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Crested Butte, Colorado is a truly lovely destination year-round, especially for outdoorists. There are trails galore, a well-known ski resort, and a poppin’ small town filled with locally-owned shops and restaurants. It’s a destination renowned for mountain biking and wildflowers in the summer (including an annual wildflower festival) and world-renowned ski resorts in the winter. But if you’re not a downhill skier, you may be left looking for other things to do in Crested Butte in winter besides ski. We got you. Here are some other ways to stay active and play outside when there’s snow on the ground.
Things to Do In Crested Butte in Winter
Ski or Snowboard at Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Naturally, the thing that most people travel to Crested Butte for in the winter is downhill skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The Epic Pass resort is certainly a popular one, but because it’s farther off the beaten path than some other Colorado resorts, it’s not quite as busy, which is a plus. We visited on a Saturday and still never waited in a lift line for more than 5-8 minutes on average.
The resort has plenty of terrain for all ability levels, from green to blue to double black diamond. That said, the resort is known for its extreme terrain, so advanced skiers and snowboarders especially will find plenty of lines to carve. In fact, it’s known as the birthplace of extreme downhill skiing. But that doesn’t mean it’s all business. On the contrary, it’s a little kooky and you’re likely to spot plenty of skiers and riders dressed in costumes, animal onesies, silly hats, retro gear, you name it. It’s all welcome here.
Nordic Skiing/Cross Country Skiing in Crested Butte
If cruising fast downhill isn’t your thing, fear not: there are dozens of miles of groomed trails all over Crested Butte so you can cross country or nordic ski to your heart’s content. Many of them are maintained by the town’s Nordic Center. That does mean that while a wide selection of trails are free and open to the public, some do require a pass (a tag that you’ll hang from your jacket). Consult the Crested Butte Nordic Center website for maps and info, purchase a day pass if you’re so inclined, and cruise at your own speed. You can even sign up for lessons if you like. The Slate River Drainage is a local fave trail.
If you’re staying over the weekend, you can ski out to Magic Meadows Yurt for Sunday brunch or a hot beverage. It is located on trails that require a day pass, though, so keep that in mind.
Snowshoeing in Crested Butte
Many of the dozens of trails that branch off from every corner of Crested Butte are open to snowshoeing in addition to Nordic skiing. So if strapping sticks to your feet doesn’t appeal to you no matter how flat the terrain, you can always go hiking. Bring your own snowshoes or rent some from Crested Butte Nordic. Don’t forget your favorite snowshoe gear!
Fun fact: If you’re well-versed in winter backcountry terrain and avalanche preparedness, you can even complete a Crested Butte to Aspen Hike, though it’s a far more popular option in the warmer months.
Fat Biking in Crested Butte and Gunnison
If you prefer to take to snowy trails on two wheels instead of two feet, Hartman Rocks outside Gunnison (which is down the road from Crested Butte) is many a locals’ favorite. Closer to town, check out Town Hall trail, which is located next to the school. Check out a Gunnison and Crested Butte fat biking trail map with grooming reports here. Bring your own bikes or rent them from local shops like Rock ‘N’ Roll Sports in Gunnison or try The Alpineer (Owned by Christy Sports) in Crested Butte.
Visit the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab
Love science AND adventure? So do we. A visit to RMBL in the old mining town of Gothic is the best of both worlds. In the winter, this world-renowned research station is more of a ghost town (summer is when scientists and researchers descend on the research station en masse to study environmental and biological data), but it’s still fun to head out there, look at the buildings, and maybe wave to the station’s only long-term permanent resident and unofficial mayor Billy Barr. The 70 buildings are mostly closed to the public, but you can rent one of two huts in advance if you’d like to spend a night out there!
Whether you plan a day trip or overnight, it’s a 3.5-mile trail out there (one-way) on a wide, rolling path. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the road in the winter, so you’ll have to snowshoe, fat bike or nordic ski to Gothic and RMBL. Start from Snodgrass Trailhead and bring your camera (the valley is beautiful) and avalanche equipment, just in case (a small portion of the trail crosses a potential path). The trail is groomed about once a week when conditions allow. Want to know more about the research happening there? Check out this video!
Ice Skating in Crested Butte
On the hunt for a winter activity in Crested Butte that everyone can enjoy? Hit up the Big Mine Ice Arena at the Nordic Center for open ice skating. It’s free if you bring your own skates or $25 for adult rentals and $15 for kids. Check the calendar to see when open skate times are before you show up.
Stroll Downtown Crested Butte
If you need a break from activity or are looking to fill a few hours in the evenings, do not miss the opportunity to stroll down the main drag (Elk Ave.) and check out all the local shops and restaurants. We recommend Pooh’s Corner toy store (because we’re just overgrown children), Townie Books, and the Crested Butte Museum, which is free (donations accepted). Farther afield (but not that far because the whole city is only 10×10 square blocks), there’s a movie theater, and of course, dispensaries (if that’s your speed).
Grab some food, coffee, and drinks while you’re at it (there are plenty of vegan option in Crested Butte, FYI). Montanya is a rum distillery with very chill, warm-weather vibes, Secret Stash offers pizzas for vegans and omnivores alike, Camp 4 Coffee serves up great espresso, and Two Twelve is a posh option for an upscale dining experience. At the ski resort (and RMBL in the summer months), Coffee Lab has great coffee, good snacks, and plenty of vegan options.
Bottom Line
Did we help you figure out a few things to do in Crested Butte in winter? There are plenty of options whether or not you’re a powder hound. If you’ve been and have other favorite activities, share them in the comments! And if you’re looking for other winter activities in the Mountain West, check out this article on winter hikes in Salt Lake City and winter adventures near Aspen!
Where to Stay: Elk Mountain Lodge
If there’s a cozier, more welcoming bed-and-breakfast-style lodge in Crested Butte, we didn’t see it. But we don’t need to, because Elk Mountain Lodge was a perfect base of operations for all the things to do in Crested Butte in winter. The building was built in 1919 to house miners, so still has historic vibes, but is classic, comfortable, the staff is friendly and helpful, breakfast is included, and there’s even a tiny bar inside, plus hot tub, reading room, games, and a fireplace to gather around. It’s a perfect outpost for winter adventures.
Alisha is a freelance outdoor journalist and photographer based in Ogden, UT. She loves backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and snowboarding (even though she’s terrible at it). She’s also pretty sure she’s addicted to coffee. alishamcdarris.com