Crested Butte Colorado, Five Summer Hikes that are Worth It

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Summer time in the mountains is one of the best experiences if you’re looking for adventure. Colorado summers are hard to beat, especially in mountain towns. Cooler temps, amazing views, and plenty of hiking trails. I spent some time in Crested Butte this summer and it is one of the coolest places I’ve been to in Colorado since living here for over a decade. There’s a number of hikes close to town and I think that’s what I liked the most about trekking around.

With that being said, In this post I’ll be going over 5 hikes worth checking out, trail info, what to except, along with some details. Alright lets do this!

Where is Crested Butte

Not far from Aspen (in the summer) Crested Butte is 4 hours west of Denver and somewhat secluded with Gunnison being the closest major area. It’s a smaller mountain town with a local feel that doesn’t get too crowded or busy from what I saw in the summer.

What to Pack

You’ll need some good outdoor clothing and hiking footwear for these trails. I also recommend packing a rain jacket and lightweight insulator just in case! In the mountains, weather does pop up at anytime and temperatures can also drop at anytime.

• Rain Jacket- Anything lightweight that’s waterproof is a go-to for me.

• Hiking Pants and/or shorts- Hiking pants or shorts with stretch makes hiking much more enjoyable. Fjallraven is my favorite hiking brand for clothing.

• Hiking Footwear- I would try these on at your local outdoor store or REI shop. If you don’t live near one, chat with an expert online and someone will point you in the right direction! Anything above the ankle with good support is what I seek out. And if the boots are lightweight it’s an added bonus.

• Sunscreen- Apply at least 15 minutes before hiking. SunBum out of Encinitas California works great, don’t forget to apply chapstick with SPF!

• Lightweight Jacket- Anything down is great because it is going to be packable. Throw it in your bag and whip it out when sun goes down or if you're doing a sunrise hike throw it in the bag when the temps warm up. I like Burton’s down jackets as they have different options, I personally like the Baker down.

I would also recommend downloading All Trails and then saving predownloaded maps on your phone for help with navigation

Five Best Crested Butte Hikes (In no particular order)

Lower Loop

This trail is an easy one so if you have trouble with elevation or more strenuous trails, I recommend starting your trip off with the Lower Loop trail. It’s also a good trail for mountain and gravel bikes.

Directions & parking

You’ll want to get on Butte Ave, a side street in downtown Crested Butte. Right outside of town there will be parking on Peanut Lake Road. There is a parking lot further up the road, but it is for people with disabilities or wheelchairs, spots can be reserved ahead of time. Since this is the closet trail to town, if parking is full, I would park in town and walk a little bit more.

Coordinates: 38.87431, -106.99229

Trail Stats

• 7.2 Mile Loop

• 452 Feet of elevation gain

• Dog friendly

What is the trail like

This is going to mostly be flat with views of Mount Crested Butte, Cascade Mountain and Mineral Point off in the distance. If you started at the parking lot in town you’ll have to walk either along the Peanut Lake Road or The Woods Trail until you reach the actual trailhead for the Lower Loop. At first you’ll walk along a manmade gravel type path until you reach the trail along the Slate River. This is where you can see what makes this hike so unique.

You don’t even have to hike the whole way to enjoy it. There will be benches along the Lower Trail to take breaks and enjoy the surroundings. Eventually the hike will loop you back around on the Upper Lower part of the trail. This part of the hike will take you through Aspen trees. Not as many wildflowers on this hike as some of the other trails I did in Crested Butte, however it’s still worth checking out.

Teocalli Ridge

Looking for a less crowded trail? Then this is a good hike to pick if you’re up for a 10 mile loop. Teocalli Ridge is not only good for hiking, but also dirt biking and mountain biking

Directions & Parking

This trail will be about 20 minutes outside of downtown Crested Butte off Forest Service Road 7738. You don’t need AWD or 4 X 4 unless you plan on camping off the Teocalli Ridge Trail. There is designated primitive campsites that are first come first serve. If you do plan on camping you’ll need a high clearance vehicle. As you make your way to the trailhead you’ll pass a farm/ranch. During wildflower season this drive is awesome, fields of wildflowers as you get closer to the parking lot!

Trailhead Coordinates: 38.89614, -106.88932

There will be a small parking area at the trailhead, however the main parking lot will be further down the road on the left, can't miss it. Restrooms can be found at this lower parking area too.

Trail Stats

• 10.9 Mile Loop

• 2,303 feet of elevation gain

• Dog Friendly (I would recommend putting your dog on a leash due to possible wildlife in the area)

Trail Specifics

This is going to be a challenging hike, but because it is challenging you probably won’t see anyone else on the trail. I went during the week and only passed a few people. What makes it more challenging is that the hike is almost an 11 mile loop!

