Crested Butte Ski Resort is known for the “most lift-served double black diamond terrain in North America”, generous snowfall, and a laid-back atmosphere and called “The Last Great Colorado Ski Town,” this is a bucket-list destination for powder hunters. A bit off the beaten path in the Elk Mountains, Crested Butte will scratch your itch for some steep lines without the crowds at many other resorts.
Much of Crested Butte is catered to advanced and expert skiers however if you’re traveling with friends or family looking for beginner terrain there is plenty near the base area along with ski school. The town is incredibly charming and makes for a memorable family or couples trip as well.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- Over 2,700 vertical feet
- 12,162 ft Summit elevation
- 561 Acres of Expert Terrain
- Steepest lift served Glades
- World-class backcountry access.
- Over 230 inches of snow annually
- EPIC Pass
“A charming ski town with legendary terrain, Crested Butte is where adventure meets authenticity”
Why it’s awesome
Crested Butte is unlike larger, busier resorts. The town is originally a mining town which grew organically into the ski town it is today. The whole town exudes charm, with colorful historic buildings, friendly locals, and a laid-back vibe. Small but vibrant, the town tends to slow down as the evening progresses. Perfect for families and to get solid rest before conquering the slopes.
The resort is known for expert acreage. Some awesome runs are Big Chute, Banana, Teocalli Bowls if you’re ready for a 15 minute hike, or pretty much anything off the High Lift. Even signature runs like Rambo (the steepest cut tree run in North America) requires you navigate almost 1000 vertical feet of double black diamond glades, bowls and gullies to get to. Headwall is the Crested Butte classic you have the hit before leaving.
The Silver Queen and East River chairs service some advanced but not quite expert level terrain for when your legs start to tire out. If you stick to intermediate and beginner slopes you’ll find the resort to be rather small as over 50% of acreage is advanced riding.
The base and summit elevation is rather high to make sure you’re prepared for the thinner air at 10 to 12 thousand feet.
Seriously, check out the trail map and chart some runs and realize just how much there is to conquer at this place.
Après Ski
There’s a few spots on mountain, definitely concentrated right at the resort base. There’s some happy hour specials there but you really should check out the town for some tasty restaurants. Crested Butte is more real than touristy ski town so you’ll find that the restaurants are more authentic and the evenings wind down earlier than later.
Stroll down Elk Avenue to check out shops, architecture, and restaurants. Check out Scout’s General Store, Secret Stash for gourmet Colorado pizza, Teocalli Tamale for Mexican food, or Elk Avenue Prime for upscale dining, or Montanya Distillers for good vibes and good drinks.
Where to Stay
The resort itself is in the town of Mt Crested Butte, not to be confused with the town of Crested Butte.
You can either stay in resort lodging or in the town of Crested Butte which is about a 10 minute drive from the mountain. There shuttle provided by the resort which loops every 15 minutes every it can get pretty crowded at peak times.
The mountain offers ski in/ski out accommodations and walk to lift accommodations. Most of which have hot tubs, you can find some with kitchens/kitchenettes as well. Staying downtown will allow you to experience the charm of the town itself. I recommend staying mountainside and exploring the town in the evenings however you can’t go wrong here either way.
There’s many great places to stay here, for quick and easy recommendations Contact Skizi to get your trip planned sooner than later.
Luxury Accommodations
Slopeside: The Lodge at Mountaineer Square
One of the newer properties at Crested Butte, there are studios, one, two and three bedroom condos as well as a luxury four bedroom penthouse with views of the mountain and valley.
The lodge is slope side, about a 2 minute walk to the Red Lady Lift
In Town: Vaquera House
If you want to experience more of the real ski town of Crested Butte in luxury check out the Vaquera House. The entire place is beautifully decorated, clean, boutique hotel with a spa. They also have free bicycle rentals you can use to explore the town.
Mid Range Accommodation
Elevation Hotel and Spa
Crested Butte Ski in ski out access, Outdoor fireplace, spa and restaurant. Most rooms have kitchenettes. Definitely my top recommendation of all places to stay at Crested Butte.
Budget Accommodation
Old Town Inn
Old Town Inn is a good spot. Comfortable, clean, affordable and has a free shuttle to the resort as well as ski storage. This hotel is located in town, less than a 10 minute drive to the resort.
Costs Breakdown: 4-5 Days
| Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Lift Tickets | ~$680/4 days (multi-day pass discounts available, EPIC). |
| Accommodations | ~$1200/ 5 nights depending on choice of lodging. |
| Gear Rentals | ~$200/4 days if needed (or BYO gear). |
| Food & Drinks | ~$60–$100/day (options range from casual eats to fine dining). |
| Transportation | ~$100-$150 roundtrip from GUC |
Total for 5 days: ~$2,400–$3,000 per person, depending on your lodging and dining preferences.
5 Days BYOG w/ Pass can surely cost less than $1400 per person. Contact Skizi to find you the best deals at no cost to you.
Getting There
Fastest Route
- Fly into Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC), then drive 40 minutes
- Nonstop flights available from Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Dallas.
- Transfer from the Airport
- Black Canyon Limo
- Town Shuttle (Free – subject to schedule)
- Rocky Rides
- Dolly’s Mountain Shuttle
- Ubers tend to be available as well
Other Options
- Drive from Denver (DEN airport) – 4.5 to 5 hours
- Shuttle and bus transportation is also available from Denver airport however it’s usually cheaper to just fly to GUC unless you have a large group (7+)
Contact Skizi
Don’t waste precious time on logistics when you could be chasing powder. Now is the time to plan your ski trip to Crested Butte.
Let us create the ultimate trip for you! From lodging and flights to lift tickets, transportation, and activities, we handle all the details—at no extra cost to you.
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