It is no secret that Colorado is chock-full of beautiful and exciting small towns, but a beautiful and exciting small town that actually specializes in hikes? That can only be found in this Colorado town that is a true hiker’s paradise:
Tucked away in the scenic Rocky Mountains is the charming community of Crested Butte; a quintessential Colorado ski town that features more than just the popular slopes.
Flickr/Brian Wright Crested Butte also offers stellar shopping, dining, and intriguing historical sites in the colorful downtown area.
It’s an outdoor lover’s dream come true, with camping, sightseeing, and a whole lot more!
Flickr/joãokẽdal But let’s talk about the trails…
Crested Butte is the perfect blend of tall peaks and lush valleys, with beautiful vistas everywhere you look. The cliff-side trails are some of the most scenic in the state!
Flickr/Zach Dischner
Nicknamed the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado,” the Crested Butte area is particularly beautiful in spring when the hillsides turn into a vibrant quilt of blooming wildflowers.
meltedplastic/Flickr
For an easygoing hike, check out Emerald Lake.
djvass/Flickr You can drive right up within a mile of the lake, so it’s just a quick 0.75-mile jaunt along this path that has blooming wildflowers along the way and a gorgeous mountain lake at the end.
The Three Lakes Loop is a another great, easy way to explore the lakes of East Beckwith Mountain.
Brendan Bombaci/Flickr Lost Lake (pictured above) is definitely a highlight of this 2.8-mile trail, but you’ll also discover a lovely tumbling waterfall and, if you time it right, vibrant aspens igniting the trail around you.
For a moderate-level hike, head for Rustler Gulch.
Brendan Bombaci/Flickr If you hit the trail at just the right time (late July to early August) you’ll be treated to beautiful mountain views and an endless field of wildflowers. The round-trip length of this trail is about 7 miles, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore and stop to smell the flowers!
Gothic Mountain is certainly a sight to behold, and there are two different trails that offer either an easy or hard way to see it.
Viv Lynch/Flickr The easy route, which starts from Route 403 and travels to a viewpoint area, is only 2.7 miles long. If you’re up for a challenge, take on the strenuous climb to the top - which is 6.4 miles of steep elevation gain.
The panoramic view of the peaks from the top of Gothic Mountain is worth it, but this trail is definitely meant for experts.
Flickr/Viv Lynch
The trail up to the Anthracite Mesa Summit via Washington Gulch is short, but strenuous.
Larry Goodwin/Flickr The trail itself is only a mile long, but it’s a steep one! The views from the top are hard to beat.
Whether you enjoy something short and sweet or long and butt-busting, you are sure to find it on one of the area’s three dozen trails.
Daniel Hoherd/Flickr
It’s hard to deny the natural beauty surrounding Crested Butte, so it only makes sense that this place would be a hiking mecca! For more information about the trails mentioned above, as well as dozens of others to explore, you’ll find all the information you need on the Travel Crested Butte website.
Flickr/Brian Wright
Crested Butte also offers stellar shopping, dining, and intriguing historical sites in the colorful downtown area.
Flickr/joãokẽdal
But let’s talk about the trails…
Flickr/Zach Dischner
meltedplastic/Flickr
djvass/Flickr
You can drive right up within a mile of the lake, so it’s just a quick 0.75-mile jaunt along this path that has blooming wildflowers along the way and a gorgeous mountain lake at the end.
Brendan Bombaci/Flickr
Lost Lake (pictured above) is definitely a highlight of this 2.8-mile trail, but you’ll also discover a lovely tumbling waterfall and, if you time it right, vibrant aspens igniting the trail around you.
If you hit the trail at just the right time (late July to early August) you’ll be treated to beautiful mountain views and an endless field of wildflowers. The round-trip length of this trail is about 7 miles, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore and stop to smell the flowers!
Viv Lynch/Flickr
The easy route, which starts from Route 403 and travels to a viewpoint area, is only 2.7 miles long. If you’re up for a challenge, take on the strenuous climb to the top - which is 6.4 miles of steep elevation gain.
Flickr/Viv Lynch
Larry Goodwin/Flickr
The trail itself is only a mile long, but it’s a steep one! The views from the top are hard to beat.
Daniel Hoherd/Flickr
For even more hiking fun, check out these 11 Incredible Hikes Under 5 Miles Everyone In Colorado Should Take.
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