Essentially you’ll walk along a service road through a valley of the Gunnison national forest that takes you up to a ridge line. The views are amazing as you trek across the ridge line. Not a bad place to take a break for lunch either. I would also start this hike earlier in the day because sometimes thunderstorms due pop up in the afternoon.

The second half of the hike will be mostly through the woods with areas where there is mountain views. I wrote a more detailed blog post on this hike which you can find here -> Best Hiking Trails in Crested Butte, The Scenic Teocalli Ridge Loop

Lupine

One of the most popular trails for hiking and biking is going to be the Lupine trail. I would say it’s an easy to moderate hike with some steeper parts. The location is one of the reasons it is going be a more crowded trail, however hike it during sunrise or even golden hour in the evening and there shouldn’t be hardly anyone on the trail. June through about the first week of July will make this one of the best trails to see wildflowers.

Directions & parking

Kind of confusing but you’ll want to start at the Lupine 2 trailhead as there is no parking in the Saddle Ridge townhome area off Smith Hill Road because it is a private neighborhood. To get to the trailhead take Gothic Road to county road 734 just outside of town. You’ll see a small lake (Nicholson Lake) across from the parking lot. I would imagine on really busy days you can park along the road if the lot is full or there is more parking up the road at the Gunsight Bridge trailhead.

Trail Coordinates

38.90265, -107.01113

Trail Stats

• 7.1 mile out & back

• 987 feet of elevation gain

• Dogs must be on a leash

Trail details

I like how open this hike is and for most of it, you’re going to be hiking with fields on either side, covered in wildflowers during peak season. Towards the top is when you will go through a couple areas with Aspen trees. It is not a technical hike by any means and you are guaranteed to run into a mountain biker(s). Plenty of mountain views on this hike along with being able to see the Slate River from above.

If you want even more details on this hike check out the blog post I did > Hiking in Crested Butte, A sunrise Hike on the Lupine Trail

Snodgrass

My favorite trail in Crested Butte, Snodgrass is another popular one because it is so close to town. You don’t have to hike this whole trail to enjoy it either. This hike is awesome earlier in the summer because of all the wildflowers. The start of the trail is also best in the evening, so if you hike the whole trail in the afternoon/evening, make sure to stay for sunset.

Directions & Parking

Take Gothic Road past Mount Crested Butte and you’ll see the horse ranch to your left and just past that is the parking lot along with parking on the road as well.

Trail Coordinates

38.91896, -106.9598

Trail Stats

• 5.8 Miles out and back

• 1,594 feet of elevation gain

• Dog friendly, but should be on a leash

What makes this trail worth it and what to expect

What makes this a great hike is at the start of it, there’s a stretch where you can see the town, but also 360 degree views of the entire mountain range in the area. During peak wildflower season this trail is covered with violet Lupines and golden Black Eyed Susans! Expect there to be some periods of more strenuous uphill hiking with the elevation gain. Also the best views are no further then halfway up the hike. From the halfway point you’ll be hiking in the woods! For a more detailed post, check out > Best Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte Colorado, Hiking the Snodgrass Trail

O be Joyful

Located right next to the campground, the drive alone to this trailhead is unreal, an indicator that the actual hike is going to be pretty amazing. It’s an out and back trail, so hike as far you would like to as the trail alone makes for a long day hike.

Directions and Parking

The trailhead is going to be on the same road as the Lupine trail, County Road 734. The road itself is a little rocky towards the parking lot so make sure to you take it slow! You don’t need a high clearance vehicle or AWD to drive to the trailhead, but it definitely doesn't hurt.

Trail Stats

• 13 Miles out and back

• 2,148 feet of elevation gain

• Dogs can be off leash but just be aware of wildlife in the area.

What is the trail like

Since it is a long hike I wouldn’t pack all of your water, but bring a water filter to fill up along the way as the Oh be joyful Creek runs next to the trail. The views on this hike will be different than the other hikes in Crested Butte in that you’re surrounded by multiple 12,000 + peaks while being tucked in this valley hiking through it all. If you’re up for the challenge you will be rewarded. Start early and check the weather ahead of time if you plan on hiking the whole trail!

At the intersection about 5 miles in, make a left on the Daisy Pass Trail to reach the alpine lake, Blue Lakes. I would recommend downloading this trail ahead of time on All Trails too!

If you’re interested in other hiking trails or outdoor recreation check out the Blue Lakes trail in Telluride Colorado. Thanks for checking out the blog and I’ll see you on the next post!

