CB Activities
WINTER SUMMER/FALL SHOPS ARTS PARKS ESSENTIALS SPAS/GYMS WELCOME iBOOK
Summer Tours & Rentals
Fly Fishing Float Trips on The Gunnison River:
*Gunnison River Guides - (970) 901-9489 For a fly fisherman’s paradise, a float trip with Gunnison River Guides an absolute must-do. I have been fishing with them for over 20 years, and these trips remain my favorite summer activity. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced angler, you will enjoy miles of pristine Rocky Mountain trout water from a custom drift boat or fully rigged raft. Their boats are designed for high-action adventure, featuring large casting decks, swivel seats, and lean bars for maximum comfort and performance. You’ll have the chance to fly fish private waters accessible only by boat or stop to walk-wade productive public stretches. They offer both fly fishing and catch-and-release lure trips with light tackle—ideal for landing beautiful Rainbow and Brown trout. Each boat accommodates two fishermen and one professional guide for a personalized experience. There is nothing quite like floating through this breathtaking scenery and catching wild trout; be sure to tell Jason and Joel that Jordon says hello!
Gunnison Fly Fishing Outfitters - (970) 707-4110 - These guys are also good friends of mine and will show you a great day on the river. Tell Dane that Jordon says hello.
*Rafting Trips - Class 2-3 rapids on the Upper and Lower Taylor River which is a blast for the kids and family. Grab lunch after your float at Three River’s Smokehouse! - (970) 641-1303 - Three Rivers Resort, 130 County Rd. 742, Almont CO 81210 - Three River Website to Book
*Horseback Riding - Our kids love riding horses at Harmels! We usually book the 2 hour ride and grab lunch at Harmels and sit on the patio on the river. Harmels Website to Book
*Golf - Skyland Country Club - The course is absolutely beautiful with mountain views in every direction! Call for tee-times. 385 Country Club Dr - (970) 349-8601 (There is also a public course in Gunnison called Dos Rios but Skyland is much nicer, closer, and has incredible mountain views!)
Mountain Bike and Townie Rentals - Renting townies and exploring every street downtown with a quick peddle out to Peanut Lake is a great way to spend a summer day.
Big Al’s Bike Shop - 207 Elk Ave - (970) 349-0515
Handlebar Bike Shop - 315 6th St - (970) 251-9169
4x4 Jeep rentals - Alpenglow Rentals - 630 Gothic Ave - (844) 968-7368
4 Wheeler and ATV Tours - Action Adventures ATV Tours & Rentals - (970) 349-5909
Paddle Board Rentals:
*Float Shack - Rent paddle boards here and they will also run shuttle for you if you want to float the slate river. Floating the slate is one of my favorite things to do! (970) 209-9747
CB SUP - Rent Paddle Boards in the summer and take them to Lake Irwin. 607 6th St - (970) 309-1491
Hiking:
*Summit Mount Crested Butte - To summit the iconic Mount Crested Butte, start by purchasing a lift pass at the base and riding the Silver Queen chairlift to the top. From the lift terminal, you will begin a moderate two-mile, two-hour round-trip hike to the 12,162-foot peak. While using the chairlift makes this one of the most accessible mountain summits in the area, the trail can be strenuous in sections, so be sure to pace yourself. The reward at the top is a spectacular panoramic view of the entire valley. For a fun group experience, if some of your party remains at the house, they can use the telescope to spot the hikers as they reach the summit. After you have enjoyed the views, simply hike back down and take the Silver Queen lift back to the base area. For more information click here.
*Hike to downtown Crested Butte from the house - The Green Lake Trail offers a moderate, three-mile round-trip hike directly from the front door of 2255 Wildcat to downtown Crested Butte. To find the trailhead, simply turn right out of the driveway and follow Wildcat Road until you see the Green Lake Trail sign on your right. The trek to town is a scenic, 1.5-mile downhill walk that takes about an hour. For an easier experience—especially when traveling with children—we recommend having one member of your group drive a shuttle car into town. This allows you to enjoy the downhill hike and a leisurely breakfast or lunch in town before catching a ride back, skipping the uphill return to the house.
