If the view isnt already persuasive enough, keep on reading.
Last time I visited the crooked crag, one of my friends said, If a mountain town could be a hug, Crested Butte would be it. And she nailed it for the most part, as the town itself could not be more welcoming with its quaint, Victorian homes, shops, and restaurants.
One of the signature eateries that extends the CB hospitality is the not-so-secret Secret Stash. They serve up some killer pizza and aptly named Crack Fries with white truffle oil, parmesan, and black pepper, which you cant stop eating.
Or you could warm up your belly and your tastebuds with some Indian and Thai fare from The Ginger Cafe, and wash it down with some locally made Rum from the Montanya Distillers just down the street. But you cant forget dessert, so head over to Third Bowl (which is much friendlier than the 50 sloped bowl its named after) for crazy flavored homemade ice cream and massive donuts.
Downtown Crested Butte. Photo by Trent Bona.
You will bump into many locals along the way who will share their love for their town and their passion for life. Think Key West quirky with the soul of a mountain town, and you have Crested Butte and its denizens.
Emma demonstrates a hard turn on some classic CB grades.
As friendly as the town is, the mountain can be a different story. It has cliffs, bowls, and trees to keep your heart in your throat for days. If you dont believe me, look at the trail map. The outside edges of the mountain are suited for those who want to see how steep of a run they can ski before it becomes completely vertical. As a bonus, their 305 inches of snowfall thus far and their 87 inch base mean that this mountain is firing wall to wall. All the steeps are open and coated, so get exploring, hike to the peak, and make sure to eat your Wheaties.
(Related:Steep and Deep Crested Butte is Having a Winter for the Ages)
Caroline and Sydney on their way up to the peak.
But if death-defying runs arent your thing, fear not. You can cruise the long and winding frontside groomers with Butte-ful views.
Caroline taking advantage of the some corduroy after the hike.
To make your trip easier on the wallet, check out CBs late season packages on pass and lodging combinations. Dont be discouraged by the timing, as springtime guarantees sunshine, a pow day, or both.
On top of Mother Natures offerings, there will be plenty of concerts and events like the Artists of Crested Butte Artwalk Weekend, Ten Peaks Sunset Soirees for dusk sleigh rides up to Ten Peaks, and the Ski Town Breakdown for some spring-time string-strumming. Find the whole event list here.
A summer concert at the base of Crested Butte. Photo by Chris Segal.
If you need a hug from a town and its delectable cuisine, and maybe a slap in the face from some terrain, head over to Crested Butte this spring for a mountain town experience like no other.
