About Crested Butte
There are few places remaining that can be called a true Colorado ski town. Crested Butte is considered a holdout, retaining its small town charm and the adventurous soul that it has always had. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning, you immediately feel a difference that sets Crested Butte apart from other mountain locations. With no traffic lights or chain stores and people who openly celebrate life every day, the genuine nature of the community and the pristine surroundings immediately capture you. Here, your time isn't just about a visit to ski an incredible mountain. It's about being away from your other world, finding adventure in an unspoiled setting surrounded by majestic peaks, wide valleys, and being connected to the culture and lifestyle that is Crested Butte.
Crested Butte inspires a passion for adventure within you no matter what your quest may be. From the moment you walk the streets of the historic mining town and meet the people who live here or view the ski mountain's crested peak for the first time you can tell this is a special place that stirs your inner sprit. The ski mountain has a natural character that is both distinctive and exhilarating for any ability level. From the abundant wide open green and blue groomed trails to more advanced long cruisers and the famous extreme limits of the North Face and Headwall, the mountain has it all. This season will feature additional terrain expansion in Teocalli Bowl to an area know as Teo II. This expert bowl is accessed by the high lift at the top of the mountain and adds to the expansive region known as the Extreme Limits.
Crested Butte is recognized as the home to some of the country's top extreme and elite winter athletes, names such as Seth Morrison and Wendy Fisher who pioneered big mountain skiing are synonymous with the Butte. On any day you can find yourself skiing runs with a number of skiing legends or new school superstars. It is easy to see why so many young people are attracted to the scene in CB. The mountain has some of the easiest access to what is considered to be the country's best steeps where you can find classic bowl skiing or unexplored lines on every run.
Crested Butte has always been known as the perfect mountain to improve your skiing because of the diverse terrain and easy progression from beginner, intermediate and advanced sections of the mountain. This unique character of the mountain combined with uncrowded slopes, fantastic grooming and snow conditions gives one a sense of freedom and confidence. The adventure in Crested Butte doesn't just stop at the on-mountain ski experience.
The sense of exploration continues off the slopes with some of the most diverse and distinctive bars, restaurants and nightlife found in any ski town. From sushi to sandwiches and everything in between, the choice of great places to dine and variety of food types is amazing. For a small town like this to have three locations for sushi, six great pizza places, and more than thirty bars is hard to believe. There is also live music almost every night at places like the classic Eldo bar or the intimate Princess wine bar on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte. The shopping is also an adventurous undertaking with small specialty shops and galleries to explore, each one distinct in its offerings and style. Your adventure begins the moment you arrive in Crested Butte and continues as you get to know the people and discover this special place that brings out the colorful, brighter more adventurous you.
This is a friendly, open and caring community with a stubborn streak that still holds tight to its heritage and was once called "the town that wouldn't die" because of its ability to survive the booms and busts of the Colorado's mining days. Crested Buttians also have a colorful spirited nature and on almost any week there is a celebration of some kind or a special event that has a tie to the past. It is clear that locals love to party, but visitors and locals become one in the same in Crested Butte while sharing in the festivities.
The past is as important as the future here and new acquaintances seem to naturally develop into lifelong friendships. For those who have not visited Crested Butte before, they are sometimes surprised to find that there are actually two towns. The historic mining town of Crested Butte dating back to 1880 and the town of Mt. Crested Butte which encompasses the modern ski resort base area with its hotels spas, retail stores and restaurants. The two towns complement each other and are connected by a fantastic and colorful free shuttle service. As unique and quirky as Crested Butte itself, the transportation system is described as fun and reliable with its distinctive hand painted buses and friendly drivers operating all day and night. Every day, locals ride their bicycles on the snow covered streets to the bus stops in town and join visitors on the six minute ride to the base of the mountain.
There is a real community in Crested Butte which makes it feel different from almost every other ski resort in the west. Real people live, work and play here, and welcome visitors as though they were close friends. As one local put it, "This is a great place to find yourself...or to just get lost for a while."
Preserving all that is special about Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte continues to be a priority for everyone who lives and plays here. The dedication to sustaining this pristine natural environment and the rare and special mountain culture is something that you can see and feel. Being true to nature also means keeping alive what people who come to visit find so attractive about Crested Butte. It's the feeling that the things that originally attracted people to these mountain and to the sport of skiing are still here. This is a place where you can connect with your own inner sense of what matters most to you.
With the recent base area development and extensive improvements of the ski resort along with the opening of the new Mountaineer Square Lodge & Conference Center, Mt. Crested Butte has shown how it can keep its values balanced with growth. As more people discover this mountain haven, staying true to nature will always be the guiding light. Considering the distinctive qualities of Crested Butte, it is easy to understand how it has been called "Colorado's last great ski town."
Fall Ranching
