Press Kit

At Crested Butte Mountain Resort, we invite you to Be Wild. Defy the voice that says you can't and journey to the end of the road to find something that can only be found here. Ditch the less daring. Break free from the ordinary and ride into technical trails, heart-pounding terrain, gorgeous scenery, and a vibrant town with a mountain culture all its own. 

Summer Operating Dates 

Daily: June 8-Sept. 2 | Sat. & Sun.: Sept. 7-Sept. 29 

All operating dates, activities and events are weather-dependent and subject to change. 

Summer Paradise Found 

As the Wildflower Capital of Colorado, Crested Butte doesn’t shy away from beauty and postcard-worthy scenery. Our small mountain town at the end of the road is surrounded by 1.7 million acres of National Forest, offering endless adventure to visitors and locals alike. With the dramatic scenery of Paradise Divide, rolling hills dotted with flowers of every color and the charm of downtown Crested Butte, this is truly paradise found. 

Best Known For         

Eighty percent of the land surrounding Crested Butte Mountain Resort is open space. The town itself boasts one of Colorado's largest National Historic Districts. The area is known as one of the birthplaces of mountain biking. In the 1970s, old Schwinn bikes were transformed into bikes with wider tires for more rugged terrain and the potholes that lined Elk Avenue (the town’s main street). Additionally, Crested Butte was certified as a Colorado Creative District in the summer of 2016, joining 17 other districts in 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. 

Trails, Trails, Trails 

Looking for a challenge? Hike, bike or trail run on CBMR’s vast trail network between the base area and the peak of Mount Crested Butte. Thirty-plus miles of singletrack at CBMR complement more than 750 miles open to mountain biking in the Gunnison Valley. With help from the Silver Queen Express chairlift, hikers also have a unique opportunity to summit the iconic 12,162-foot Mt. Crested Butte! 

Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park 

The Crested Butte Mountain Bike Park was established at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in 2009. Since the beginning, it has been designed to meet the needs of all riders — from beginners to gravity experts. The bike park has a diverse network of trails including both lift-served downhill and cross-country rides that connect to legendary rides in and around Crested Butte. The bike park also offers demo and e-bike rentals. Lift-served mountain biking is available via Red Lady Express. New for summer 2024, Class 1 e-bikes are now permitted on Red Lady Express and throughout the CBMR bike park. 

• NEW! Sharpshooter Trail: Bikers searching for something new will enjoy riding Sharpshooter, an intermediate trail that was created in summer 2023. This short trail splits off from Downtime and leads to the base of Red Lady Express, with several small-to-medium sized jumps along the way.  

• Skills Zone: The pump track in the base area includes small berms and flowy rollers to get riders comfortable on varied terrain. A second Skills Zone is at the top of Red Lady Express with slightly larger features for riders to check out before descending via CBMR's system of trails. 

• 30+ Miles of Lift-Served Singletrack: In the summer season, Red Lady Express gives guests a boost as they explore gorgeous Mt. Crested Butte. The chairlift shuttles hikers, mountain bikers, archers and disc golfers to mid-mountain for access to numerous single-track and hiking trails along with our disc golf and archery courses. 

Twilight Rides 

Back this year as a guest favorite, Twilight Hours will be held on Friday, June 28 and every Friday night in July for hikers and bikers to kick off the weekend enjoying the mountain via Red Lady Express, which CBMR runs later than usual on these special evenings. Twilight Hours go until 7:00 p.m. 

The Return of the CBMR Summer Race Series  

Join us at the mountain on Fridays from June 28 – July 26 for our annual downhill mountain bike race series! Competitors will race on a different course each week, followed by an after party and awards ceremony. 

Summer Events 

• Juneteenth Freedom Festival presented by Melanin Mountain Project (6/19) 

• Live! from Mt. Crested Butte Music on the Mountain (6/26, 7/4, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7, 8/14) 

• CBMR Summer Race Series Presented by Fox Racing (6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26) 

• Friday Twilight Hours (6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26) 

• Mt. Crested Butte’s Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks (7/3) 

• 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Town of Mt. Crested Butte (7/13) 

• Trailhead Children’s Museum Big Summer Bash (7/25) 

• Living Journeys Summit Hike (7/27) 

• Downhill Rockies MTB series (8/3-8/4) 

• Adaptive Mountain Biking World Championships (8/16-8/18) 

• Outerbike Demo Event (8/16-8/18) 

• The Grand Traverse (8/31-9/1) 

• Chili & Beer Festival (9/7) 

• Western Mountain Sports Pagan Pedal (9/21-9/22) 

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 elevate their skills. Choose to explore wide and easy trails or head out on the singletrack and learn to negotiate more challenging terrain including rock piles and logjams. 

This high-adventure activity focuses on increasing strength and self-confidence as well as establishing good adaptive biking techniques. ASC's extensive summer programming includes paddle boarding, kayaking, rafting, cycling, rock climbing and hiking in the region. For more information about the ASC, visit www.adaptivesports.org. 

Summer Dining 

• NEW! Highlife Crust & Crafts: 2024 will be the first summer for the all-new restaurant located in The Grand Lodge hotel next to the transit center. Highlife serves made-to-order breakfast for dine-in and take-out, as well as grab-and-go options in the morning. They have pizza and draft brews in the afternoon and evening and happy hour specials with to-go pizza slices from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Diners can watch sports on the big-screen TVs while they eat or call ahead at (970) 349-8030 to place an order to go.  

