Crested Butte may be on of those all-around perfect, top-ten resorts. So why haven't you heard of it? Because, showy and pretentious, Crested Butte is not. Located in southwest Colorado in the Gunnison National Forest, Crested Butte has all the resort amenities, ideal conditions, historic Old West feel and spectacular scenery that attracts skiers to Colorado. You will constantly feel the friendly, small-town atmosphere, but will still be provided all the big-city trimmings – just without the fanfare. There is truly something for everyone – we are talking hamburger joints as well as upscale dinning, bright sunshine and plenty of snow, double black diamonds and beginner runs, pricey condos in addition to homey bed & breakfasts.
With some of the most challenging runs in the Rockies and the most difficult in-bounds terrain in North America, Crested Butte has 448 acres of "extreme limits" skiing – meaning double black diamond ungroomed terrain seriously for experts only. Pitches in this area average 39 to 44 degrees. Serious steeps, bowls, cliffs and chutes are all over the expert territory of the mountain, which makes up pretty much half of Crested Butte and is certainly what the resort is known for.
While the remaining 50 percent is mostly intermediate (try Gold Link and Prospect lifts, or head to Teocalli and East River lifts for exclusive intermediate skiing), the mountain offers plenty of beginner opportunities as well. In fact, it has a great setup for learners – first timer kids are separated from first timer adults in areas served by separate moving carpet lifts. Snowboarders can check out the advanced Canaan Terrain Park, with a number of good tabletops, rails and kickers. A 420-foot long superpipe is located on Forest Queen off the Paradise chairlift. Painter Boy Park is better for less advanced riders and has some great learner tabletops, rolls, rail slides and a mini-pipe. The mountain also has a kid's park and tubing hill.
14 lifts including 5 surface lifts and 9 chair lifts.
$$$$ (Very Expensive)85 runs - 10% beginner, 25% intermediate, 65% expert. Longest run is 13,728 feet.
30 km of Cross Country trails.
Mountain Statistics: 3,062 feet vertical drop, 12,162 feet summit elevation, 1,058 acres, average annual accumulation 298 inches.
Surrounded by miles of pristine high country, Crested Butte offers deep Aspen groves, deep blue skies and some of the best skiing available for every level and style of skier.