CRESTED BUTTE

Ski & Snowboard Resort Review

The old western style, family friendly resort of Crested Butte, CO , USA, has more steep, challenging and extreme double black diamond runs than any other resort in Colorado.

Extreme Limits Terrain at Crested Butte

The 'Extreme Limits' terrain area is spread accross 550 acres of ungroomed back country style, powder filled, steep, narrow chutes, gullies, cliff drops and tight trees. This is where the US Extreme Freeskiing Championships are held each year. Snowboarders are now allowed to compete in the 'Exteme Limits' Competition and are attracted by the promise of deep powder.

Crested Butte ski & snowboard powder

Crested Butte Mountain Resort / Tom Stillo

Advanced Skiing and Snowboarding

For steep mogul runs Crystal and Twister runs, located under the Twister Chairlift, are the places to go. While the long groomed 2.6 mile Treasury Trail is fantastic for a warm up run in the mornings before heading off piste.

Intermediate Skiing and Snowboarding

Intermediate skiers and snowboarders should not be concerned with all the extreme terrain at Crested Butte, there are more than enough wide open uncrowded corduroy groomed trails to go round, the fast tree lined trails of the East River area being a particular intermediate favorite. In the 2006/2007 winter season the East River lift was replaced with a high speed quad chairlift. The new chairlift cuts the waiting time in half for skiers and snowboarders.

Beginner Skiing and Snowboarding

The Red Lady Express Chairlift only has easy beginner trails leading back down to the base village and is a great spot for beginners to gain confidence.

The award winning CB Mountain School have instructors catering for all levels from absolute beginners to those just wanting to touch up on their powder turns.

Crested Butte Terrain Park and Pipe

There is one superpipe at Crested Butte, the 400 foot long DC Superpipe and 3 terrain parks. The advanced terrain park, the DC Terrain Park, tests skiers and riders ability with some awesome jibs, jumps and bumps while the Keystone Jib Park and the Painter Boy Terrain Park are more for learning on and fine tuning your skills before you move to the harder park.

Crested Butte Mountain Guides

Crested Butte Mountain Guides are available for back country skiing and snowboarding powder tours into the Elk Mountains. Tours are offered for individuals or groups and can last for 1 day, multi days or even overnight tours where guests stay in warm alpine huts. Crested Butte Mountain Guides also offer avalanche training, ice climbing and guide training courses.

Other Activities at Crested Butte

Off the skis and snowboard snow tubing is available, dog sleigh rides, horse riding and snowshoeing tours.

Crested Butte Village Nightlife

The Atmosphere Bar in the Elevation Hotel is busy from 3pm onwards with après ski, signature cocktails and live bands, Butte 66 BBQ Roadhouse is the most popular après ski bar with famous BBQ ribs with 3 speciality sauces and an enormous slope side deck with awesome mountain views.

For those who just don't want to stop skiing or snowboarding do the Last Tracks Dinner at The Ice Bar & restaurant. Catch the Red Lady Express Chairlift then ski or snowboard to the Ice Bar & Restaurant for a gourmet dinner where afterwards you can ski, snowboard or snowshoe back to the village in a torchlight procession, certainly an evening to remember.

Restaurants at the Town of Crested Butte

While the Mt Crested Butte Village has some lovely restaurants the majority are located in the historic mining town of Crested Butte, just 3 miles down the road.

Indian, Thai, Italian, Mexican and seafood restaurants are just some of the cuisines available. The Secret Stash restaurant should not be missed, it's funky and attracts the 'cool crowd', set in a 100 year old miners cabin with pizzas hand made from scratch and a full service bar offering every drink imaginable!

Crested Butte Nightlife in the Town

After dinner the Princess Wine Bar has award wining wines and single malt scotched and a relaxed atmosphere while those looking for a 'big' night head to the 'number 1' nightspot, Talk of the Town.

Free shuttle buses link Mt Crested Butte Village to the Town of Crested Butte and operate consistently during the day and into the evenings.

New for 2007/2008 at Crested Butte

Recent new ownership means a big facelift for the mountain and resort over the next couple of years.

Over the summer months brush cutting was performed on all of the Crested Butte trails and this winter season will see improved snowmaking facilities and upgrades to grooming snowcats making skiing and snowboarding on perfect groomed corduroy trails all the more enjoyable!

The Lodge at Mountaineer Square and the Mountaineer Conference Centre will open for the 2007/2008 winter season. The ski in ski out luxury lodge and conference centre is part of Crested Butte's grand $200 million planned base Mountaineer Square village construction.

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Crested Butte accommodation

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Your Crested Butte Ski & Snowboard Resort Reviews

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A.Timms, New York. March 2006 Having vacationed in many Colorado resorts over the years I would have to surmise that Crested Butte is one of the best in the state. Yes, it is isolated however (fortunately) the friendly town is not overly commercialized and still has many family run businesses. On the mountain it is essential that advanced skiers hire a guide a really explore the Phoenix Bowl area, it is like helicopter skiing at only 1/4 of the price! In a nutshell the higher you go up the mountain the more extreme and challenging the trails become. I was fortunate enough to witness a a group of expert skiers descending from the summit down the 'Peak', I've never been more terrified! We stay at the Plaza Condos and love to dine out at least once during the vacation at Le Bosquet Restaurant.

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