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 Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte Colorado, Hiking the Snodgrass Trail

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

Known to be one of the most populated areas for Wildflowers, Crested Butte in Colorado offers some of the best hiking trails minutes from town. One of these trails is Snodgrass. Other than hikers, you’ll also find mountain bikers, trail runners, and even horseback riders. If you want to see wildflowers, well this hike is one of the best hikes for it in the summer time. I decided to hike it in the afternoon to catch the sunset at the end, and if you time it on the right night, the mountain views at sunset mixed with wildflowers are incredible. I haven’t experienced anything like it in Colorado.

In this post I’ll be going over how to get to the trailhead, where Crested Butte is in Colorado, trail information, and what to expect. Sickk lets get into it.

Where is Crested Butte and how to get to the trailhead

Crested Butte is actually really close to the town of Aspen (Even though there is no actual road to Aspen) and will be west of Denver (Around a 4 hour drive). To access the trailhead you’ll want to take Gothic Road up past Mount Crested Butte where the ski resort is, but keep driving until you see parking. There will also be signage, as you drive along Gothic road. To park, there will be a couple free day lots and parking along the road too.

Best time to Hike and Trail Stats

Late May through early October, weather depending. In the summer the best time to hike it would be mid June through Mid July because of the wildflowers. I hiked it right after the fourth of July and there were fields of wildflowers. Pretty amazing to be honest. The fall would also be a great time because of the colors from the Aspen leaves.

The best time of day is either early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and grab parking. Since the hike is longer, give yourself at least 4 hours if you plan on hiking the whole trail.

Type: Out and Back with a Loop

Distance: 5.8 Miles

Elevation gain: 1,594 Feet

Dogs allowed: Yes, but on a leash

Does the trail have a lot of Wildflowers

Yep, this trail is covered in Wildflowers from June through July, with Peak season being early-Mid July. I saw a lot of Arrowleaf Balsomroot (Yellow) and Silvery Lupine (purple)

What is the trail like

The cool thing about this trail is you don’t even have to hike it all the way for the best views. The best views are less then halfway through the hike as you make your way towards the top. Actually the top of the hiking trail has no views at all.

The trail begins and ends with a 360 scenic lookout of the town, Mount Crested Butte, and surrounding peaks such as Mt. Emmons and Teocalli Mountain. You’ll also notice horses off in the distance from the Horse Ranch down the road. The beginning part is where you will see the majority of the wildflowers.

Eventually there will be an area where the trail will start to Loop. I stayed to the right on Snodgrass Mountain Road then looped back around on Snodgrass Trail 590 on the way down. Hiking the road will take you through a wooded area of Aspen Trees until you reach the part of the trail that overlooks the ski resort and Mount Crested Butte.

Don’t feel like hiking the whole trail? Hike only to the area that overlooks Mount Crested Butte before turning around. I recommend not taking the road, but taking the actual trail if you plan on only hiking part way . If you keep going you’ll be walking through the woods with no views other then the surrounding pine trees.

The top of Snodgrass mountain will be a dead end at 11,142 feet. It’s probably one of the only hikes I’ve ever done without any views at the very top of the trail! No stress, the decent is pretty cool if you can time it for golden hour (evening).

On the way down stay to the right on trail 590 and you kind of walk through a field at one point of more wildflowers.

If you hiked this in the afternoon or evening, stay for sunset at the end of the trail and you won’t regret it!

What to pack

• Hiking Boots- Shop at your local outdoor store or REI to try the boots on in person. Every hiking boot will fit differently, therefore it’s important to see which pair will be the best for your feet.

• Rain Jacket- Afternoon Storms do pop up, so gotta be prepared

• Hiking Socks- Stay away from cotton. I like Smartwool.

• Hiking Apparel- Lightweight, breathable, and moisture wicking are what you want with outdoor clothing. Patagonia & Fjallraven make great outdoor clothing.

• Sunscreen and Bug spray- In the summer there will be mosquitoes as you hike, keep a bottle of bug spray on you!

• Extra Water- Pack a waterbottle! Hydroflask make some of the best water bottles as the bottle will keep water cold for up to 12 hours.

Looking for other outdoor activities in Colorado? Check out Buena Vista. It’s one of the coolest parts of Colorado and definitely worth spending 3-4 days exploring!