The Gunnison-Crested Butte Experience

Authentic ... unspoiled ... unpretentious ... terms not typically associated with today's glitzy, overbuilt mountain destinations. But there is still a place where those terms apply, where you can still find authentic Western heritage; dramatic, unspoiled natural beauty; genuinely friendly, unpretentious people; and the "Last Great Colorado Ski Town."  All this is surrounded by almost two million acres of true wilderness! That place is Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado.

The gateway to this special place is the town of Gunnison. Retaining much of its historic Western ranching heritage, Gunnison is also home to Western State College, a four-year liberal arts school, and the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, which is served year-round by United Airlines and in the winter by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.  Popular attractions include the Pioneer Museum, Gunnison Whitewater Park and the new Gunnison Valley Observatory.

The 30-mile drive from the high desert plateaus and mesas of Gunnison to the alpine world of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte is a trip that transcends both geological and chronological time.

Founded in 1880, the charming village of Crested Butte thrived as an Old West supply town to surrounding gold, silver and coal mines long before it became a ski town in the early 1960s, and its homey and colorful Victorian buildings and warm, welcoming residents still give testimony to that heritage. Crested Butte feels laid-back and uncrowded, but don't expect some backwoods burg. Here, in state's eighth largest National Historic District, colorful old storefronts buzz with excellent eateries, hip nightspots, sophisticated galleries, funky cultural celebrations and unique shopping venues. One fan, struck by its blend of sophistication, spirit and small-town character, compared it to "Mayberry...with sushi and reggae."

Unique Character Recognized Nationally

Crested Butte experienced a banner year of accolades in 2008, first being among the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in February.  Next it was Outside magazine's "10 Best Towns in America" list and Sunset magazine's "10 Dream Towns" in August. 

Gunnison,was in the 2007 spotlight as the only Colorado town highlighted as one of the "50 Best Adventure Towns" in National Geographic Adventure Magazine and one of five Colorado towns mentioned as unspoiled places to visit, live and play in the book "101 Best Outdoor Towns" by Sarah Tuff and Greg Melville.

Together, the towns were named one of the "20 Best Places to Live the West" by American Cowboy in 2009.

A Winter Wonderland Filled With Adventure

Just three miles north of Crested Butte (and a 10-minute ride via free shuttle bus) lies the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the world-renowned Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) ski area where you can "Inspire Your Passion."  In winter, avid skiers and snowboarders flock to Crested Butte Mountain's steeps. Host to the U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Championships, U.S. Extreme Freeskiing Telemark Championships, North Face Masters Snowboard Championships and numerous other events, the ski mountain's dramatic crest sweeps down into the rowdiest adventure terrain in the Rockies. Some of the country's best alpine athletes were shaped by, or drawn to, this mountain adventure paradise.

But Crested Butte Mountain's awe-inspiring steeps mellow into wide bowls, non-threatening glades and long cruiser runs for intermediates, then into gentle learning slopes for beginners. In fact, Crested Butte leads the state in teaching first-timers, with innovative instruction and packaging. Kids ages 6 and under ski free and are sure to enjoy the new Camp CB.

CBMR has spent more than $315 million to improve the resort's facilities-the largest capital improvement in the resort's history. Check out the new town center, called "Mountaineer Square," and upgrades resort wide. Voted best steeps, best snow and best groomed corduroy in Colorado, the mountain offers skiing and riding terrain for all abilities. On-mountain amenities include 16 lifts accessing more than 121 trails, a DC Superpipe and Park, beginner's terrain park, equipment rentals, award-winning ski and snowboard instruction from the famed CB Mountain Schools, extraordinary restaurants, lively après ski and the famous experts-only "Extreme Limits!"  New this year is a lift-served tubing hill and an Adventure Center featuring a year-round ice skating rink, bungee trampolines and rock-climbing wall.

Crested Butte's Adaptive Sports Center, one of the country's finest year-round adaptive recreation programs, makes sure that people with disabilities get in on all the fun as well.

Of course, you don't have to attach yourself to skis or a snowboard to have fun at the ski resort. On the slopes, guests can supplement their skiing with activities like snowshoe tours and on-mountain sleigh ride dinners. Shops, lodging, restaurants and après-ski hangouts also hug the slopes at the base area.

Both Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte also serve as hubs for other winter recreational opportunities. Branching out from both towns, a diverse network of cross-country ski trails leads in all directions. Nordic fans can skate or classic ski on more than 95k of beautifully groomed trails in the Gunnison-Crested Butte valley surrounded by mountain peaks, or get up close and personal with the mountains by heading up through aspens and evergreens toward loftier vistas. Hut systems in the surrounding wilderness provide warm and comfortable accommodations for overnight backcountry tours.

In addition to being a great starting point for Nordic skiing adventures, the Nordic Center in downtown Crested Butte offers far more: ice skating, sledding and snowshoeing.  The Nordic Center rents all types of Nordic gear, figure and hockey skates, sleds, and snowshoes. The Center also offers classes in all Nordic disciplines and hosts special celebrations, tours, races and clinics throughout the winter. 

