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Oasis for Adventure in Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. (April 21, 2009) - With nearly two million acres of public space, Gunnison County, Colo., is an oasis for adventure.  As one of the birthplaces of mountain biking, the host of Colorado's oldest rodeo and the home of the U.S. Extreme Freeskiing and U.S. Extreme Telemark Championships, embracing the outdoors and testing one's limits is a way of life here.  For travelers who love to build in outdoor fun to their excursions, here is what three-, four- or five-day trips to Gunnison, Almont, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte might look like.  All levels of athletes are welcome!

3-Day Tour

Day One: There is no better place to begin a Rocky Mountain adventure than the recreation mecca in and around Gunnison. You'll find an unusual combination of challenging venues like slick rock at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area, popular for riding and climbing; Gunnison Whitewater Park, the perfect place to perfect your kayaking skills; and Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water where sea kayaking, boating, water skiing and wind surfing are found at 7,700 feet above sea level. Great camping is available at Blue Mesa, part of the Currecanti National Recreation Area.

½ Day Rock Climbing or Mountain Biking at Hartman Rocks Multi-Use Recreation Area

Long Lunch at Gunnison Whitewater Park

  • Kayak, swim, fish, inner tube and picnic all in one great setting.
  • Bring your own equipment.

½ Day Wind Surfing or Kayaking on Blue Mesa Reservoir

  • Bring your own equipment if going without a guide.

Day Two: Enjoy high adventure at lower elevations in the Taylor Canyon between Almont and Taylor Park Reservoir.  Look for herds of mountain sheep while driving through the canyon!  Catch a great night's rest at a great campground or in a cabin.

½ Day Rafting or Kayaking on the Taylor River

½ Day Rock Climbing in the Taylor Canyon

Day Three: Now it's time to head north to Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte for high mountain peaks, stunning vistas, alpine lakes and Colorado's largest aspen grove on Kebler Pass.

Hike or Horseback Kebler Pass area/West Elk Wilderness (Beckwith Pass)

 

4-DAY TOUR

On the fourth day, a quintessential ride through shoulder-high wildflowers in Crested Butte, the "Wildflower Capital of Colorado" will forever be etched in your memory.  Take a shuttle to the top or ride the whole trail, which is generally a four-hour ride for intermediates.  Also consider taking the Red Lady Express chairlift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort to access rolling single-track to more advanced technical terrain.

Mountain Bike Ride Trail #401 (with or without vehicle support)

                 o http://www.skicb.com/

 

5-DAY TOUR

Add an overnight backpack trip into the Oh-Be-Joyful Wilderness Area west of Crested Butte.

 Camp in Democrat Basin, summit a peak, or simply relax in solitude!

 

EXTRAS

  • Fly-fish the East River, Taylor River, Gunnison River or Blue Mesa Reservoir
  • Visit Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  • Take a boat tour in the Curecanti National Recreation Area - Morrow Point Reservoir
  • Go on a self-guided mountain bike ride on The Lower Loop trail in Crested Butte
  • Choose one of three routes to hike from the Crested Butte area to Aspen
  • Find out why Gunnison County is a mecca for trail running
  • For a rainy day option, visit the 30-foot climbing wall and new indoor pool at the Gunnison Community Center
  • Check the area's calendar for numerous biking, running and other sports-related events

Visitor Information & Personalized Vacation Packages

To find out more about the area's summer calendar of events or to book personalized vacation packages, visit http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/.  During the summer, air access to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport is provided by United Airlines.

About Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado

Gunnison-Crested Butte is nestled among almost two million acres of pristine wilderness in southwest Colorado.  Winter sports enthusiasts know the area for its world-class alpine skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice fishing.  Gunnison-Crested Butte is also a haven for outdoor summer activities.  In the warmer months, visitors can choose from recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, boating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, fly-fishing, camping and horseback riding.  Year-round visitors enjoy distinctive restaurants, unique shops and stimulating cultural opportunities, and have a wide range of lodging options - from rustic inns to guest cabins and bed-and-breakfasts to full-service resort hotels. 

Recognized as the "Official Wildflower Capital of Colorado" by the Colorado Legislature and one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's "Dozen Distinctive Destinations" in 2008, Crested Butte is the site of rich mining, ranching and skiing heritage and home to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.  Only three miles up the road is the resort village of Mt. Crested Butte, home to the ski area, an active base area, the area's conference center, and outstanding hiking and biking trails. 

Gunnison, a real western town located 28 miles from Crested Butte, is home to the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport, Gunnison Whitewater Park, Gunnison Valley Observatory, Pioneer Museum and Western State College, a four-year institution offering majors in the liberal arts and sciences and professional fields.  Both Crested Butte and Gunnison have thriving historic central business districts packed with shopping and dining opportunities. 

In Gunnison County, visitors will find the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where dinosaur fossils were recently discovered; the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water and home to the largest Kokanee salmon fishery in the United States; and The Black Canyon of the Gunnison, one of our country's newest national parks.  Gunnison County includes the quaint and historic towns of Pitkin, Gothic, Tin Cup, Marble, Powderhorn, Almont and Crystal, plus the better-known communities of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte.  Gunnison County is part of the West Elk Loop and Silver Thread Scenic & Historic Byways.

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For a Word file of this press release, click on the link below.

 

Contact:                        Beth Buehler                                        

                                    Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association                 

                                    (970) 349-1168 or bethbuehler@qwestoffice.net

                                    http://www.gunnisoncrestedbutte.com/

Oasis for Adventure 2009.doc (891 KB)

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