Crested Butte is our favorite mountain town and we are so excited to share this special place with y’all.
These are all of our favorite places in Crested Butte, from spots to eat or grab a drink, to hikes and sites.
Hungry?
Breakfast
The best breakfast you will find is Butte Bagel down in town. Be warned that if you show up after 8am you might have a line out the door. Gas Cafe One Stop also has some great breakfast sandwiches.
Rumors Coffee and Tea House (attached to a bookshop) and Camp 4 Coffee are great places to get your caffeine fix.
Lunch
CB Burger Company, on the mountain, is quick, easy, inexpensive and absolutely delicious. Jose’s has some solid snacks but Texans be wary since y’all are accustomed to better TexMex options back home.
If you’re in town, we recommend Frank’s Deli for a quick to-go sandwich, The Hideout for heavier sandwiches and salads, and Secret Stash for Pizza.
Dinner
When in town we usually eat at the Breadery, Izakaya Cabin, Secret Stash, or Slogars for dinner.
Slogars is southern food that is served family style. The best thing on the menu is fried chicken. Pro tip is to either get a reservation in advance or sit at the bar if you are unable to secure a reservation in time because they do fill up.
Secret Stash is on our list for lunch and dinner. Their pizza and vibes are on the more casual side but food is very delicious.
Breadry is a more farm to table, American, sharable restaurant. You might want to book a reservation via Tock if you want to eat here as they are popular. Don’t skip starting with their homemade bread and flavored butters. They also have yummy craft cocktails to enjoy with dinner.
Izakaya Cabin somehow has some of the best sushi in Colorado. We’ve been told it’s the same supply flight as Aspen and they have fresh fish delivered daily. They are a little pricey but have a solid happy hour that starts at 4 with food and drinks.
Drinks
Jose’s patio is the best place on the mountain to grab a beer and have a great view. It’s also a part of Elevation which is where the Hotel block is, so very convenient for those taking advantage of that.
In town there are a lot of options. If you’re looking for craft cocktails, Dogwood and Breadery are both great. For daytime patio drinks, Eldo’s, The Hideout, Secret Stash and Bruhaus are where you want to be. If you are trying to go where the locals go after dark, Kochevar’s and Talk Of The Town are top of our list.
Wanna hike?
No car? No Problem.
Crested Butte has a ton to offer. We recommend starting in the morning and being down by noon if going above tree line. AllTrails and COTrex are good apps to use for hiking and planning.
Hikes that start in town
Woods Walk is an easy 2.9 miles roundtrip walk that is mostly flat.
Green Lake Trail is a moderate 9.5 miles roundtrip hike with 1.9k feet in elevation gain to a gorgeous green lake. Lots of wildflowers and pretty views.
If on the Mountain, we recommend getting a summer lift ticket. From the top of Silverqueen lift you have the following options:
Climb Mt. Crested Butte- 1.3 miles one way with 667 ft of gain. The top portion of this hike is a bit rocky and requires scrambling. We do not recommend starting this hike after 10am.
Hike to the Scenic View that is halfway to the peak- if you are not sure if you want to do the full Mt. Crested Butte Peak hike, there is a scenic viewpoint halfway to the peak before the scramble section. A great place to regroup and decide if you want to push on.
Hike from top of Silverqueen lift to the top of Red Lady Lift- 2.6 miles and 1135 ft of downhill. This highlights wildflowers and has great views of the valley. This is a mellow option with amazing views.
Hike top of Silverqueen lift to the base- 4.9 miles and 2070 feet of decent. This hike has the same wildflowers and views as if you went to the top of Red Lady but continues down the mountain.
Got Wheels?
If you have access to a car and want to venture out further…
Judd Falls is about 10-15 minutes north of the mountain near Gothic. This is a pretty waterfall hike that is 2.2 miles roundtrip and 500 ft of gain. The drive to get there is very scenic as well.
Snodgrass Mountain Trail is a 5.8 mile hike roundtrip with 1600 ft of gain and is probably 5 minutes up the road from town. This hike has great views of Mt. Crested Butte and even the wedding venue.
Other things to do?
There’s a lot of cute shops around town on Elk Ave.
Hailey’s favorite’s are Casa Bella and Favor the Kind. There’s also a really cute Christmas shop across the alley from Izakaya Cabin.
Find a lake.
If you have a vehicle, Lake Irwin and Emerald Lake are both beautiful lakes. You can rent a paddleboard in town through Wheelies and Waves if you want to get out on the water.
4X4
4X4 rentals and drives are also a thing in Colorado. Schofield Pass is very scenic and Pearl Pass will take you to Aspen. The 4X4 rental companies will have more suggestions if this is something you want to do.
Other scenic drives that don't require 4WD include Kebler Pass and Gothic Road.
