The Skiers' Guide to Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Crested Butte is the holy grail of North American expert skiing. Located deep in the Elk Mountains, it is more remote than many of the popular Colorado Mountains, but visitors love its laid back and quiet atmosphere. If you’re looking for a glitzy resort, it is probably better to visit somewhere like Aspen or Vail. But if you’re looking to shred hard and get back to the feeling of the resort you grew up skiing, Crested Butte provides the vibes. The historic town of Crested Butte is not to be missed either, with true saloons, amazing food, and art galleries at every turn.

Expert skiers need to look no further than Crested Butte to get their fix - and often don’t. It is a crown jewel of expert skiing, not only in North America, but the world. With 74 advanced and expert runs (compared to 30 intermediate and 17 beginner runs), and a thousand different line options within those, it’s impossible to get bored of the terrain at Crested Butte. It boasts the steepest inbound run, named Rambo. It’s ungroomed, with tree stumps and rocks littered everywhere. Few would call it fun; in fact, for most, it’s a run that you do simply to say that you did it.

If you’re looking for some steeps without obstacles, International, located off of Silver Queen, is one of the steepest groomed runs in North America. Catching onto a trend yet? International is also where many become acquainted with the Crested Butte’s nickname, “Crusty Butt.” The name isn’t only because it’s fun to say; it’s inspired by the weather at Crested Butte. The Elk Mountain Range is known for blustery weather - sometimes, it brings incredible snow, and sometimes, it brings the wind. Steeper, exposed, groomed runs like International are particularly susceptible to getting blown off. To escape the high winds, you’ll have to head to the North Face Lift, affectionately known as NFL. If you are coming to Crested Butte for its expert terrain, you’ll probably spend most of your time here anyway. Most of the inbound expert terrain is located off of this lift. There are plenty of hike-out options, so if you would prefer to keep your skis on, make sure you keep the pistes in sight. The High Lift also leads to plenty of hike-out terrain. And of course, Crested Butte is one of those mountains where if you see it, you can ski it. So if you want, hike up the Butte itself and ski down the back.

While the majority of Crested Butte’s terrain is expert and advanced, there is plenty of variety for intermediate and beginner skiers - they’ll just find their zone at the midpoint of the mountain and below. The Red Lady and Paradise Lift offer the longest and widest runs, but they also tend to be more crowded. Our favorite spot for intermediate skiers is the East River Lift. Nearly every piste here is rated for intermediates, but each one is different - from moguls to tree runs to groomers.

Beginners hoping to get their legs under them with long mellow runs will love Teocali and the Painter Boy lift. For those hoping to level up their skiing quickly, Crested Butte also has an amazing ski school that meets at the bottom of Silver Queen.

Crested Butte itself is a terrain park in the most literal sense, but they do have some man-made parks as well! There is a progression park located directly within the beginner area at Painter Boy, as well as a larger park beneath Gold Link and Red Lady. With all of the cliffs and chutes available all around the mountain, there is certainly less of a focus on terrain parks, but still options for some end-of-day laps!

The crowds that tend to flock to Crested Butte are one of two types - those hoping to have a one of a kind ski trip to a unique place, and ski bums. And so, the restaurants in Crested Butte cater to those two groups. There are cheaper options that cater to the grungy tourists or locals, and options made to impress. Make no mistake - there is no bad food in Crested Butte, period.

If you identify with the ski bum crowd (or are travelling with a large family) The Secret Stash is a must try. Located on the main strip in the town of Crested Butte is a beloved pizza place often touted as the best pizza in the state. In order to meet the extreme demand for a slice, the restaurant is two floors - for a more intimate vibe on couches and beanbags, try and see if you can find a spot in the basement! Upstairs, you can watch chefs throw dough from your seat thanks to the open kitchen. Decorated with beautiful pieces gathered from all around the world by the owners themselves, you have to visit The Secret Stash to understand its cult following.

If pizza doesn’t do it for you, check out the bao buns at The Hideout, which is a cozy spot serving American fusion food. Teocalli Tamale and Pitas in Paradise serve up quick and delicious options for those trying to stick to a stricter budget.

For those who are happy to spend a bit more money for a meal that they will never forget, The Wooden Nickel, Soupcon, and Izakaya are all phenomenal. The Wooden Nickel is perfect for those looking to get a taste of the wild west - the building has been around since 1880, and still has its saloon doors! Soupcon will take all of your decision making off your hands - they offer a tasting menu that changes seasonally every month. Izakaya’s casual vibe and laid back atmosphere often makes people think it’s a normal sushi spot - but they offer exquisite fine dining sushi and omakase.

