Late March and early April often deliver some of the year’s best skiing and snowboarding, with a deep and established snowpack combining with warming temperatures and bluebird skies to make for memorable days on the slopes.
Then right around when Crested Butte Mountain Resort closes, the cycling season kicks off, with gravel, road and mountain-biking options all surging to life. It’s a similar story for local fishing and boating seasons, with the area’s exhilarating whitewater usually reaching peak flows in early June.
And no matter when you come, the Gunnison Valley has plenty of great lodging, food and drink options to choose from. Here are a dozen items for your to-do list during your next trip to the Gunnison Valley in spring.
1. Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding
With its warmer temps and bluebird days, early spring is arguably the best time of year for skiing and snowboarding at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR), which is part of the Epic Pass and features some of the most challenging expert terrain in the country. But don’t worry if hucking off cliffs or dropping into narrow, no-fall-zone chutes isn’t your happy place. CBMR also has plenty of family-friendly beginner and intermediate terrain, and all of it is typically well covered under a deep base of snow by the time spring breakers arrive. And if you happen to be here for closing weekend (around early April) get ready to party: The late-season calendar is always chock-full of fun events, including live music and the annual pond skim.
Key metrics of the resort include 1,547 skiable acres, 15 lifts (including four high-speed quads), 165 trails and an average annual snowfall of 236 inches. The base area sits at 9,375 feet, while the peak of Mount Crested Butte (which you can ski off) resides at a skyscraping 12,262 feet. CBMR is also home to the steepest cut run in North America (Rambo at 55 degrees) and has 561 acres of double-black diamond terrain on which you’ll find enough nooks and crannies to keep you entertained for weeks.
2. Nordic Skiing
Nordic (aka cross-country) skiing is an exciting early-spring activity that lets you venture into the outdoors and get an awesome workout in the process. The Crested Butte Nordic Center, which stays open until mid-April, features 55km (or about 35 miles) of groomed skate and classic trails offering some of the state’s best (and most scenic) cross-country skiing.
Terrain ranges from ever-rolling expert-rated trails to flat and mellow options perfect for even the most novice Nordic skiers. You can step into your skis right in town and within minutes be surrounded by stunning Rocky Mountain landscapes. Nordic skiing is also easy to learn and fun for all ages. You can even bring along the family dog on some Crested Butte Nordic Center trails. The center also offers equipment rentals, lessons and numerous events, including the Alley Loop race that attracts competitors from all over the country.
3. Backcountry Skiing
With its huge abundance of public lands, the greater Crested Butte area boasts some of the best backcountry skiing zones in the country. And spring, which often brings a more stable snowpack, is the perfect time to step out into this vast mountain playground.
Local backcountry terrain can be reached via skis or snowmobile. Options range from quick laps on mellow sub-30-degree slopes to the summits of towering technical peaks. Remember that any backcountry travel comes with inherent risks, so always carry the requisite safety gear and check the Crested Butte Avalanche Center’s daily forecast before venturing out.
4. Mountain Biking
Affectionately known as “Hartman Season” by the locals, spring is the ideal time to check out the expansive spiderweb of high-desert mountain-biking trails south of Gunnison. While the north valley riding around Crested Butte often doesn’t melt out until late May (or later), Hartman Rocks Recreation Area is good to go by mid-April. Here among the brilliant high-desert blooms, spiny granite rock formations and aromatic sage-covered hills you’ll find 40 miles of sublimely serpentine singletrack. Options run the gamut from beginner-friendly trails that are smooth, fast and flowy to expert-rated technical routes with a mix of stair-step chunk, steep rolls and tight slow-speed turns.
Learn more about Hartman Rocks mountain biking
Skilled riders will want to check out techy classics like The Ridge, Freefall, Tech Becks, Rattlesnake, Ring Dyke, V-Drop, Skull Pass and the Notch. Those newer to the sport should point their front wheels toward Sea of Sage, Broken Shovel, The Luge and Buddy Bear. If you’re looking for a serious aerobic challenge, download one of the recent Gunnison Growler GPX files then go ride the route of this annual Memorial Day-weekend event. Or better yet, sign up for the race, which serves as a fundraiser for the local trail advocacy organization, Gunnison Trails.
Explore more mountain-biking trails in Crested Butte
Along with amazing mountain biking, Hartman Rocks is also a superb rock-climbing locale. There are 50 first-come-first-served designated dispersed campsites scattered around the 14,000-acre swath of supremely scenic Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, where you can also ride motorbikes and hike.
5. Gravel & Road Cycling
While best known for its mountain biking, the road- and gravel-cycling crowds will also find plenty to do in the area, especially in spring when many of the mountain-bike trails haven’t melted out yet. Indeed, there are over 1,100 miles of bikeable National Forest Service roads in Gunnison County, plus hundreds more miles of BLM and county roads. Many of these options can be linked to create a huge variety of day loops or multi-day bikepacking adventures of nearly any length and difficulty level.
Some of the best gravel riding (especially in spring) is around the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area and surrounding hills south of Gunnison, which are crisscrossed with endless miles of quiet backcountry roads. When the snow melts out at higher elevations, there’s also sweet dirt-road riding around Pitkin, Tin Cup, Taylor Park and Ohio City.
Check out Tin Cup and Pitkin gravel cycling from a professional’s perspective
If you prefer pavement for your two-wheeled adventures, you can rack up road miles on Hwy. 135, Hwy. 50, Hwy. 114 and County Road 742, which wind through scenic Taylor Canyon and then up to the skyscraping Cottonwood Pass, elevation 12,126 feet.
