Summer in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Explore endless trails and roads

Grab your bike and come explore the Gunnison Valley’s huge variety of roads and trails during your Colorado vacation travel this summer! With Gunnison and Crested Butte fewer than 30 miles apart, you can explore the high desert and the high alpine all in one trip.

Crested Butte’s high alpine mountain biking trails burst into bloom in June, July and August, adding a layer of color to the already-majestic landscape. Delve deep into the area’s world-famous backcountry trails for epic adventure.

More than 1,100 miles of dirt roads in Gunnison County provide endless options for gravel biking routes. Explore lightly traveled roads through high desert landscapes south of Gunnison, or climb mountain passes with epic views near Pitkin and Taylor Park. Roads around Crested Butte offer challenging ascents and panoramic mountain scenery.

Fishing

The Gunnison Valley offers world-class fishing for adventurous anglers looking to explore a variety of experiences. Whether you’re chasing trophy trout in the valley’s two Gold Medal rivers, introducing the family to shoreline fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, or hiking to remote alpine lakes, the scenery is as good as the fishing itself. Explore on your own, or hire one of the Gunnison Valley’s expert guides to let you in on all the local fishing lore.

mountain towns of the Gunnison Valley

It’s easy to fall in love with the picturesque historic buildings and vibrant atmosphere of Crested Butte. From brightly painted town buses to jewel-toned townie bikes lined up on the Elk Avenue bike racks, Crested Butte puts a new spin on “Colorful Colorado.”

28 miles south, Gunnison is an easygoing college town with a heart for outdoor recreation. Gunnison is home to Western Colorado University and also boasts a lively downtown.

Learn more about visiting

If you’re interested in epic Colorado biking, stunning mountain scenery and the coolest mountain towns around, learn more about visiting Crested Butte and Gunnison by clicking the button below.

Visit Crested Butte and Gunnison

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO CRESTED BUTTE AND GUNNISON

Summer Colorado vacation travel

It’s time to start planning your summer vacation to Colorado, and you probably have a lot of questions. Should you drive here, or fly into Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport? Will you rent a cabin on the river or stay in a hotel near your favorite mountain bike trails? What are the most popular things to do in Crested Butte and Gunnison? Our guide to planning a trip to the Gunnison Valley will point you in the right direction.

Plan your trip

Hotels and lodging

Looking for a hotel, vacation rental or cabin for your spring trip to Colorado? Input the dates of your trip to compare prices and amenities of lodging across the Gunnison Valley.

Two men ride mountain bikes with wildflowers in the foreground of the picture

Colorado mountain biking paradise

800+ miles of trail

From the craggy ridges of Hartman Rocks in Gunnison to the soaring, flower-filled peaks of Crested Butte, no two rides are the same. Mountain bikers make the pilgrimage to Crested Butte for famous trails like Teocalli Ridge and Doctor Park, and they keep coming back to explore less-traveled gems like Star Pass, Strawberry and the 409s.

To plan a Colorado mountain biking trip to Crested Butte and Gunnison, you’ll need maps, trail descriptions and local travel tips. We covered all the bases in our mountain biking guide.

Choose your trails

Three gravel bikers ride a gravel road in Gunnison with mountains in the background during Colorado vacation travel

Gunnison: gravel biking base camp

1,100+ miles of road

Gravel biking in Gunnison County can take you from the shores of Blue Mesa Reservoir, to historic ghost towns near Pitkin, and to high-elevation passes near Crested Butte. Stay in Gunnison for easy access to a huge variety of rides.

Use our gravel biking guide to learn more about where to ride and find a bike shop nearby.

Plan your routes

Colorado fishing in every season

You’ll have the Gold Medal trout waters of the Gunnison and Taylor rivers to yourself in spring. Hire a local guide to show you around and provide equipment.

Head to the Gunnison Valley during the summer months for cool weather and excellent fishing, whether you’re hoping to explore the rivers or hook one of Blue Mesa Reservoir’s famously huge lake trout.

In fall, kokanee salmon begin their journey from Blue Mesa Reservoir to their spawning grounds upstream. Snag one of these feisty fish to experience a unique inland salmon run, or enjoy the year’s best trout fishing surrounded by golden fall foliage.

Head to the thick ice of Blue Mesa Reservoir or Taylor Reservoir for a unique winter fishing experience. Hiring a guide is recommended.

Go Fishing

Art in Crested Butte and Gunnison - a rainbow over the mountains in summer

Perfect trails, pristine landscape

Behind every awesome trail is someone who made it that way. Whether it’s through volunteering or donating, what can you do to keep Crested Butte and Gunnison wild? Learn how you can support the Gunnison Valley trails organizations—from near or far!

Support Awesome Trails

Visit Crested Butte and Gunnison and you just might meet other entrepreneurs, such as the two founders of Gnara, pictured here in a van.

Business in the Gunnison Valley

Resources for small companies and entrepreneurs

Easy access to public lands and outdoor sports in the Gunnison Valley makes this the perfect setting for developing an outdoor business or product. Join the budding community of outdoor industry small businesses in Gunnison and Crested Butte!

LEARN MORE

A float on the Fourth of July parade in Crested Butte, Colorado

Events in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Whether you’re looking for live music, races, kids activities or one of Crested Butte’s famous parades, the events calendar has it all.

Browse the calendar

Skiing Crested Butte

Already dreaming of next winter? Make it the year you finally take that bucket-list trip to Crested Butte! Explore steep chutes, tight trees and rocky cliffs, all surrounded by pristine Rocky Mountain views. Get helpful tips and learn your way around the mountain with our guide to skiing Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Click the button below to get all the details!

Ski the steeps

COLORADO SUMMER TRIP INSPIRATION

Need advice on things to do and places to go on your adventure to Crested Butte and Gunnison? Whether you’re planning a week-long Colorado mountain biking trip or a gravel biking weekend getaway, these articles can get you started planning your Colorado vacation travel this year.

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