Crested Butte Mountain Resort 2026 Summer Tip Sheet
At Crested Butte Mountain Resort, we encourage you to explore the wild side of the mountains. Step beyond the familiar and discover a place that offers rugged trails, challenging terrain, stunning alpine views, and a town with a rich and distinctive mountain culture. It’s a destination for those looking to travel – and adventure – off the beaten path.
Summer Operating Dates
Daily: June 13-Sept. 7 | Sat. & Sun.: Sept. 7-Sept. 27
All operating dates, activities, and events are weather-dependent and subject to change.
Explore the Heart of Summer Paradise in Colorado
As the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte doesn’t shy away from natural beauty and postcard-worthy scenery. Our small mountain town at the end of the road is surrounded by 1.6 million acres of public land, offering endless adventure to visitors and locals alike. With the dramatic scenery of the rugged Elk Mountains, rolling hills dotted with flowers of every color and the charm of downtown Crested Butte, this is truly paradise found.
Experience CBMR’s Extremes During the Summer Months
Known as the birthplace of inbounds extreme skiing and riding, CBMR’s bike park delivers the same adrenaline as the resort’s legendary winter steeps. Here, riders can elevate their skills and experience the summer counterpart to the extreme terrain that defines Crested Butte during ski season. Even better? This terrain is lift-accessed via the Red Lady Express, so riders can skip the tiring ascents and focus their energy on ripping downhill terrain.
Building Skills
Not ready to take on the most challenging bike trails? CBMR’s bike park also has terrain suitable for beginner and intermediate riders so they can learn the ropes before jumping onto tougher trails. The resort also provides demo and e-bike rentals, ensuring that guests without their own equipment have access to high-quality gear that is regularly serviced and well-maintained. As of 2024, Class 1 e-bikes are now permitted on the Red Lady Express as well as throughout the CBMR bike park.
Historic and Creative Treasures Abound in Town
Steeped in a rich mining and natural history, the town of Crested Butte boasts one of Colorado's largest National Historic Districts in addition to the honor of being known as one of the birthplaces of mountain biking. CB also holds the accolade of being certified as a Colorado Creative District in the summer of 2016, joining 17 other districts around the state. The Creative District certification process defines communities that can attract artists and creative entrepreneurs, infuse new energy and innovation, and enhance economic and civic capital.
This creative flair is on full display in the heart of town and Crested Butte’s main thoroughfare, Elk Avenue, with its colorful storefronts, restaurants to suit every palate, and events that keep the energy alive well into the evening. As Crested Butte’s iconic main street, there’s no better setting to experience the town’s fun, funky character than right here, where locals and visitors come together to enjoy CB’s vibrant mountain-town spirit.
Wildflower Wonders
Sprinkled with scarlet, magenta, gold, and indigo, the summer hillsides of Crested Butte resemble a shower of confetti more than a typical mountain landscape. As home to a remarkable 1,500+ flowering plant species, the area has come to be known as the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Peak wildflower season usually occurs in early to mid-July, with slight variations each season depending on the depth of the snowpack.
CBMR’s trail system spans elevations of about 9,300 feet at the base to a literally breathtaking 12,162 feet at the summit of Mt. Crested Butte. This dramatic, nearly 3,000 feet of elevation range creates a combination of montane, sub-alpine, and alpine biomes, each of which provides ideal growing conditions for different species of plants. As one climbs or bikes higher on the winding trails, the wildflower varieties gradually shift and overlap with each other as each ecosystem transitions to the next. Whether hiking, biking, or taking a scenic chairlift ride, Crested Butte’s wildflower displays are sure to dazzle anyone who encounters their magic.
On the Beaten Path
Looking to put in some singletrack miles? The Gunnison Valley is home to more than 750 miles of trails, over 30 of which are accessed at the resort. Whether looking for a quick and easy outing like the Judd Falls trail, or a multi-day backcountry adventure like the Four Pass Loop, Crested Butte’s trails offer boundless adventure for those looking to immerse themselves in one of Colorado’s most picturesque regions.
Hiking Mt. Crested Butte
Mt. Crested Butte, the peak that inspired the town’s name in 1873, as well as the resort’s present-day logo, has long been revered as one of the most iconic mountains in the area. Hiking to the summit is an unforgettable adventure for those hoping to check off a resort bucket list activity and enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding Elk, Sawatch, and San Juan Mountain Ranges.
The peak offers several ways to reach the 12,162’ summit depending on the level of challenge sought. The easiest and most popular option is to ride the Silver Queen Express to 11,400’ before hiking the final one-mile, 750-foot climb to the top, while more ambitious hikers can summit directly from the base area for added mileage and elevation gain. Experienced climbers can also tackle climbing routes like Guide’s Ridge and Sunset Ridge (technical expertise and equipment required) for a true alpine ascent. No matter which route hikers take to the summit, the breathtaking scenery from the top is stunning just the same.
Adaptive Sports Center
The Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) of Crested Butte provides year-round outdoor recreation activities for people with disabilities and their families, including one of the only downhill mountain biking programs in the world for people with disabilities. ASC instructors guide and assist participants as they make their way down the mountain and improve their skills.
For adaptive athletes hoping to test their mettle on the big stage, Crested Butte is the proud host of the 2026 Adaptive Mountain Biking World Championships! Athletes can take on either an enduro race on the resort’s rugged terrain or a cross-country race starting from town.
Summer Events
- Live! from Mt. Crested Butte Music on the Mountain (6/24, 7/1 7/4, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12)
- CBMR Summer Race Series Presented by Fox Racing (6/27, 7/4, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25)
- Mt. Crested Butte’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks (7/3)
- Crested Butte Wildflower Festival (7/10-7/19)
- Living Journeys Summit Hike (7/25)
- The Grand Traverse Mountain Bike and Run (9/5-9/6)
- Adaptive Mountain Biking World Championships (9/11-9/13)
Location
Crested Butte is located in southwestern Colorado, a 4.5-hour drive from Denver and within the Gunnison National Forest and the Elk Mountains. The resort lies in the town of Mt. Crested Butte, two miles from the town of Crested Butte. The area was originally settled in the 1880s as a mining supply camp and still reflects this era in its architecture. Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park is located within the ski area boundary.
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Media Contact
Katie Lyons, katie.m.lyons@vailresorts.com
Images, trail maps and B-roll for editorial use available upon request. Inquire about visiting Crested Butte Mountain Resort for familiarization/editorial coverage.