Mt. Crested Butte

Viewed from the surrounding peaks, Crested Butte sparkles as a colorful pocket of civilization in a vast and wild playground: three wilderness areas, more than a million acres of National Forest, and peaks towering up to 14,000 feet. Old mule-train paths and Forest Service trails snake outward from the town, leading hikers, bikers, horseback riders and fishermen into flower-dense meadows, through lush aspen and pine forests, to high alpine lakes and dramatic summits.

At the center of this recreational wonderland is the Victorian town of Crested Butte. Much like a century ago, Elk Avenue, the center of Crested Butte's quaint National Historic District, greets them with excellent restaurants, shops and lively nightspots. Of course, yesteryear's grizzled miners could hardly have imagined some of the more sophisticated amenities of Crested Butte in 2003: championship golf, world-class music, luxurious lodging, chair-lift rides up the mountain and high-caliber cultural opportunities.

Wildflower Capital of Colorado

Each year, in a dramatic change of costume, Crested Butte's mountains melt from majestic winter white into flashy summer brilliance. The diverse landscape and geology here have created such a proliferation of wildflowers that the state's former governor proclaimed Crested Butte the Wildflower Capital of Colorado.

More than a thousand people arrive each July for the weeklong Wildflower Festival, to explore the abundant native flora in the mountain meadows, national forests and narrow alleys of historic Crested Butte. The festival offers an extensive schedule of tours and classes in everything from drawing, painting and photography to gardening, cooking, soap making and using medicinal plants. This year's event takes place July 7-13. Find out more at www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com or call 970-349-2571.

Mountain biking

Fat Tire Bike Week: Crested Butte also hosts the oldest mountain bike festival in the country, this year celebrating its 22nd anniversary. The celebrated festival, Fat Tire Bike Week, June 25-29, has guided tours, special clinics and fun competitions including a chainless downhill race. For more information visit www.ftbw.com or 800-545-4505.

Wildflower Rush Race: Included in this legendary festival is the 3rd Annual Crested Butte Wildflower Rush Race. This year's NORBA-Mountain States Cup (MSC) regional mountain bike racing series, welcomes back the legendary Crested Butte downhill, its signature Cross Country race and for the first time, the new and exciting Mountain Cross competition. The Cross Country race, Shimano Kid’s race and the Mountain Cross competition will take place on Saturday, June 28 and the Downhill on Sunday, June 29. An industry expo will be on-site all weekend. Over 600 riders are expected to compete in this race. For more information on the Wildflower Rush call (970) 468-9322 or log onto www.warriorscycling.com or email Rebecca@warriorscycling.com

Powerade Pinnacle Summer Race Series: The sixth annual Powerade Pinnacle Summer mountain bike race series, a recreational racing series that is geared for fun and competition, for beginner and expert riders alike will “gear up” again this summer. This six-race series has become a locals' favorite and has gained more popularity and riders each year. The races take place on Thursdays in July, August and early September on Mt. Crested Butte. Pizza, beer and prizes follow each race and everyone is welcome. New this year the series will be offering the Shimano youth races for kids during the same time. The series has been experiencing more and more families each year, so it only makes sense to make it fun for everyone. The Shimano Youth Series is designed to give children the opportunity to compete like their parents in a positive and fun environment. For more information call (970) 349-2303.

A Rich Cultural Calendar

CBMF also prides itself on presenting world premieres from the operatic, dance and instrumental worlds and continues its strong commitment to music education programs with master classes, lessons and workshops. For a complete festival schedule or more information, contact the Crested Butte Music Festival office at 970-349-0619.

The Center for the Arts - (970-349-7487) also hosts many concerts, cultural events and free outdoor Alpenglow concerts. Locals and visitors, adults and children get into the act through the Crested Butte Mountain Theatre, Dansummer and the Creative Arts Institute for Children. The Sixth Annual Crested Butte Reel Fest will take place August 13-17 and annually brings several hundred film directors and film buffs to Crested Butte to participate in this competitive short film festival. The Reel Fest is a competitive festival focusing on films under 40 minutes in the categories of animation, comedy and drama for both regular and student categories as well as documentaries under 60 minutes in both categories. For additional information call (970) 349-2600 or cbreelfest@webcom.com

A highlight for visual art fans, Crested Butte's Festival of the Arts has been named one of the top art festivals in the country. On August 2 and 3, the town's main street will be transformed into a street fair of juried arts and crafts booths, with food, live entertainment and kids' activities adding to the carnival atmosphere.

Getting in the Swing

Club at Crested Butte
Ph: (970)-349-6127

In the open meadows alongside Mt. Crested Butte lies a championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, rated Best Mountain Golf Course in Colorado by Mountain Golf Magazine. Owned by the Divine family and the highly respected Cordillera Group, the golf course, open to the public, is one of the best laid-out and designed courses in the state. "Nature gave the course its scenery, and Trent Jones, Jr. gave it his flair."

The dramatic, challenging, scenic course sits at 9,003 feet above sea level and poses 84 bunkers and water hazards on 14 holes. To help golfers meet the course's challenges, the Club at Crested Butte offers expert instruction and clinics from a superb staff of PGA pros. The club also offers an active and professional tennis program for all ages and abilities. 

Each year the club hosts the Crested Butte Open to be held August 4 -5 to benefit Crested Butte's Adaptive Sports Center, which provides recreational opportunities year-round for people with disabilities. The tournament includes a welcome reception, live auction, western awards banquet, dancing, event golf shirt, gift bag and celebrity guests. For more information, contact the ASC at 866-349-2296 or visit www.adaptivesports.org

Need a lift?

From June 25 through September 1, summer hikers can get a lift to the network of trails on Mt. Crested Butte from the main base area chair lift. The Silver Queen lift transports hikers to just below the summit at 11,400 feet. From there, sightseers can climb to the 12,162-foot Mt. Crested Butte summit or stop on the way for a picnic and take in panoramic views of the spectacular Elk Mountain Range.