Travel Tips for Crested Butte

Where to stay? What to do? Well, don’t worry. We’ve sent our travel experts into the depths of vacation land for you. They’ve traveled the roads, ate the food, played with the locals and found the little things that make a vacation unforgettable. It was a tough job, but someone had to do it so you could have the inside view to your next vacation.

Travel experts share their secrets to conquering Crested Butte, Colorado:

Travel Expert Andrea Lemon on Crested Butte, Colorado

What to know when booking your Crested Butte vacation rental in the summer:

1. Crested Butte is a locally-owned family resort that was purchased by Tim and Diane Mueller in 2004. They want to keep a small town feel to the area and it shows.
2. There are two towns in Crested Butte. There is the actual town of Crested Butte and then there is Mt. Crested Butte. Most of the lodging will be up in Mt. Crested Butte but it is always nice to drive back down to the town Crested Butte for a nice dinner.
3. In the summer, Crested Butte has all the activities you expect a mountain town to have like mountain biking, hiking, fishing, climbing, horseback riding, river rafting and kayaking.

Crested Butte lodging highlight – the Black Bear Lodge

1. All the luxury Condo’s are in Mt. Crested Butte with good access to mountain activities.
2. The Black Bear Lodge only has two- and four-bedroom units.
3. Each spacious condo is loaded with amenities, including a very comfortable lobby, full gourmet kitchen, private balcony and fireplace.

“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Crested Butte:

1. The locals love the “Rubber Duckie Races” during the Arts Festival that takes place in August. They chase thousands of multi-colored rubber ducks that are poured from loader into Coal Creek. You have to be there to appreciate it.
2. Wherever you go in the Crested Butte area, you will find some of the most magnificent National Forest land in the country. For a wonderful day trip, you might want to try the Beaver Ponds Trail, an easy half-mile hike. Fishing is pretty good in the ponds too.
3. If you like summer festivals, check out the Crested Butte Wild Mushroom Festival in August. This festival educates people about wild mushrooms in the Rocky Mountains in a way that is informative, interesting and fun. Plus there’s good food and cooking classes.

When dining at Crested Butte, you must eat at:

1. For breakfast: McGill’s at Crested Butte. It opens at the crack of dawn and they have excellent eggs and toast for those who just want a simple filling breakfast before they get outside.
2. For lunch: Ginger Cafe and order the pan-Asian dishes. They also specialize in Indian and Thai cuisine and have a wide variety of veggie options.
3. For dinner: The Last Steep Bar and Grill. You have to try the curry shrimp and coconut salad along with the artichoke cheddar soup. Their Bloody Mary was voted the best Bloody Mary for the years 2002 – 2006.

What to know when booking your Crested Butte vacation rental in the winter:

1. The resort is in the town of Mt. Crested Butte, about three miles from the town of Crested Butte, and is one of Colorado’s largest National Historic Districts.
2. With a tubing hill and more than half the trails suited for beginners and intermediate skiers, Crested Butte is a great family resort. At the same time, there are advanced black-diamond runs and a terrain park for the more adventurous and skilled riders.
3. There are free shuttles in Crested Butte that will take you around town and to the resort.

Crested Butte lodging highlight – The Buttes

1. Each unit is a comfortable townhome with amazing views of the mountain.
2. Slopeside accommodations right next to the ski area. The town shuttle conveniently stops in front of the units for good access to town.
3. This is a very beautiful property with a full kitchen, outdoor hot tub, gas fireplace and private laundry facility.

“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Crested Butte

1. The Crested Butte Nordic Center provides 35 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails, an ice rink, snowshoeing and a sledding hill. It also provides rentals, lessons and guided backcountry tours in the Gunnison National Forest.
2. Kids’ Night Out every Wednesday through Saturday from 4-9 p.m. Instructors take kids up the Red Lady Express Lift and ski down green terrain at dusk, lighting the way with glow sticks. They then return to Kids’ World for a pizza party and fun activities.
3. The free guided tour of Mt. Crested Butte will take you around the mountain to see all the runs. Tours meet at 9:45 a.m. at the Crested Butte Mountain and leave at 10am. This is a wonderful way to start off your visit to Crested Butte.

When dining at Crested Butte, you must eat at:

1. For breakfast: McGill’s at Crested Butte. It’s open at the crack of dawn and they have excellent eggs and toast for those who just want a simple filling breakfast before they get outside.
2. For lunch: try the Butte 66 Roadhouse BBQ. This is one of the most popular apres ski bars and eateries on the mountain. It offers live music, great lunches, daily drink specials and their signature beef brisket, pulled pork and barbecue ribs with three special sauces.
3. For dinner: the Ice Bar and Restaurant. This is a slopeside restaurant with gourmet food that’s truly a unique dining experience. After dinner, you’ll be escorted back down to the base of the mountain by a professional ski school instructor or a ski patrolman.