Green Lake Trail - For a stunning alpine escape, the hike to Green Lake is a moderate six-mile round trip starting directly from the front door of 2255 Wildcat. To reach the trailhead, turn right out of the driveway and follow Wildcat Road past the first trail sign (which leads downhill to town). Continue until you reach the second Green Lake Trailhead sign on your left. This path leads you on a gradual uphill climb to the base of Mt. Axtell, where the pristine lake awaits. Because the house is located on Wildcat Road, you essentially skip the first half of the traditional trail from town, making this a much shorter and more accessible trek. The lake is home to beautiful cutthroat trout, so I highly recommend bringing a fly rod along. Click here for more info
Dark Canyon Trail / Horse Ranch Park - For a high-reward hike with minimal effort, the Dark Canyon Trail at Horse Ranch Park offers a spectacular four-mile round trip. To get there, take a scenic 12-mile drive from the house onto Kebler Pass to the Horse Ranch Park parking lot. Once on the trail, stay to the left; about two miles in, you will reach a rocky overlook that provides panoramic views of the valley. While a full 6.5-mile loop is available, this specific observation point is my favorite spot in the area—especially during the fall, when the changing aspens create a sea of vibrant gold. Google Maps directions to parking lot
*Scarp Ridge - For a truly breathtaking experience, the Scarp Ridge trail offers a moderate-to-challenging 4.6-mile round trip with some of the most incredible views in the valley. The trailhead is a scenic 25-minute drive from the house, located just above Lake Irwin. To begin, park on the public road before the historic Irwin Lodge, where the trailhead is clearly marked. While the 2.3-mile climb to the top is steady and uphill, the panoramic reward at the summit is well worth the effort—it remains one of my personal favorite spots in the entire Crested Butte area. More info on this hike can be found by clicking here. Google maps directions to the parking area Elevation Gain: 1,576 feet Max Elevation:12,216 feet
Short and Easy Hikes close to CB:
Woods Walk - very flat 2.9 miles round trip right next to downtown CB
Judd Falls - flat 2.2 miles round trip to a waterfall close to the Gothic townsite
Meridian Lake - a little uphill 2.4 miles round trip hike to a beautiful lake on Washington Gulch Road
Lower Loop Hike - mostly flat 6.4 miles round trip outside of CB past Peanut Lake
Hard/Long Hikes close to CB:
I have done all of these below hikes so I can give you tips on any of them if you’re interested - shoot Jordon a text or email for more info.
Summit Axtell after Green Lake trail - 12,055 ft
Summit Whetstone - 12,156 ft
Summit Teocalli - 13,208 ft
Summit Gothic - 12,625 ft
Summit Emmons - 12,392 ft.
Hike to Aspen from Crested Butte is also a great trip - It’s 11 miles and takes 6-10 hours depending on your fitness level and then you need to get back to Crested Butte. The options to get back to CB are to shuttle back or hike back the next day and there is also a company that will drive your car to Aspen for you so your vehicle is waiting for you in Aspen.
Mountain Bike Trails:
Super Easy - Rent bikes in town and ride out to Peanut Lake and around town. If you want a bigger day, take your bikes all the way out to “lower loop trail” past Peanut Lake.
Medium - Lupine Trail, Strand, Evolution Bike Park, Hartman Rocks in Gunnison
Difficult - *401 - most famous ride in CB, *Doctor’s Park, *Green Lake Trail (from the house), Evolution Bike Park, Teocalli Ridge, 403, Dyke Trail, Hartman Rocks in Gunnison, etc. Crested Butte is home to world class mountain biking. Chat with employees at a local bike shop for details about some of these rides if you are interested in them. I mountain bike from the house to Green Lake up Green Lake Trail quite a bit - it’s a great way to start the day with a short 6 mile ride to get the heart pumping without dealing with a vehicle/drive/running shuttle.
