Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Steep Colorado skiing

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is a classic Colorado ski resort known for its steep skiing, technical terrain, beautiful scenery and old-school T-bar lifts. This epic Rocky Mountain skiing destination has some of the steepest in-bounds ski runs in Colorado and beyond. Experience the thrill of the double-black extreme terrain, or get some turns in on a more mellow run. Either way, head to downtown Crested Butte after lifts close to experience the fun and funky après-ski scene.

Skiing Crested Butte

Crested Butte’s notoriety comes from its steep and extreme terrain. It was one of the birthplaces of freeskiing in the 1980s. The extreme terrain at Crested Butte draws skiers from all over the world. These legendary runs have trained Olympians, hosted International Freeskiers and Snowboarders Association events and are the training grounds for Western Colorado University freeride athletes. Crested Butte is home to Rambo, the steepest cut tree run in North America. Other well-known ski runs at Crested Butte include the Headwall, Teocalli Bowl, the North Face, Spellbound/Phoenix Bowl and Third Bowl. Expert skiers will challenge their skills as they explore the mountain’s many nooks and crannies.

If you’re not an expert skier, don’t worry! Beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers also have plenty to explore. Brand new and beginner skiers can take a private or group lesson to hone their skills with an instructor. Ski beginner runs on Peachtree, Painter Boy and Red Lady lifts. Intermediate skiers can get in some laps on the blue runs off the East River and Paradise lifts. Advanced skiers can find black and double-black runs off the Silver Queen Lift and the two T-bar lifts, the High Lift and the North Face Lift.

Crested Butte has unique tree skiing as well. Tree runs at Crested Butte are tight and technical. Most of the trees at Crested Butte are aspen trees. With few low-hanging branches, aspens allow you to ski through them with better visibility and fewer obstacles than other types of trees. Beginner tree skiers can practice on the wide-spaced green tree runs accessible from the Red Lady and Painter Boy lifts.

Skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte

Crested Butte Mountain Resort Stats

Crested Butte Mountain Resort spans 1,547 skiable acres. 14% of the terrain is beginner, 24% is intermediate, 25% is advanced and 37% is expert. The elevation at the base area is 9,375 feet. The elevation at the summit is 12,162 feet. The resort has 121 trails and 15 lifts.

The resort is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the West Elk Mountains. A few of the peaks you can see from Crested Butte include Teocalli Mountain, Gothic Mountain, Mineral Point, Mt. Emmons and Purple Mountain.

Colorado is known for its abundant “bluebird” days. The high altitude and cold temperatures of Crested Butte keep the snow quality high even through long stretches of sun.

Getting around Crested Butte Mountain Resort

A guide to each zone on the mountain

Use the guides linked below to learn your way around Crested Butte Mountain Resort. There is a guide for each chairlift and zone. Find descriptions of each run as well as helpful tips for navigating around the mountain.

A skier blasts off a cliff in Highlife at Crested Butte on a bluebird day.

The North Face

The North Face is the crown jewel of Crested Butte’s extreme terrain. This zone contains the majority of the ski area’s double-black-diamond terrain, including famous runs like Rambo, Sock-It-To-Me Ridge and Third Bowl. Hiking may be required.

Explore the North Face

A skier skis down a steep section of the Headwall at Crested Butte on a bluebird day

High Lift

The High Lift transports skiers to some of Crested Butte’s steepest terrain, including the Headwall and the peak. Take this T-bar lift to get to the legendary Teocalli Bowls, which require a hike out. All terrain off the High Lift is rated double black.

Explore the High Lift

Looking down at a red-jacketed skier skiing Peel at Crested Butte.

Front-side extremes

Funnel-like chutes characterize the expert terrain on the front side of the resort. The whimsically named Banana and Peel are the premiere runs in this zone. This area’s unusual geology and breathtaking views add to its allure.

Explore the Front-side extremes

East River

The short-but-sweet runs off the East River Express Lift range from blue to black. Some of Crested Butte’s best tree skiing lies in this zone. Resurrection, the mogul run under the chairlift, is a notorious leg-burner. Double Top is a local favorite.

Explore East River

Paradise

Get to almost anywhere at Crested Butte Mountain Resort from the Paradise Express lift. This centrally-located hub accesses a wide groomed bowl, bumps and even a handful of Crested Butte’s famed double-black runs. Groups with mixed ability levels can find something for everyone in this zone.

Explore Paradise

A skier carves across International, the steepest groomed ski run in North America.

The Silver Queen

As Crested Butte’s longest chairlift, the Silver Queen Express lift takes skiers and snowboarders to nearly every other area on the mountain. Want to ski International, the steepest groomed run in North America? The Queen will take you there. It’s also the quickest way to access the front-side extreme terrain and the resort’s longest bump runs.

