The one negative about Crested Butte is also a positive: it ain’t so easy to get there; which means it hasn't turned into an Aspen (yet).
Crested Butte ski area is 45 minutes from the small airport at Gunnison, Colorado; most guests fly to Gunnison from Denver (though some flights arrive direct from the eastern US.) In bad weather, Gunnison flights may be delayed, and driving from Denver may not be an option.
Once at Crested Butte, guests enjoy great snow, uncrowded slopes, and a quaint former mining town, restored into shops and restaurants. A free shuttle runs from the town to the ski area.
In the past, Crested Butte mainly marketed its X-treme terrain, and many runs are black-diamond level. Fortunately for us lesser mortals, there are plenty of blue and green runs too. Runs are relatively short but the snow is terrific, and very nice for easterners: dry snow, no ice.
Crested Butte for Families
The Crested Butte Mountain Resort site has the latest info about ski runs, mountain stats, etc. Below are some features of special interest to families.
- Camp CB: kids programs for skiing and boarding; Kid's Terrain park and Jib Park
- Kids’ Night Out - at Camp CB, for ages 4 to 12. Includes entrance to the adventure Center, tubing, ice skating, bungee jumping.*
- Nursery takes kids from two months to three years old.
- lift tickets free for kids under 6
- Kids' trail maps: easy-to-read maps that highlight kids’ favorite trails and features
- tubing hill - with a lift for uphill
- Adventure Center: year-round ice-skating on synthetic rink; climbing pinnacle, bungee trampolines; at the Mt. Crested Butte base area.
- Crested Butte Nordic Center has ice-skating, hockey, sledding hill, and more than 50 kilometers of Nordic (cross-country) trails
- Other activities include guided snowshoe tours, moonlight tours, sleigh ride dinners, torchlight parades
Teens might take the free shuttle into the tiny town and have fun at the outdoor ice rink or take in a movie on their own. (See more.)
- read more about Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
- see Gunnison- Crested Butte for lodgings, deals, area info
This brief profile is meant to introduce this resort to family vacationers; please note that the writer has not participated in these activities in person. Always check resort sites for updates!
*photos © Teresa Plowright