The après scene in Crested Butte is everything that the terrain isn’t - laid back, easygoing, and relatively chill. Because the main town is separated from the mountain by a few miles, options directly below the hill are limited, but Butte 66 - a huge deck just beneath the Red Lady Express, is where everyone tends to flock to after a long day of shredding. From the sunshine to the beers to the view of end of day stragglers making their way to the base, it has everything you could ever want out of an après bar. If you prefer to start your après on the hill, the Umbrella Bar yurt near the Painter Boy lift is the best place to start; especially if you’re looking to start before noon.

In town, Kochevar’s Saloon is a classic. It’s said that the legendary Butch Cassidy got so drunk here once that he forgot the gun that he checked at the door. While our sources can’t confirm that, we can confirm that it’s a spot with great beers, great food, and great vibes.

If you like live music, Talk of the Town and The Eldo Brewery both have events lined up all winter to keep you entertained. If you do venture into the town rather than staying up on the hill, just don’t forget to bring a designated driver or keep a close eye on the shuttle schedule. Taxis and Ubers are few and far between here, and the road back to the mountain is cold and long.

Despite being most well known for its advanced and expert terrain, Crested Butte still welcomes plenty of families of all skill levels every year! There are some awesome beginner areas, from the base area beginner area to the long groomers off of the Red Lady lift. If you are comfortable leaving the base area, the Painter Boy lift is less crowded, but full of short run perfect for the whole family. There’s a small terrain park running along the side of Painter Boy, so if you have teenagers who can’t get away from rails, you can still keep everyone within shouting distance.

Off the mountain, the quaint town of Crested Butte - a short drive or shuttle away from the main mountain has plenty of options to explore, from restaurants to art galleries to shops. There’s plenty of winter hiking and snowshoeing trails around the mountain (although you’ll have to get up early to access those) and even dog sledding nearby! Because it’s not as crowded as other Colorado mountains located directly off of I-70, it’s easy to keep track of larger groups than it would be otherwise. With all of that said, it’s important to remember that Crested Butte is one of the steepest mountains in the United States. It’s not the best place to let beginners or young kids run wild to explore - it is not difficult to accidentally ski your way to tough terrain. Keep a map with you and make sure you know where you’re heading, and it is one of the most exciting and versatile places for your family to spend a vacation!

The first thing you’ll want to figure out when coming to Crested Butte is which Crested Butte you want to stay in. There’s the Crested Butte mountain and the town of Crested Butte. The Crested Butte mountain lodging is relatively limited, although there are condos to rent. The only ski-in-ski-off option is the Elevation Hotel, which towers at the base of the mountain. It’s connected to some of the small shops in restaurants, and has an outdoor hot tub. Most people who want to be near the mountain choose to stay there for the convenience and similar price to other nearby locations. Other options include the Grand Lodge and Nordic Inn.

Downtown Crested Butte lodging options tend to be smaller and work well for individuals and couples. Cristiana Guesthaus, Purple Mountain B&B, the Elk Lodge and Old Town Inn are the only options beyond the occasional AirBNB availability. While options might be limited, they are all fantastic choices, and those who choose to stay downtown adore the proximity to shops, restaurants, and après options.

Both Crested Buttes can be pretty expensive. Those who don’t mind driving up to the mountain in the morning might want to check out staying in Gunnison - it’s a bigger town about 30 miles south of the mountain with cheaper hotel and AirBNB options. The town of Gunnison is a trip in and of itself, so you could hit two birds with one stone staying here!

Pros

• Some of the best inbounds extreme skiing in the United States.
• Less crowded than most other large Colorado resorts.
• Beautiful! Set against the Elk Mountains, there are few places more breathtaking.
• Friendly, unpretentious vibe perfect for folks looking to return to the roots of skiing.
• Quaint town that is perfect for exploring at the end of a hard ski day.

Cons

• Limited beginner terrain
• Remote location can make it difficult to get to, especially for people without a car.
• Limited après-ski scene when compared to larger resorts.
• Possibility of harsh weather and variable snow conditions.
• High altitude can be challenging for some visitors (Summit Elevation 12,162 feet).