Crested Butte, Colorado, is a quaint little mountain town located about 120 miles southwest of Denver. It’s known for its many outdoor activities, including hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, camping and skiing. I could go on forever about all the things you can do in Crested Butte, but for this post I’ll just focus on one: hiking.
With more than 700 miles of trails in the area, there are so many opportunities to explore the beautiful scenery of Crested Butte. Here are just a few of the best hikes that I’ve discovered.
Easy Hikes
Lower Loop Trail
7.2 miles | Easy | 452 ft. of elevation gain | Hike info
This trail is popular for hiking and biking. It’s a bit long at just over 7 miles, but since there isn’t much elevation change, it’s a pretty easy hike. The trail begins in downtown Crested Butte, so it’s very easy to access. It then takes you through wildflower meadows and aspen groves and travels along a river with beautiful views of the town’s namesake Mt. Crested Butte.
Judd Falls Trail
2.2 miles | Easy | 462 ft. of elevation gain | Hike info
Judd Falls Trail is a short, easy hike but it certainly doesn’t lack beauty. The highlight of the trail is Judd Falls, a beautiful waterfall that cascades down a rocky cliff face. The waterfall is especially beautiful during the spring and early summer when the snow is melting and thus the waterfall is more powerful.
Moderate Hikes
Dark Canyon, Irwin, and Dyke Trail Loop
5.9 miles | Moderate | 1,476 ft. of elevation gain | Hike info
This trail is a little bit of a drive (about 30 minutes) outside of the town of Crested Butte. The drives bring you towards Kebler Pass, which provides beautiful views before you even get to the trailhead. The hike itself is fairly short but does have some swings in elevation, so be prepared for a bit of a workout. This area and hike are especially beautiful during the fall when you can see all of the aspen trees changing colors!
The Copper Creek Trail to Copper Lake
12 miles | Moderate to Hard | 2,431 ft. of elevation gain | Hike info
This trail is also about 30 minutes outside of town, north of Mount Crested Butte. The hike is pretty long at 12 miles and has significant elevation gain, so it’s rated as a moderate to hard hike. It’s uphill pretty much the whole way there, so expect to be plenty tired once you reach Copper Lake. But there you are rewarded with amazing views of the lake and the surrounding mountains! Then the entire hike back is downhill, so a much easier return.
This hike also ends at the start of the East Maroon Trail, which connects to the Maroon Bells in Aspen. So if you want to do another 20 miles, that’s an option. 🙂
Hard Hikes
Oh-Be-Joyful Trail
13 miles | Hard | 2,148 ft. of elevation gain | Hike info
This trail takes you along the Oh-Be-Joyful Creek. It’s a bit of a challenge with the long mileage and significant elevation gain, but the views are worth it! The highlight of the trail is the waterfall at the end, which is especially beautiful during the spring and early summer when the snow is melting.
Though these are my favorite hikes in Crested Butte, it’s really hard to go wrong with any of the area’s options. There are so many beautiful trails, with sights of mountains, lakes, wildflowers and tons of Aspen trees!