• Butte 66 Bar & Grill: The best place in the base area for smokehouse barbecue with a lively après scene and happy hour specials every day, Butte 66 features house-smoked meats, a craft beer lineup and hand-crafted cocktails.  

• Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks: The perfect spot for a mid-mountain break, the Umbrella Bar sits at the top of Painter Boy chairlift, offering signature views of the Gunnison Valley and a variety of food options for the whole family. Guests can hike, bike or drive to the Umbrella Bar!  

Scenic Chairlift Rides 

Trails not your thing? For a more laid-back approach, simply take a scenic chairlift ride. You can go up, then right back down. Take in the best views in the Gunnison Valley via either Red Lady Express or Silver Queen Express chairlift.  

The Adventure Park 

Families love CBMR’s Adventure Park. Whether rock climbing or casually panning for gems, the Adventure Park is the ultimate spot for family fun. Bungee trampolines provide a turbo-charged, gravity-defying ride up to 30 feet in the air, while the climbing wall features a 28-foot-tall tower with auto-belay. 

Summer Camps for Kids  

• Camp CB: Camp CB offers quality childcare and memorable summertime experiences. Designed for ages 5-8, the Camp CB Adventure Camp program is perfect for kids who want to explore beautiful Mt. Crested Butte as they build authentic friendships and lifelong memories with other kids their age. Campers will participate in an array of activities including chairlift rides, nature hikes, Adventure Park activities, arts & crafts, games, sports and more.  

• Mini Riders: The Mini Riders program is designed for kids ages 5 and 6 years old who can ride a pedal bike and are ready to build a foundation of skills that will transport them enthusiastically and safely into the sport of mountain biking.  

• Mountain Adventures: Mountain Adventures, for children ages 7-14, is based at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and also includes off-mountain activities. Experience our region's mountains, rivers, lakes, crags, trails, and scenery from river raft, by foot, on a mountain bike, on a paddle board, with a fly-rod in hand, or high on a cliff, ropes course or chairlift. 

• For more information on kids’ summer programs, visit our website. 

3D Archery Course 

Reflecting the incredible hunting opportunities within the Gunnison Valley, CBMR offers a 20-target archery course at the top of Red Lady Express for archers to practice their skills all summer long. Lifelike 3-D targets of mule deer, whitetail deer, black bear, fox, coyote and elk are set amongst the beautiful mountain landscape in a format that appeals to all ability levels. The walking loop, which begins from the top of the chairlift, is approximately 1.5 miles long and returns archers to their starting point, where they can ride the chairlift back down to the base area. Archers are required to bring their own equipment and must sign a waiver at the Treasury ticket office before hiking or riding Red Lady Express to the sight-in range. The archery course is free. Donations for course upkeep are accepted at the ticket office or via a cash donation bucket at the top of the course. 

Disc Golf Courses 

CBMR’s disc golf course, 10-3 @ CB, is named after the course’s high-alpine elevation of 10,300 feet. It’s 18 holes of pure fun for beginners and seasoned players alike. The course begins at the top of Red Lady Express and meanders down to within easy strolling distance of the base area. In addition, CBMR offers a short course accessed from the top of Red Lady Express that provides amazing views of Mt. Crested Butte. The course loops back to Red Lady Express for a ride back down once you have completed your round. Guests must bring their own discs. 

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.  

Easy Access from Gunnison Airport 

Travelers have the option to fly direct to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) on United Airlines from Houston (IAH) and Denver (DEN) in the summer months. The Gunnison airport is located just 29 miles south of Crested Butte. 

For guests traveling from Montrose, please note that a safety detour is in place for the Blue Mesa Bridge on US Highway 50 west of Gunnison. Detour information can be found on the county’s website. 

Where to Stay 

• Lodge at Mountaineer Square: Located in the heart of the Crested Butte Mountain Resort base area – just steps from the ski lifts, hiking and biking as well as shopping, ski area services and restaurants – Mountaineer Square is an excellent “base camp” for summer mountain getaways. The Lodge at Mountaineer square features luxurious accommodations and impeccable guest service, and the Mountaineer Conference Center is suitable for events with up to 500 guests. Lodging guests can choose from one-, two-, or three-bedroom condos, studio rooms or hotel rooms. The Lodge even has a four-bedroom penthouse suite with breathtaking aerial views of the valley. Amenities include enclosed heated parking, a business center, a fitness center, sauna, hot tub and heated indoor/outdoor pool. The Lodge is just 100 yards from the Red Lady Express chairlift. 

• The Grand Lodge: The Grand Lodge Hotel and Suites is only 200 yards from the slopes and offers exceptional amenities including an indoor/outdoor heated pool, a hot tub, a business center, and a restaurant. The Grand Lodge is directly across from CBMR's own main transit center, your connection to free shuttle service to the town of Crested Butte. This full-service hotel features 228 spacious rooms and suites, many with resort kitchenettes, and 5,000 square feet of meeting space. 

• The Plaza Condominiums: Groups and families love The Plaza for its convenient location just across the parking lot from Silver Queen Express. It provides all the benefits of a hotel, with spacious two- and three- bedroom suites, a restaurant and bar, covered parking and two hot tubs. All check-in and front desk services for Plaza guests are provided at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square. 

• Crested Butte Lodging and Properties: There are vacation rental properties throughout Mt. Crested Butte. Learn more and book your stay on our website. 

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Media Contact

Julie Block 

julie.e.block@vailresorts.com 

(224) 567-3878 

Images, trail maps and B-roll for editorial use available upon request. Inquire about visiting Crested Butte Mountain Resort for familiarization/editorial coverage.