Guided Hiking in the Gunnison Valley

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Immerse yourself in the land and lore of Gunnison and Crested Butte through guided hiking in the Gunnison Valley. On this page, you’ll learn about guided hikes, ranger talks, photography workshops and other hands-on outdoor experiences. Through these activities, participants learn about the environment, geology and history of the Gunnison Valley from local experts. Keep reading to learn more about guided hiking and other outdoor experiences in the Gunnison Valley.

Rustler Gulch

Benefits of going on a guided hike

Your hiking guide plans the route based on your needs and wants, acquires permits, and checks the weather and safety conditions. They can offer guidance in the planning stage based on the kind of hike you’re looking for. Guides also provide a packing list so you can come prepared. On the day of the activity, all you have to do is show up!

What to expect on a guided hike

Guides provide expert advice and knowledge about the area. Each hike will be different, but here are some examples of what you might learn during a guided hike:

How to identify wildflowers, wildlife and birds
The geological history of the area
Names of surrounding peaks and mountain ranges
History of Indigenous peoples in the area
The legacy of mining and railroads

What is the best season for a guided hike?

Summer and fall are the best times of year to hike in the Gunnison Valley. The weather is mild, and trails are dry. In summer, the trees are green, the landscape is lush and wildflowers blanket the ground. Fall brings the changing of seasons and gold, red, and orange trees. These are two of the most beautiful and colorful seasons in the Gunnison Valley.

crested butte colorado

Guide services in the Gunnison Valley

Irwin Guides

Irwin Guides offers half and full day guided hikes in the summer. Explore Crested Butte’s beauty with a professional and knowledgeable guide. Irwin will work with you to build a hike that suits your needs and the scenery you want to experience. A classic guided opportunity with Irwin is Guides’ Ridge, a technical alpine hike. A guide from Irwin will lead you up this trail on Crested Butte Mountain European alpine adventure style.

Irwin also provides participants with a detailed packing list, so you know exactly what to bring with you. They also provide transportation to and from the trailheads and other logistics. Add a photographer to your trip to capture memories while you enjoy the day.

Colorado Backcountry

Colorado Backcountry offers full and half-day hikes, photography scouting, wildflower tours and peak hikes. Colorado Backcountry also hosts a weekly hike every Friday. These weekly hikes take participants to remote and lesser-known trails with a seasoned guide. All private tours are customizable to the experience and fitness level of your group.

Colorado Backcountry focuses on small, private groups with its guided hiking. Experience the beauty and solitude of nature with an expert guide and your family and friends. Photography enthusiasts can participate in a photography hike and workshop. Colorado Backcountry offers iPhone and DSLR workshops.

Other guided hiking opportunities

Adaptive Sports Center

The Adaptive Sports Center facilitates a year-round therapeutic recreation program. Adaptive programs are designed for people with disabilities and other specific needs. Trained instructors and volunteers are there for every step of the adventure.

Guided hikes are offered in the summer and fall. Adaptive instructors guide participants on adaptive-friendly scenic trails. Those who want a challenge can register for a Crested Butte Mountain peak hike. This steep trail ascends to the summit of Crested Butte at 12,162 feet above sea level.

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory offers interpretive hikes in Gothic, Colorado. Interpretive hikes are offered on the RMBL campus, and off-campus on two classic Crested Butte hiking trails—Snodgrass Mountain Trail and Judd Falls Trail. These guided hikes last two hours and focus on wildflower identification, natural history and research projects at RMBL. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory visitor center staff leads the hikes. Interpretive hikes are offered from June to August.

Crested Butte Wildflower Festival

Every summer, the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival celebrates Crested Butte’s standing as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. This weeklong festival has events all over Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley’s public lands. The Wildflower Festival offers easy, intermediate and challenging hikes. Scientists, authors, photographers and festival staff guide these hikes.

Examples of hikes include:

Wildflowers & Folklore: This easy guided hike explores the relationship between wildflowers and stories, traditions, and myths in Crested Butte.
Walrod’s Wildflowers & Caves: A guide on this intermediate hike takes participants through Walrod Gulch, a south facing slope in the Cement Creek Valley. This area has a stunning display of Mule’s Ears Sunflowers and Lupine. There are also caves to explore.
Rustler’s Gulch: This challenging guided hike is a wildflower festival favorite. Hike through meadows and forests to an alpine basin. Rare wildflowers such as Parry’s Primrose, Monkey Flower and Bog Orchid grow here.

crested butte wildflowers

Wildflower Festival photography workshops

Photography workshops are an important part of the Wildflower Festival. These workshops take participants all throughout the Gunnison Valley to sharpen their nature photography skills. Participants will receive guided lessons in the field and have time for personal exploration. These workshops are led by a professional photographer and intended to encourage participants to experiment and learn while enjoying the Gunnison Valley’s environment.

Crested Butte Museum

The Crested Butte Museum offers walking tours and occasional guided hikes. Guided hikes are usually offered in partnership with other organizations in the Gunnison Valley. These hikes usually have a focus on Crested Butte’s history.

Though a walking tour isn’t a traditional hike, it still allows you get outside on your feet and enjoy Crested Butte’s scenery. Each historic walking tour focuses on a different topic such as architecture, ghost stories and historic buildings. View the museum’s event calendar for more information about guided hikes and walks.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Rangers at the Black Canyon run a variety of programs in the summer and fall. Guided ranger walks allow participants to learn about the environment, geology and history of the Black Canyon. Head to the visitor center after dark to learn about the night sky at the Black Canyon with an astronomy talk. Check out the events and ranger programs calendar to learn more.

hike with kids crested butte colorado

Guided hiking opportunities for kids and families

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) offers summer programs for kids that include hiking. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory science programs allow kids to learn about science and the environment while spending time outside. Younger children play games, do art, conduct experiments and learn through other outdoor activities. Older children go on longer hikes and participate in field research with RMBL staff and counselors.

The Trailhead Children’s Museum offers summer camps that include hikes on trails close to Crested Butte. Younger children who might not be ready to hike without a parent can be enrolled in programs that spend most of the day outside at parks. All summer camp programming at the children’s museum is art based. Kids will have the opportunity to create in the outdoors.

Kids ages five to eight can participate in nature hikes led by a camp counselor at Camp CB. This summer camp is put on by Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Other activities include chairlift rides, playing at the Adventure Park, arts, crafts, games and sports. The goal of this program is to foster connection to the outdoors.

Many guide services allow children who are accompanied by a parent on guided hikes. Most guides will also work with you to tailor the length and difficulty of a hike to the needs of your family.

Guided winter activities

Crested Butte Nordic Center

The Crested Butte Nordic Center offers guided snowshoe and cross-country ski tours in the winter. Half and full day options are available. Tours are private and fully customizable. Once you book a tour, you’ll work with a guide to create the perfect route.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

The main road at Black Canyon National Park is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter and groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Rangers host snowshoe walks on Saturdays and Sundays in the winter. Learn about the environment of the Black Canyon and how to snowshoe with this free program.

dyke trail hiking

Visit the Gunnison Valley

Once you have a hands-on hiking experience booked, start planning the rest of your trip! Our trip planning guide has everything you need to book flights, find lodging and explore other ways to get outside on your trip. Want to go on a self-guided hike, too? Plan it with our hiking guide.