Off the Slopes

Crested Butte's rugged terrain beckons to those with an appetite for challenge, and its restaurants are ready to sate your palate even when you're not on the slopes. Dine with Views of the Butte, Celebrate Happy Hour, Listen to live music, and warm up with a bowl of hot soup or an order of their nachos. Hand-tossed pizzas is always a favoriteat great Après spots, and in the mornings, you’ll find a hot breakfast and espresso.

Explore Elk Ave.

No visit to Crested Butte Mountain Resort is complete without checking out the Town of Crested Butte. Located approximately two miles from the resort, Elk Avenue is filled with great bars and restaurants, museums and art galleries, local boutiques, coffee shops and more. The downtown strip is lined with vibrant buildings that are as colorful as the people inside them, inviting visitors to experience the magic that this true ski town has to offer. Free bus systems operate regularly throughout the winter to take guests from Mt. Crested Butte to the Town of Crested Butte, providing easy access from the mountain to town.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

If you want to stay active and enjoy the snowy landscape, there are many options to explore Gunnison National Forest's scenic beauty surrounding CB. Check these out.

Crested Butte Dog Sledding

Explore the serene beauty of this historic town when you find things to do in Crested Butte in winter near the resort. Delve deep into the heart of Gunnison National Forest with a Dog Sled Tour. Learn to guide a team of four to five experienced huskies on a 40 to 60-minute tour. If you have more time, the full-day tour takes you to 11,000 feet in the forest, includes lunch, and returns between 3 and 4 p.m. in time for apres-ski.

Winter Hikes in Crested Butte

You might find that one of your favorite things to do in Crested Butte in winter is taking a snowshoe tour. Get an early start or linger between the sheets, and head for a noon tour. Be sure to bring plenty of snacks along to refuel your body. Don't worry, though. Each tour is geared toward your activity level.

Ride a Sled

Head to Ace Hardware on 6th Street and select a sled or tube, one of the best local things to do in Crested Butte in winter. Then venture to one of CB's snow hills and spend the day sliding and giggling your way down a snowy hill. The Snodgrass Trailhead offers the longest and tallest sliding hill around CB, but there are suitable slopes at Crested Butte Community School and the hill on Pyramid Avenue.

Snowmobiling in Crested Butte

There are many fun things to do in Crested Butte in winter. Take a guided snowmobile tour or rent one and explore on your own. More than 90 percent of visitors prefer a guided tour to find those secret stashes of powder for snow play, get pointers on riding better for more enjoyment, and discover the fastest, most adventurous trails for their riding ability. Choose from guided tours on groomed forest service roads or twisting mountain trails.

Crested Butte Sleigh Rides

Truly find out what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh when you book a 30-minute sleigh ride. This is one of the many fun things to do in Crested Butte in winter. Share the ride with up to three other people and listen to your host fill you in on local lore and fascinating facts. Or head into Gunnison National Forest on horseback on a two-hour horseback ride.