Sightseeing/Drives:
*Lake Irwin - This is one of my favorite places in the valley and is just a short 20-minute drive from the house. It is a spectacular setting for a mountain picnic or a day on the water. We recommend renting paddleboards from CB SUP in town to enjoy the lake, or bringing a fishing rod to catch small lake trout. For those who prefer a gentle walk, there is a flat 2.2-mile trail that circles the entire perimeter. If you are looking for a more adventurous day, the trailhead for the Scarp Ridge hike is only 10 minutes from the lake, making it easy to combine a morning summit with an afternoon on the water. Google Maps directions
Drive to Gothic Townsite - A scenic 45-minute drive from the house leads you to the historic Gothic Townsite, a former mining camp that now serves as the home of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. In the summertime, this is a fascinating place to visit to watch students and scientists studying the local ecosystem. We recommend stopping by the Gothic Visitor Center and grabbing a coffee at the adjacent cafe to soak in the views. If you are looking to stretch your legs, the hike to Judd Falls is just 0.7 miles past the townsite. This easy, three-mile round trip leads to a beautiful waterfall and is perfect for families; we have successfully navigated this trail while carrying infants and walking with three-year-olds. Combining the drive through Gothic with the hike to Judd Falls makes for a wonderful, low-stress day in Crested Butte. Google Maps directions
Drive to Taylor Reservoir - The drive to Taylor Reservoir is a stunning journey along the Taylor River and makes for a perfect day trip. From the house, it is a 41-mile drive that takes approximately one hour and 10 minutes. If you are an angler, be sure to bring your fly rod and stop at the famous "Catch and Release" section just below the Taylor Reservoir dam. For a scenic break along the way, we recommend stopping at Harmel’s—roughly the halfway point—to enjoy a drink on their deck overlooking the river. If you have extra time once you reach the reservoir, continue another 25 minutes to the historic town of Tincup to grab a burger at Frenchy’s. Taylor Reservoir Google Maps | Harmel’s Google Maps | Tin Cup Google Maps
Drive Ohio Pass - For a scenic alternative to Highway 135, we highly recommend driving Ohio Pass when traveling to or from Gunnison in the summertime. While this route takes about an hour—roughly 15 minutes longer than the main highway—the back-road views are well worth the extra time. Any vehicle with decent clearance will handle the pass comfortably. This drive is particularly spectacular in the autumn when the aspen groves turn to gold and offer stunning glimpses of "The Castles," a magnificent rock formation. If you want to stretch your legs along the way, stop on the backside of the pass for the Beaver Ponds trail, an easy 1.1-mile round-trip hike. Beaver Ponds Google Maps | Google Maps for Ohio Pass
Drive Kebler Pass aka Highway 12 - In the summertime, Kebler Pass serves as the scenic gateway to Aspen and Paonia. This route is world-renowned in the autumn for its massive aspen groves, which transform into a sea of vibrant gold. Along the way, we recommend stopping at Lake Irwin or hiking the Dark Canyon and Lost Lakes trails. If you venture into Paonia—the heart of Colorado’s wine country—be sure to visit the local wineries, Big B’s Orchard and Sweet Garden for breakfast. My dinner recommendation are Good Love or Flying Fork in Paonia. For those making the full journey toward Aspen, a stop in the small town of Marble is a must for a meal at Slow Groovin’ BBQ and a hike to the historic Crystal Mill.
National Parks - The Black Canyon National Park is a 1 hour 45 minute drive away towards Montrose. The Great Sand Dune National Park is a 3 hour drive away towards Alamosa. Rocky Mountain National Park is a 5 hour and 20 minute drive towards Estes Park. Mesa Verde National Park is a 4 hours and 30 minute drive towards Cortez.