Crested Butte Mountain Resort Skiing

Terrain

Crested Butte is best known for its diverse extreme terrain with the upper parts of the mountain containing steep and rocky chutes, tree glades, bowls and cliff drops. Some of North America’s most advanced inbounds terrain is located at Crested Butte, and the resort is home to various freeskiing championships.

There is a total of 1,547 skiable acres serviced by 15 lifts, with 300 inches of snow per year and snowmaking on 297 acres. Lift-served vertical drop is 2,775 feet; overall is 3,026 feet. With 121 trails, the trail descriptions are 27% beginner, 57% intermediate and 16% advanced. The longest run is 2.6 miles long. The summit elevation is 12,162 feet, and base elevation is 9,375 feet. The lowest lift is at 9,100 feet.

Freestylers can take advantage of the five terrain parks: Cascade Park, the expert park with hybrid rail combinations and technical jibs; Ten Peaks Progression Park, designed for beginner and intermediates; Keystone Job Park, which includes Crested Butte’s most popular boxes and rails features; and Lower Twister Terrain Park, which is the newest with rolling terrain. The Gold Link Family Cross Course is a family-friendly skier and boarder cross track.

The resort is a great place to get those untouched powder lines because of the lack of crowds and short lift lines. Crested Butte has adequate terrain for beginners and a dedicated first-timers area. As for the intermediates, skiers and riders should explore some of the blue runs off the East River Lift. The expert terrain requires significant snow cover and is great when base amounts are deep.

Crested Butte is an authentic Colorado ski town with unique characteristics and laid-back atmosphere. A hidden gem that experiences less skier traffic than its neighbors to the north, Crested Butte Mountain Resort is a great destination for skiers and riders looking to avoid the crowds and experience some of the country’s most extreme terrain. The resort is open from November through April.

Crested Butte ski resort offers many different lessons, including standard private, adult and kid lessons. It also has Adult Clinics to help skiers and boarders expand their current skill set. You can even ski with Wendy Fisher, a World Champion skier and Olympian. 

Breakfast

• Coal Creek Grillfeatures an outdoor patio and has an Old West theme. It serves up traditional breakfast fare. 129 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO 81224

Lunch

• Sherpa Cafe may be small, but the food is good, and the staff is extremely friendly. 313 3rd Street, Crested Butte, CO 81224

Dinner

• Ranked as one of the best Colorado restaurants by Best Things Colorado, The Last Steep Bar & Grill has a wide selection of salads, apps and comfort foods. 208 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO 81224

Après

• Montanya Distillers is a rum distillery, offering tours and signature cocktails. Stop by for happy hour after getting off the slopes. 212 Elk Avenue, Crested Butte, CO 81224

Nightlife

• Kochevar’s Saloon offers happy hour cocktails and lots of games, including pool tables and shuffle board. 127 Elk Ave, Crested Butte, CO 81224