Crested Butte, Colorado is certainly one of America’s great ski towns.  Located 3 hours north of Telluride, Crested Butte is just outside of Gunnison and offers an amazing ski experience. The community is awesome, the mountain is bad ass, and the skiers rip! The resort peaks at an impressive butte topping out at 12,162 feet and offers 3,062 feet of vert. The total acreage of the resort is 1,167 with some of the best backcountry options in Colorado located nearby. Many consider Crested Butte the birthplace of Freeskiing with the annual US Extremes starting here back in 1991 as well as legends such as Seth Morrison and Wendy Fisher getting their starts here. They also hosted the X-Games before the ESPN favorite was moved to Mt. Snow and eventually Aspen, and also have the U. S. Extreme Freeskiing Telemark Championships at the resort annually.

The terrain here is steep and challanging. From the Peak area to Teocalli Bowl, Headwall, and North Face Bowl, Crested Butte offers awesome terrain in spades. The mountain is a natural playground with cliffs, drops, and natural features everywhere. It is really rocky like everywhere else in southwest Colorado, needing a healthy base to ski well. They receive 300+ annual inches on average and when they get it, it goes off! They also offer a nice mix of easy and intermediate cruisers and bump trails as well as tree skiing and terrain parks and a pipe.

The actual ski resort is located just a few miles outside of the historic downtown area of Crested Butte. Originally settled as a mining supply camp in the late 1800’s, the downtown are is charming, vibrant, and a ton of fun. Elk Street is the main drag offering an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, and shopping. Secret Stash is a local’s favorite for unique pizzas and a funky atmosphere. For drinks check out Kochevar’s. This is the Butte’s original saloon and they truly serve up the authentic “wild west” vibe. They have strong drinks, a rowdy crowd, and offer free pool, darts, and foosball! To top it off they still have their original coal-burning stove heating the place, awesome!

Trail Map:

UnofficialTelluride.com, UnofficialNetworks.com, Unofficial Telluride, Unofficial Networks, Crested Butte, Crested Butte Review,

Mountain Stats:

Total Acres: 1,167                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Trails: 121                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Lifts: 16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Summit Elevation: 12,162 feet Vertical Drop: 3,062 feet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Average Annual Snowfall: 300″+

SkiCB.com

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