A guide to the terrain off the Silver Queen Express Lift at Crested Butte

A guide to the terrain off the Silver Queen Express Lift at Crested Butte

The Silver Queen Express Lift is the cornerstone chairlift at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. This high-speed quad lift extends from the base area to just below the peak. It’s Crested Butte’s longest chairlift and the fastest way to get to the T-bars from the base. The Silver Queen is a conduit to nearly every run on the mountain, including the famed extreme terrain. For this reason, it’s usually one of the first lifts to open in the season. This guide describes the terrain around the Silver Queen, including a famously steep run called International. The guide also maps out how the Silver Queen Express Lift ties into other lifts around Crested Butte Mountain.

Map of the Silver Queen lift

The map below shows how most of Crested Butte’s terrain can be accessed from the top of the Silver Queen lift. The Queen, along with Red Lady, are the two high-speed chairlifts in the resort base area. For a full trail map and more info about the resort, visit Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s official website.

Skiing the terrain off the Silver Queen Express

The Silver Queen serves a wide swath of terrain that encompasses everything from the gnarliest cliff drops to the smoothest groomed runs. Intermediate skiers can ride the Queen up to get to the groomers in Paradise Bowl or other blue runs off Teocalli Chair. Those looking for the next step up can take Paradise Bowl to Lower Treasury to get to East River from the Queen. Both T-bars are a short distance from the top of the Silver Queen, giving expert skiers quick access to the resort’s steepest runs.

Access to High Lift and North Face Lift

If you’re planning a ski trip to Crested Butte, you’re probably interested in checking out the resort’s double-black diamond terrain, which is accessible off Crested Butte’s two T-bar lifts. The T-bars—the High Lift and the North Face Lift—are both accessible from the top of the Silver Queen. In fact, riding the Queen is the only way to get to the High Lift. After unloading from the Queen, take an immediate right down a short pitch to get in line at the High Lift. To get to the North Face Lift, traverse south on the Silver Queen Road and dip into Paradise Bowl. The North Face Lift is on skier’s right. Want to explore the double-black diamond runs off Crested Butte’s T-bars? Check out our guides to the North Face and the High Lift.

The front-side extreme terrain

Some of Crested Butte’s expert terrain is situated conveniently under the Silver Queen. Easily access Forest, Peel, Banana, Funnel, Flat Iron and Sunset Ridge from the gate on skier’s left at the top of the Queen. Learn your way around the front-side extreme terrain in this guide.

Twister

Ski runs off the Silver Queen Express Lift

International ◆

International is famous for being the steepest groomed ski run in North America. Buckle up and hang on as you rocket down this high-speed run.

Crystal and Twister ◆

Discover the best of Crested Butte’s mogul skiing on Crystal and Twister. Your legs will be burning by the time you get to the bottom of these long, clear-cut runs!

Jokerville ◆

Named after the historic Jokerville mine, this bumpy run is shorter and less steep than Crystal and Twister.

Hot Rocks ◆

Hot Rocks gets its name from the geothermal vents that melt pockets of snow on this run, exposing small patches of rocks. Take your pick of small cliff drops in this zone before cruising down into an aspen grove.

Championship ◆

Championship provides a bumpy alternative to Lower International.

Monument

Monument and Triangle ◆

Monument and Triangle provide access to the front-side black-diamond runs from the top of the Silver Queen. Monument delivers epic views of the West Elks and steep turns for skiers headed towards International, Crystal or Twister. Ski Triangle to get to Keystone or Jokerville.

Sylvanite ◆

Choose between glades or a clear-cut bump run on this often-overlooked run tucked under Crystal.

Psycho Rocks ◆◆

Enter Psycho Rocks at the gate above Uley’s Cabin. As the name implies, this short run is littered with boulders, providing options for small and medium-sized drops.

Keystone ◆

Keystone is the only groomed black run besides International that feeds back into the base area from the top of the Silver Queen.

Upper Park and Peoria ◆

Upper Park and Peoria sit below Keystone in a bowl of bumps.

Horseshoe and Horseshoe Springs ◆

Ski the technical, rocky face of Horseshoe to head to Paradise, or choose Horseshoe Springs for glade skiing. A large rock in Horseshoe Springs serves as a diving board for daredevils.

Crystal

More information about Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Want to familiarize yourself with the rest of the mountain before your trip? Check out our ultimate guide to skiing Crested Butte, which includes tips on how to get around, trail descriptions and more insider info—all written by local skiers.