Terrain:
Crested Butte is truly an advanced skier and boarder playground. The resort is a majority expert terrain. There is so much expert terrain that it can be hard to decide where to go first. Although for most of the expert terrain you do have to put in a little effort to get to. The expert terrain areas are mostly accessed by T-bar lifts. Then, you either have to traverse, hike or drop into the run you choose to hit. This makes it very hard to lap these expert areas, but it is well worth the extra effort.
My favorite of the expert terrain is the huge area far far left of the North Face lift. You do have to hike a ways to get there. One you get there, you pop out from the hike through the trees to see a vast steep open area of expert terrain. This area is a concoction of bowls, steps, glades and chutes. Right when you get to the top of this area, your first thought is “I want to ski everything”. Again it takes more time to do laps over here because there isn’t a lift that takes you to the top. You have to take multiple lifts to get back to even the hiking area. Even if it takes some extra time to get to this area, it is more than worth the venture to get there.
Crested Butte also has one of my favorite Mogul runs; Resurrection under East River Express Lift. This run is my favorite because I was easily able to find the perfect rhythm between moguls every time and could show off a little under the lift. This is not the only great mogul run Crested Butte has. All of the mogul runs near Ruby Road catwalk are a blast as well. Crested Butte definitely has my favorite mogul runs in Colorado.
The remaining terrain is for intermediate and beginner skiers and boarders with a few small terrain parks. This terrain lies separately from the expert terrain, so those who do not wish to do the expert terrain do not have to worry about stumbling upon a run they are not comfortable with. These greens and blues do enable the rider to explore the mountain and not miss the great views of the terrain and area. Paradise Express Lift is an awesome area to do fast playful laps with your ski buddies. Then the front side of the mountain and the Lifts near the Umbrella bar are great places for beginner skiers to explore and not worry about the skiers and boarders who are there strictly for the expert terrain to bother them. At the end of the season, the snow can warm up quite a bit in these areas later in the day. This makes it hard to get back to the base without getting a little stuck. I have often gotten stuck near Painter Boy Lift trying to get back to the main base. Then, the terrain parks are small, but fun. They are all XS, S and M sized parks for beginner park riders. If you’re going to Crested Butte you are usually not going there for the parks, but they add a little extra fun to a run here and there.
I try to make a trip out to Crested Butte every season. This is because I love the expert terrain Crested Butte has to offer and it is among my favorite resorts to get a good group of friends together and explore the mountain for a weekend.
Base Elevation – 9,375 ft
Peak Elevation – 12,162 ft
Number of Lifts – 15
Number of Trails – 121
Total Terrain – 1,547 acres
Easiest Terrain (Greens) – 14%
More Difficult Terrain (Blues) – 25%
Most Difficult Terrain (Blacks) – 25%
Expert Terrain (Double Blacks) – 36%
Resort Hours – 9am-4pm Daily
Atmosphere and Locals:
A majority of the time I visit Crested Butte is during their closing weekend. This is a great time to visit Crested Butte with your ski buddies. The local college kids usually flock here, because it can be a mini spring break trip. Everyone is dressed up in silly costumes and having fun on this great mountain. If this is not your vibe for skiing, Crested Butte any other time during the season still has some college student presence but is very local based as well. Crested Butte is about 40 minutes from Gunnison where Western Colorado University is, making Crested Butte their local mountain.
Other than college students, Crested Butte has a lot of true local Colorado residents that stay in Crested Butte year round. Crested Butte is tucked away in the mountains so many people don’t make day trips there. To me Crested Butte gives off a homey atmosphere. It reminds me of the Colorado I grew up skiing in, when there was rarely traffic or crowds and always great snow.
Accessibility and Parking:
There is no free parking at the base of the resort, there are only free lots in town. You will have to take a free bus to the resort. There are some pay to park lots near the base in various hotel complexes as well or more pay to park lots in town.
Crested Butte is also a very remote resort. It is about four and a half hours from Denver, but the roads are not as packed as I-70. The roads are also not as affected by storms than most other mountain roads. Hence it is a safer drive, but knowing Colorado weather anything can happen and the roads can still be covered on occasion.
Pricing: $$
There are a great variety of on the mountain restaurants and bars. They even have live music often on weekends. I don’t normally stop for lunch or long brakes when I ski, but I will stop and listen to the music or grab a drink with my friends when I’m here.
Lift Tickets –
Adult(13-64):$129
Senior (65+): $108
Chid (5-12): $75
Associated Season Pass – Epic Pass
Lessons –
Children(3-14): $189
Adult First Time: $195
Adult Group: $155 (Full Day), $140 (Half Day)
Private Lesson: $799 (Full Day), $549 (Half Day)
Rentals –
Adult Ski:$58
Performance Ski: $68
Demo Ski: $78
Junior Ski: $42
Adult Board: $58
Demo Board: $78
Junior Board: $42
For more information visit https://www.skicb.com/
Colorado Ski Resort Travel Blog 