Summer

Mountain Biking

The Crested Butte area enjoys some of the best mountain biking in the world. Crested Butte is one of the places that the sport of modern mountain biking began. The more you ride here, the more you realize why mountain biking endures here. Many local rides are long and epic. Even the shorter rides access incredible mountain scenery. There is so much beauty in these hills, that one of the best ways to see as much as you can in one summer is on a bike. To the well conditioned, thirty to fifty miles in a day is possible. For the novice, half of that will be a challenge. Even so, you will cover more ground on a bike in day than just about any form of outdoor transportation. Most of the trails around here have been slowly transformed into bike trails by the sheer number of people who ride them and maintain them.

Hiking

You can hike all over the mountain up at the resort. Or take it easy by riding the chairlift up Mt. Crested Butte and walking back down the mountain. The single track hiking paths are very developed and marked. For the more adventurous soul, our backcountry is filled with incredible hiking trails. Pick up a trail map at the Alpineer in town (349-5210) located at the four way stop and lace up those hiking boots!

The Arts

The Crested Butte Center for the Arts coordinates all of the plays, art shows, concerts and cultural entertainment in Crested Butte. The Center for the Arts strives to enrich and engage the community by fostering artistic expression and cultural experiences in Colorado’s Upper East River Valley. Our vibrant facility, diverse programs and community outreach provide the common ground for all of our visitors to experience arts and culture in a whole new way. The Crested Butte Music Festival presents over 50 performances and workshops that span four weeks – July 1-31- both in town and at the ski area. In addition to music, the Festival offers other arts, including poetry readings and dance. There are also master classes, lectures, and lessons with local and visiting masters open to the public.

Water Sports

Sail, windsurf or water ski at Blue Mesa Reservoir in the Gunnison area. You’ll find 20 miles of water and 96 miles of shoreline. Blue Mesa is Colorado’s largest body of water, and has been called “Mother Nature’s Playground.” The season runs May 1-October 1. Take a boat tour on Morrow Point Lake near the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park where you’ll see spectacular rock spires including the Curecanti Needle. Nearby is the Curecanti National Recreation Area which has three lakes. Or, follow Taylor River Canyon up to Taylor Reservoir for hiking, boating or fishing. Popular paddle board spots include Lake Irwin (9 miles west of town) or the Slate River. The very convenient put-in is located at the Rec Path bridge in town!

Gold Medal Water – Black Canyon Fly Fishing

The Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is designated as Gold Medal Water. Streams and rivers in Colorado are designated as Gold Medal Waters by the state wildlife commission because they provide outstanding angling opportunities for large trout.The Gold Medal Waters begin at the boundary of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area and continue downstream to the North Fork of the Gunnison River.Special regulations are required to maintain gold medal quality experiences. Of the more than 9,000 miles of trout streams in Colorado, only 168 miles are designated as Gold Medal.These regulations apply to the Gunnison River within Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and within Curecanti National Recreation Area at East Portal (between the closure at Crystal Dam and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park boundary).

Fishing at Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery

The hatchery was built over several years in the late 1960s and includes 783 acres along the East River south of Crested Butte. The hatchery and raceways utilize about 200 acres of the total. Kokanee salmon are spawned in the hatchery from late October to early November and visitors can view the milling and fertilization of eggs. Young salmon and trout can be viewed in ponds. A lot of shorebirds and songbirds can be seen in the marshy willow bottoms during the spring and summer.

Golf at The Club at Crested Butte

The treasured mountain golf experience is at its finest on this Robert Trent Jones, II championship course. In addition to fabulous golf, club amenities include year-round tennis, an aerobics and fitness center with indoor pool, full-service spa and dining at Remi’s. Surrounded by majestic mountains and accented by stands of shimmering aspens, something refreshingly different awaits you. This is The Club at Crested Butte, a community where the atmosphere is approachable and comfortable. Where members and residents gather by the glowing fire to share the elixir of friends, family and spirits. But don’t be fooled by the refreshing lack of pretense. The Club at Crested Butte has gone to great effort to offer the finest of amenities.