Crested Butte Vacation Travel Blog

The Dyke Trail is a wonderful Mountain Biking trail all summer, but truly becomes spectacular in the fall during all the colors. This trail is found a few miles from town on Kebler Road. This 14 mile loop offers some great downhills and one challenging, yet rewarding, climb.

For more information on Crested Butte Trails click here.

The Crested Butte Fall Festival is a Beer and Chili Cook-Off. Professional and Amateur cooks come from all around to show off their culinary skills. Micro Brews from all around Colorado are also here to allow visitors a taste of their beers. Just up the block from the B&B is a free shuttle running back and forth to the festival on the mountain.

September 11, 2010

12:00 Gates Open, Band #1 Starts
12:00-4:00 Unlimited Beer Tasting - Receive a Free 8oz Reusable Cup Upon Entry
12:30-4:00 Voting for Best Beers & Chilis by Festival Participants
12:00-12:30 Judging of Chili by Independent Panel
12:30-2:00 Chili Served
2:00 Band #2 Starts
4:00 Band #3 Starts
5:45 Awards

Lost Lakes Trail is one of Crested Butte’s greatest Fall treasures. This 3.2 mile hiking loop offers three great overlooks, three lakes and one waterfall. After a very scenic 15 mile drive on Kebler Road (Famous for all its Aspen trees) you take a left on a dirt road heading up to an old mining camp for access to this trail. This shot was taken along the trail looking north.

The People’s Fair is a wonderful weekend to visit. Colorado locals set up this arts fair offering great deals on some wonderful treasures. For more information visit:
http://www.paragongallery.org/paragon-peoples-fair-crested-butte-art-fair.html

It is not unusual for visitors to report sightings of bears in the Crested Butte area. Though there have been a few reports over the years of hopeful Grizzly sighting, chances are one will only come across a black bear. I have never heard of anyone being harmed by a bear in Crested Butte, but it is a good idea to leave your car windows closed, doors locked and leave no food in your car. There have been reports of bears going into cars and trash cans during the early mornings in town. This shot was taken here in town when a bear decided to climb a tree.

The Oh-Be-Joyful Trail is probably the best hike for viewing waterfalls in the area. This creek is a sought after run for kayakers from around the world. Fall after fall is easily viewable from a foot trail that runs right next to the falls all the way up the creek. Once you reach the top of the falls you join up with the Wilderness trail going all the way up to Blue Lake (7 miles up) or Democrat Basin (6 miles). You don’t have to make the whole hike to enjoy the wildflowers, beaver damns and the open Oh-Be-Joyful Valley. Restricted to only hikers and horseback riders this can be a very relaxing hike. This trail head is found a few miles outside of town on Slate River Road.

The Caves Hike is a great day excursion especially for a picnic or a sunset hike. Drive out Cement Creek Road in Crested Butte South about 3 miles to the trail head (first parking area). The trail then winds two miles uphill to the top. Near the top the trail splits. The left goes around up to the top. The right goes up a climb through the caves. The top offers a wonderful view to the west (one of the few places to see a good sunset in the area). Make sure to hike down before it starts getting too dark.

Today Starts the First Annual Crested Butte Restaurant Week where, in honor of town’s elevation 8885 feet, restaurants will be offering Multi-Course Dinner Specials for $88.85 (for four) (also $22.21 per person for groups of 1 to 20). There are also $8.85 lunch specials. Running June 11-18, 2010 this is a great time to get up here and enjoy the wonderful food variety Crested Butte has to offer.

After a very dry two weeks most our hiking and biking trails are open. Trails above 10,000 feet are still wet and have a bit of snow cover but for the most part we have a great number of trails open for this time of year. We even have a new mountain bike trail that has expanded our Lower Loop Trail system thanks to 150+ volunteers and the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association of which we are proud sponsors. These photos where taken while out hiking and biking over the last couple days.