Explore the Queen

A person skis down a gentle slope. Painter Boy lift serves mostly easy terrain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Beginner terrain

New to skiing? This guide will help you stick to appropriate terrain. Explore green and blue runs off Red Lady Express, Painter Boy, Peachtree, Westwall and Prospect lifts. Most runs in this guide are groomed, but there are opportunities to venture into glades and off-piste terrain when you’re ready.

Explore beginner terrain

Watch the video: Crested Butte Mountain Resort skiing

Follow skiers and snowboarders as they shred the steeps on this iconic Colorado mountain.

Photo gallery

Swipe through the photos below to get a feel for Crested Butte’s terrain.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort FAQs

What runs are open at Crested Butte?

As with all ski mountains, terrain openings at Crested butte depend on snowfall and logistics. To see what runs and lifts are currently open, visit Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s lift and terrain status page by clicking the button below.

Check terrain status

Where is Crested Butte Mountain Resort?

Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s address is 12 Snowmass Rd., Mt. Crested Butte, CO 81225. Mt. Crested Butte is a small community about four miles north of the town of Crested Butte. Most of the restaurants, shops and amenities in Mt. Crested Butte are clustered around the base area of the ski resort. Grab a burger, sip a cocktail or warm up with a hot chocolate at one of the slopeside restaurants. Several ski shops are located in Mt. Crested Butte, conveniently situated close to the slopes. Mt. Crested Butte also boasts the largest selection of hotels in the Gunnison Valley, most just steps from the ski area. Get to know Mt. Crested Butte by clicking the button below!

Explore Mt. Crested Butte

What are the opening and closing dates of Crested Butte?

The first ski runs at Crested Butte usually open the week of Thanksgiving. Opening day is contingent upon weather conditions and snowmaking operations. The resort closes in early April.

What pass is Crested Butte on?

Crested Butte is on the Epic Pass, which gives access to mountains all over the world. You can purchase a Epic season pass or Epic day passes. Epic Pass blackout dates do not affect Crested Butte.

Learn more about the Epic Pass

Where can I park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort?

There are several parking lots in Mt. Crested Butte near the base area of the ski resort. Some skiers opt to park in town instead and ride the convenient, free public bus to the base area. To learn more about parking at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and beyond, visit the ski area’s parking page by clicking the button below.

Find a parking spot

Uphill ski access sign at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, with the peak in the background.

Does Crested Butte allow uphill skiing?

Uphill skiing is allowed beginning at 4:30 p.m. and ending at 8:45 a.m. at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. Skiers are required to stick to the designated uphill route and wear a headlamp. Click the button below for more information and a map of the route on the ski area’s website.

Ski uphill

Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s website

Buy lift tickets, book lessons and explore the resort on Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s official website.

Visit the Crested Butte Mountain Resort website

APRÈS-ski in Crested Butte

Quirky, colorful downtown Crested Butte is the heart of the Gunnison Valley après-ski scene. Here you’ll find most of the area’s options for drinks and places to eat. Choose from pizza, burritos, French cuisine, fried chicken, sushi and more for food. The bars in town serve everything from local beer and rum to craft cocktails. Many downtown buildings are historic relics of Crested Butte’s mining days. Explore the scene in “Colorado’s Last Great Ski Town” by clicking the button below.

Get to know Crested Butte

The Al Johnson race in Crested Butte, Colorado.

Winter events in Crested Butte

Grab your wildest costume and hit the slopes! Crested Butte is known for its costume parties, from the Al Johnson Memorial Telemark Race to the end-of-season pond skim. Get dates, details and need-to-know info on these rowdy events you won’t find anywhere else.

Get the winter event guide

Winter trip planning

Wondering what to expect during a ski trip to Crested Butte Mountain Resort? Our Gunnison Valley winter trip guide covers everything you need to know! Learn about snow-based activities, weather considerations, winter travel, and special considerations for traveling during the holidays.

Visit in winter

Other places to ski in Crested Butte and Gunnison

Crested Butte isn’t the only place in the Gunnison Valley to slide on snow! Peruse these other options for downhill and cross-country skiing.

Crested Butte Nordic Center

Glide over freshly groomed tracks on more than 30 miles of cross-country ski trails at Crested Butte Nordic.

XC ski in Crested Butte

Cranor Hill

It’s the cutest little ski area in Colorado, and it’s located just outside of Gunnison. Take the little ones out for an affordable day on the rope tow!

Check out Cranor Hill

Gunnison cross-country skiing

Explore groomed cross-country ski trails in the gorgeous backcountry around Gunnison.

XC ski in Gunnison

Summer at Crested Butte Mountain Resort

Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park

In summer, Crested Butte Mountain Resort operates a downhill mountain bike park. The bike park contains 30+ miles of lift-served singletrack. Lifts run from June to September. Test your skills on rock gardens, jumps and berms in this steep, technical bike park. Click or tap the button below for a complete guide to the Crested Butte Bike Park trails.

Explore the Crested Butte Bike Park