Bedroom In Town Home	3 bedroom fully renovated vacation rental on Whiterock Avenue in town. Easy walking distance to all that the town has to offer from this beautiful home.
Cristiana Guesthaus	Cozy guesthouse in downtown Crested Butte with free continental breakfast, ski storage, and shuttle to Mt. Crested Butte and the nordic center.
Purple Mountain Bed & Breakfast	Cute B&B conveniently located in town, with available breakfast, garden, hot tub, and free bikes.
Crested Butte Hostel	Well rated hostel with both dorm rooms and private rooms most with shared bathrooms. Conveniently located to downtown and to the buses running to the mountain.

How to Get to Crested Butte

By Car	The drive from Denver takes 4-4.5 hours. Check road conditions carefully during the winter. During summer, enjoy the drive over beautiful Cottonwood Pass en route to Crested Butte.
By Air	Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is about 30 minutes from Crested Butte. Rent a car or take a bus or shuttle service from there.
By Public Transportation	Within the Gunnison-Crested Butte area, there are plenty of bus routes available. Taking a bus from Denver can be more challenging, though it is doable.

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