Crested Butte

High-alpine singletrack and a lift-served bike park.

Wildflower meadows, aspen forests and high passes, with classics like the 401 and Snodgrass a short drive from the old mining town. The Gunnison Valley holds more than 800 miles of singletrack, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort adds 30-plus miles of lift-served trails off the Red Lady Express. Best for strong riders who like altitude, with easier town loops for everyone else.

At a glance

Valley singletrack

800+ mi

Bike park

30+ mi lift-served

Bike lift

Red Lady Express

Bike park dates

Mid-June to late Sept (2026)

Classic ride

The 401

Good for

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert

What’s here

• Lift-served
• Downhill
• Flow trails
• Jump lines
• Cross-country
• Enduro
• Bike rentals
• Races and festivals

Rentals, guides and shops

• The Alpineer (Christy Sports)

  Bike rentals in town alongside its ski shop.

• Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven

  Bike shop in Crested Butte.

• Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association

  The local trail builders; trail conditions and trail info.

Events

“Usually” means the date follows past years. Confirm before you go.

• RaceSun Sept 5, 2027

  Grand Traverse Bike

  A 40-mile point-to-point mountain bike race over the Elk Mountains from Crested Butte to Aspen.

Where to stay

• slopesideElevation Hotel & Spa

  Big hotel at the resort base, steps from the Red Lady Express.

  At the bike park
• innOld Town Inn

  Good-value inn in town with a big continental breakfast.

  In town
• b&bNordic Inn

  Family-run inn near the base with continental breakfast and a hot tub.

  Mt. Crested Butte
• b&bElk Mountain Lodge

  Historic inn a block off Elk Avenue with a full breakfast.

  In town

Nearby

• Hartman Rocks · 40 min drive

  Rocky, technical high-desert riding near Gunnison, from the beginner Sea of Sage to expert Freefall.

• Montanya Distillers · In town

  Craft rum distillery with a cocktail bar on Elk Avenue.

• Secret Stash · In town

  Pizza and wings, a perennial local favorite.

Getting there

• Gunnison–Crested Butte Regional (GUC) · about 40 min drive
• Denver · about 4.5 hr

Directions in Google Maps