The vast backcountry also invites exploration via less traditional modes, including snowmobile, horse-drawn sleigh and hot air balloon. A memorable alternative, dog sledding, combines backcountry adventure, scenery and one big tail-wagging dog party. Down valley, ice fishing and ice-skating are popular on the vast, frozen expanses of Blue Mesa Reservoir and hockey and Nordic skiing are favorite pastimes during Gunnison winters.

Active Summers in a Temperate Climate

Gunnison-Crested Butte is truly a winter wonderland, but the summer and fall seasons are wonderful in their own right. As the high country emerges from its mantle of white, and the snow recedes higher and higher on the peaks, a dramatic transition takes place on the valley floors.

Rivers, swollen with spring snowmelt, run free and wild, kicking off a great season of fun for rafters and kayakers. Wildflowers, in every imaginable shape and color, seem to appear overnight, giving the area the well-earned title of the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" from the Colorado Legislature. In fact, the Glacier Lilies are so anxious to emerge in the summer that they literally force their way through remaining layers of snow, and by mid-July, the entire area is painted with dramatic floral displays.

Naturally, hiking and camping in such an unspoiled environment are especially rewarding. Local hiking trails range from short and easy day hikes, to multi-day backpack excursions into the backcountry. The almost-unlimited camping opportunities range from developed campgrounds to primitive sites near fire roads and hiking trails, accommodating everyone from RV campers to the most avid outdoor lovers.

As mountain passes melt out, access to the area by passenger car is greatly enhanced and unsurpassed sightseeing opportunities are provided on the West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway and Silver Thread Historic & Scenic Byway, which circle through the area's sleepy mountain towns and offer some of the most dramatic scenery in the world. The drive in fall is a special treat, when aspen leaves turn the mountainsides to shimmering gold, orange and red. Four-wheel drive provides access into higher and more remote terrain, with trails ranging from easy cruises to very challenging tests for both the vehicle and the driver.

Summer also sees the arrival of the mountain bike in Gunnison-Crested Butte. Kicking off with the famous "Fat Tire Bike Week" in June, the area hosts a wide variety of mountain bike events throughout the season. Known as one of the birthplaces of mountain biking, Crested Butte is also home to the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame, located at the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum. Mountain biking opportunities range from easy, level paths and fire road rides to some of the most exciting and demanding single track found anywhere in the world.

For a landlocked area in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, Gunnison-Crested Butte enjoys a surprising number of water sports. Colorado's largest body of water, Blue Mesa Reservoir, offers water-skiing, sailboarding, wind surfing, canoeing and fishing-all with incredible views. Taylor and Spring Creek Reservoirs and beautiful high-country tarns with names like Mirror, Emerald and Lost Lake, contribute even more scenic and rewarding options for the boater and fisherman.

Fly-fishing is another popular pastime, and the Gunnison-Crested Butte area is a fisherman's paradise. In fact, the Gunnison and East Rivers offer sections of Gold Medal Water, assigned by the Colorado Wildlife Commission to only 168 miles of the more than 9,000 miles of water in the state.

Only an hour west of Gunnison is the dramatic Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, one of our country's newest National Park. Nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Colorado, the steep, black, rock walls plummet almost vertically along a 53-mile stretch of narrow gorge. The sheer cliffs, the steepest in Colorado, drop over 2,000 feet to the raging Gunnison River below. Numerous overlooks provide breathtaking vistas, and hiking trails range from easy rim hikes to physically challenging treks to the bottom of the gorge. You'll find fully equipped campgrounds throughout the area, along with eagles, hawks and peregrine falcons that make their homes in the rocky outcroppings. The Black Canyon is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world.

Events for Every Season

As if every day beneath Colorado skies weren't special enough, Gunnison-Crested Butte jumps at any opportunity to celebrate. Fourth of July festivities include parades, live music, games and competitions for all ages and fireworks at both ends of the valley. The annual Wildflower Festival in July is a highlight of the summer, along with Gunnison Cattleman's Days (Colorado's oldest rodeo). A slew of offbeat festivities are also squeezed in between, including Flauschink, the comedic flushing of winter each April, and Vinotok, the medieval harvest festival of autumn.  September Splendor in the Rockies celebrates fall with a month full of events.

Gunnison Arts Center, Crested Butte Center for the Arts, Crested Butte Mountain Theatre and other local arts groups keep the cultural calendar filled, and other great summer events include everything from golf tournaments and arts fairs to free outdoor concerts and a spectacular car show. There's even a wild mushroom festival!

In winter, a myriad of both offbeat and mainstream events pepper the calendar, including the Alley Loop Nordic marathon, extremely challenging Elk Mountains Grand Traverse from Crested Butte to Aspen, holiday celebrations, Romance in the Rockies and much more! 

Accommodations to Suit Any Taste

Guests of the Gunnison-Crested Butte area have many and diverse options for accommodations - from full-service hotels like the Grand Lodge Crested Butte to condos, vacation rental homes and cozy bed-and-breakfast inns and cabins at both ends of the valley and in between.

Come for a Visit!

For daydreamers in the flatlands, Crested Butte's snowy, uncrowded playground might seem a world removed. But for many folks this winter, it awaits, just an easy flight away.

This winter, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines will offer service to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport in Gunnison.  United Airlines serves Gunnison-Crested Butte year-round.

For vacation planning assistance, including air transportation, call the Gunnison-Crested