Travel Expert Gena Bair on Crested Butte

What to know when booking your Crested Butte vacation rental in the summer:

1. It’s a little harder to get to Crested Butte, but it’s a great destination for those who want to get away from the crowds and enjoy Mother Nature in all her splendor. The best way to get there is to fly into Gunnison Airport, which is only an hour away. Montrose Airport is two hours away but the flights are usually cheaper.
2. Although most of the lodging is up on the hill away from the “village,” there is a free shuttle that takes people into town.
3. I recommend renting a car, but there is a shuttle service that runs from both airports.

Crested Butte Lodging highlight – The West Wall Lodge

1. The West Wall Lodge features spacious and elegantly furnished condominiums, along with secured underground parking.
2. It’s a perfect location that’s located on the mountain’s slope.
3. It has an outdoor pool and spa with fabulous mountain views and onsite concierge services.

“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Crested Butte :

1. From July 7-13, there is a Wild Flower Festival that provides activities like flower identification walks, cooking classes, photography seminars and more.
2. Disc golf is a fun and new addition to Crested Butte’s summer activities.
3. Next to mountain biking, hiking is the most popular thing to do here with the abundant wildflowers, views and wildlife. But mountain weather is unpredictable so be prepared for anything.

When dining in Crested Butte, you must eat at:

1. For breakfast go to McGill’s. They have the best biscuits and gravy. Everything is fast and fresh and they have great customer service.
2. For Lunch, try Paradise Cafe on Elk Avenue. It has great vegetarian options as well as a great kids menu.
3. For dinner, go to the Crested Butte Brewery and Grill located in Down Town. Try the Red Lady Nachos.

What to know when booking your Crested Butte vacation rental in the winter:

1. Crested Butte is a great destination for those that want to get away from the crowds for Christmas. The best way to get there is to fly into Gunnison Airport, which is only an hour away. Montrose Airport is two hours away but the flights are usually cheaper.
2. Although most of the lodging is up on the hill away from the “village,” there is a free shuttle that takes people into town.
3. I recommend renting a car, but there is a shuttle service that runs from both airports.

Crested Butte lodging highlight – The Lodge at Mountaineer Square.

1. The Lodge at Mountaineer Square is Crested Butte's newest luxury property featuring spacious condominiums. It’s surrounded by the new Mountaineer Conference Center and is located just steps from the ski lifts. Its fine amenities range from standard king bedrooms to elegant three-bedroom suites.
2. Mountaineer Square is centrally located in the heart of the base area, close to ski lifts, near shopping, restaurants and the new transit center where you can take the free shuttle bus three miles to the authentic, western town of Crested Butte.
3. They have a full-service front desk as well as a concierge.

“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Crested Butte :

1. Talk of the Town is the local favorite for gathering after skiing. “The Talk” offers foosball, pinball, video games, good music and pool tables. It opens daily at 3 p.m. and happy hour is from 3-8 p.m.
2. The Stash is also a fun place to gather and mingle with friends over frozen drinks as well as a wide variety of cold beers.

When dining at Crested Butte, you must eat at:

1. WoodStone Grill and Deli, located in the Grand Lodge, is great for breakfast or lunch. It’s huge buffet and a la carte menu is sure to please.
2. Harry’s Fine Dining. It has great wine list and a hearty menu. The Jumbo Sea Scallops are to die for.

Travel Expert Heather Gardner on Crested Butte

What to know when booking your Crested Butte vacation rental:

1. You can get around the mountain and into town through a convenient, year-round shuttle service.
2. There’s free skiing on the first week of the season.
3. Kids under six ski free all season.

Suggested Crested Butte lodging:

1. Luxury: Westwall Lodge, Black Bear Lodge
2. Moderate: Axtel, Emmons
3. Most Reasonable: Three Seasons, Redstone

“Local secrets” and activities you must experience when staying in Beaver Creek :

Summer:

1. Try guided fly fishing trips.
2. Hire a mountain guide for a day hike through Crested Butte’s world-renowned wildflowers.
3. “Bench Sitting” a local favorite. Grab a cup’a jo from Camp 4 Coffee and have a seat on the bench out front and watch the world go by.

Winter:

1. Red Lady Snow Tubing Hill. It’s open Thursday-Saturday in the afternoons.
2. The Kids Night Out torchlight parade that includes dinner.
3. Take a carriage ride tour of historic Crested Butte.

When dining in Crested Butte, you must eat at:

1. For breakfast: McGills (biscuits the size of an infant!), Izzy’s and Camp4 Coffee.
2. For lunch/apres ski : Avalanche Bar and Grill on the moutain, and Pitas in Paradise in town.
3. For dinner: The Last Steep. It’s known for its cheddar artichoke soup. My favorite is their Bloody Mary. Also try Brick Oven Pizza.