Best Hiking Trails in Crested Butte, The Scenic Teocalli Ridge Loop

Disclosure: When you buy something through the Affiliate product links I have created below, I earn a small commission. I only promote products and companies I support as well as believe in

Crested Butte in the summer is one of the best places to explore different hiking trails. The area has everything from short scenic paths to ten mile plus day hikes with elevation gain that will take you to the top of some awesome overlook areas such as TeoCalli Ridge!. After getting a recommendation from a friend on this hike last minute, I decided to go for it. It wasn’t far from town, so I grabbed breakfast at a local bagel shop in town and then made my way towards the trailhead.

In this post I’ll be going over parking, how to get to the trailhead, details, best time of year to hike it, what makes this trail worth it, and what to expect!

How to get to the trailhead and where should we park

The trailhead is a little over 20 minutes from downtown Crested Butte and you want to end up on Brush Creek Road. You’ll Pass the Brush Creek Trailhead on the left, a more popular hiking destination and the road will turn into Forest Service-7738. These are dirt roads in which you’ll pass a farm and cattle ranch on the way to the trailhead! AWD is helpful, but not required to drive this road. If you do plan on camping in the area, you will need to have a high clearance vehicle with 4 X 4 to make it up the road to designated campsites FYI.

Distance from town: 8 Miles

Coordinates: 38.89614, -106.88932

For parking there will be a few spots at the start of the hike, however if you stay right on the service road and keep driving, you’ll come up on a much bigger parking lot. This is where the hike actually ends if you do the entire loop.

Where does the trail begin and how long is the hike

The trail will start on the dirt road, Forest Service-7738 essentially right where the map and trail signage are. This hike is going to be longer and a bit more challenging then some of the other more popular hikes in Crested Butte, so make sure to plan accordingly! It took me over 6 hours to complete with breaks and shooting photos along the way.

There’s also going to be some elevation gain on this trail, so be prepared to hike up hill a bit for the first half of the hike! It will be worth it though, the views on this hike are incredible on the first half of the trail. Below are some quick trail stas.

Trail type: Loop

Elevation Gain: 2,303:

Distance: 10.9 miles

Dogs Allowed: Yep, this is a more remote hike so if you plan on hiking without a leash, just keep in mind there is wildlife in the area such as moose, bears, and mountain lions.

What should we expect

This hike isn’t easy by any means so if you’re looking for something a little more chill check out the Snodgrass Trail or Lupine trail closer to town. Really, the challenging part is the distance. You’re hiking close to 11 Miles, so take breaks, drink lots of water, pack snacks and just enjoy the trail because it is a good one! Expect the views to be pretty amazing, especially when you get up on the ridge line.

What should we pack

Depends on the time of year, but I listed some items that I highly recommend

• Hiking Boots- You can get these at REI or your local outdoor

• Rain Jacket- Always pack one of these, especially on longer hikes!

• Outdoor Clothing- Try to stay away from anything cotton and stick to performance type clothing when hiking. Outdoor specific brands to look into would be
  Fjallraven, Patagonia, and The North Face.

• Sunscreen- Apply this ahead of time or keep a sunstick on you to reapply throughout the hike if necessary.

• Extra Water

Best time of the summer for Wildflowers

I hiked this trail the second week of July and I feel like that was the last great week of catching the Wildflowers. However, it depends on the year and the start of summer was extremely dry. On average the flowers start to bloom in June and peak at the end of June through early July.

What are some trail details

You’ll start right next to the trailhead sign which is a clockwise route to take. Take in the views as you make your way along the trail. Once at the top of the Forest Service Road, you will have to cross part of the river. This is where having a pre-downloaded map on AllTrails will be helpful. You can either take your shoes/socks off or just trek through the river with your hiking boots on.

Once your across the river, the trail will take you through a small patch of Aspen Trees. This part of the trail is pretty flat, so try to enjoy it!

Eventually you will arrive at the trail sign Teocalli Mountain TR no. 554. The elevation gain starts to kicks in here and you will be hiking across the Ridge with Teocalli Mountain to the left!

The end of Teocalli ridge is one of the best views on the hike in my opinion, so grab a few pictures and take in the view. It overlooks the valley area along with the streams and river below.

The second half of the hike will be mostly through pine trees with no views until you get to almost the end of the hike. As you descend your way down through Aspen trees, be cautious of Mountain Bikers and Dirt Bike Riders! This trail is great for either of those activities.

The end of the hike is nice when it’s wildflower season as you will run into an entire mountainside full of them. As you make your way back to the parking lot, you will have to cross the river one last time to stay on trail.

When is the best time of year to hike Teocalli Ridge

This trail is good, depending on snowfall, from Mid May through October with the best times being early July for Wildflowers and Late September for the Fall colors.

You’ll probably feel pretty accomplished after hiking this trail so pat yourself on the back if you hiked the entire trail. Looking for other outdoor recreation in Colorado? Check out the small town of Buena Vista, with rafting, hiking, and even River Surfing. It is one of my favorite places in Colorado to explore.