For a truly unique adventure, sign up for the annual Cottonwood Classic. Held in late May, the fundraising event for the Gunnison Nordic Club sends riders up and down the pass before the road officially opens to cars after being closed for the winter season.
6. Boating
As spring snow melt ramps up, the area’s creeks, rivers, lakes and reservoirs rise, making for amazing boating opportunities. And while flow levels vary from year to year depending on seasonal snowpack and weather conditions, peak runoff typically occurs in early June. This is the most exciting time to kayak the area’s steep creeks, surf at the Gunnison County Whitewater Park, or raft the Class-III Upper Taylor River, which is served by a number of local outfitters that start running trips around Memorial Day.
For mellower floats, check out the Class-I and -II Lower Taylor section or run the Gunnison River between Almont and McCabe’s Landing, which offers several take-outs so you can tailor your trip length. If you prefer your boat with a motor, head to Taylor or Blue Mesa reservoirs, which are great places to fish or just relax and take in the surrounding scenery. Blue Mesa is also your best bet for tubing and water skiing.
7. Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Yet another way to enjoy Crested Butte's outdoors scene is from the deck of a stand-up paddleboard. Whether you’re seeking the peace and quiet of a tranquil alpine-lake float or want to try your hand at navigating faster river flows, the area has a host of scenic and fun-filled options. Blue Mesa Reservoir is the best early-season SUP destination thanks to its endless quiet coves, calm water and multiple put-in points.
More adventurous types will be drawn to the Slate, a winding river that flows right through the town of Crested Butte. Other SUP options include Long Lake, Taylor Reservoir and Lake Irwin once the access road is clear of snow and ice. If you don’t have your own gear, don’t fret: Local outfitters start offering rentals in mid-April, with guided tours kicking off at the end of May.
Find more lake activities in Crested Butte and Gunnison
8. Fishing
Between the Slate, East Taylor and Gunnison rivers, Blue Mesa and Taylor reservoirs, and hundreds of smaller lakes, streams and creeks, anglers have a wealth of options when it comes to casting for rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. In fact, the fishing is so good around here that in 2023 the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission designated the Taylor and Gunnison rivers as Gold Medal waters — a prestigious classification given only to the state’s most elite trout fisheries, where the local waterways provide long-lasting and healthy habitats for fish of all ages.
9. Shopping
When you’re done playing outside, make time for a little shopping. Both ends of the Gunnison Valley are great places to pick up a unique souvenir or that perfect gift. During a stroll down Crested Butte’s Elk Avenue or North Main Street in Gunnison you’ll find shops selling everything from T-shirts, books and postcards to fine art such as photographs, paintings and sculptures, much of it created locally in Gunnison County. Crested Butte and Gunnison also have numerous outdoor gear and apparel stores, just in case you’re in need of new ski equipment, fishing lures, bike parts or camping gear.
10. Food & Drink
Though small compared to the Colorado I-70 mega-resort towns, Crested Butte has plenty of top notch food and drink options to satisfy even the most discerning of palates. With options ranging from elegant fine dining and cultural cuisines to fast-casual pizza, local-brewery pub fare and burgers, you’ll never go hungry (or thirsty) here. Favorites include Bruhaus (Bavarian-inspired menu and an expansive beer list), Two Twelve (fine dining featuring live-fire cooking), McGill’s (breakfast, lunch, malts and shakes) and Mikey’s Pizza (counter-service pizza, pasta and sandwiches).
Just know that like most mountain-resort towns, some dining establishments take a short break or reduce hours between the busy winter and summer tourist seasons, so be sure to check before you go.
You’ll also find more great eating options in Gunnison. Locals love The Dive Pub (creative pub fare and craft beer), Pie-Zan’s Pizzeria (New York-style pizza), Backcountry Café (comfort-food breakfast and lunch) and Blackstock Bistro (upscale American cuisine).
Check out more restaurants in Crested Butte and Gunnison
11. Rest & Relax
Whether you’re looking for budget-friendly lodging or prefer swanky slopeside accommodations, the Gunnison Valley — including Mount Crested Butte, Crested Butte, Crested Butte South, Almont, Pitkin and Gunnison — has a wide variety of places to stay, including quaint inns, cozy bed-and-breakfasts, modern hotels, motels and all manner of vacation home rentals. Many of these properties are unique boutique lodges owned and operated by long-time residents, and some offer scrumptious homemade breakfasts or host lively evening happy hours.
12. Music, Museums & Events
While the Gunnison Valley’s specialty is outdoor recreation, there is also a thriving music and arts scene here. The Center for the Arts Crested Butte has a packed calendar of events that includes everything from live music and art exhibitions to ski films and wine tastings. Just up the street, kids can play at the Trailhead Children’s Museum, while history buffs will love the Crested Butte Museum, which is packed with old photos and unique artifacts documenting the community’s rich and interesting past. You can also catch live music at the Public House or take in a performance at the Crested Butte Mountain Theater.
Down the valley in Gunnison, don’t miss the expansive Pioneer Museum, which has more than 30 buildings and countless exhibits that tell the story of early-settler life in the region. Music fans should keep an eye on the iBar Ranch schedule. This outdoor music and events venue just east of Gunnison is a great place to catch a show. You’ll also find a host of films, art exhibits, classes and live performances at the Gunnison Arts Center.
Want More?
Explore things to do in Crested Butte and Gunnison in winter
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