It’s not a place where you end up by accident. Nor is it a place where you see an exit sign and spontaneously turn to check it out. Crested Butte is a destination in every sense of the word. And because it is a place where visitors intentionally (rather than randomly) go, there is a sense of community that is unmistakable.

Nestled in the Elk Mountain range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, Crested Butte may seem like a ‘you-can’t-get-there-from-here’ destination. Dense and breathtaking wilderness surrounds the area including 12,000 and 13,000-feet peaks. The quiet, quaint town is known as Colorado’s Last Great Ski Town, and true enough, the small community with the big mountain shines in winter. But, as much as skiers and snowboarders enjoy the steep slopes of a Crested Butte winter, it’s the summer scene that is risky (for your heart that is).

Fall in love with summertime in Crested Butte

The locals often say you’ll come for the winter but stay for the summer. I can explain. I visited Crested Butte in the winter of 2024. I enjoyed skiing and experiencing an all-day private ski lesson. There were soothing hot tubs at the end of the day and warm meals in the evenings. I took advantage of the free shuttle bus service that operates for the convenience of everyone who travels between Mt. Crested Butte and the small village of Crested Butte at the base of the mountain. I appreciated that it is a serious ski town – people are there to improve their skills on their boards of choice.

So, when I returned for a summer visit in July, I thought I knew what to expect. A ski resort in the summer would likely be fairly quiet with the town casually open for summer tourists. I expected to see some shops and restaurants with the proverbial “Closed for the Season,” signs in the windows. As I drove in from the town of Gunnison seeing mountain bikes attached to nearly every vehicle (including my own), I became immediately aware of the mountains with their sculpted-like cliffs, noble-looking boulders, and the backdrop of bright blue sky (which, with all the snow, was missing in the winter). Mother Nature’s award-winningest green was on display, and the range of color from every direction had me noticeably slowing down. More than once, I uttered out loud to myself, “Are you kidding me?” The undeniable, inescapable (and why would you want to?) beauty of the wildflowers rivaled anything I’ve ever seen. Acres of yellow turned into valleys of orange and red, there were purples and blue, and all of it was so stunning that, before arriving at the Lodge at Mountaineer Square, my heart had fallen hard and fast for this little slice of paradise.

The wildflower capital of Colorado

Weather depending, the optimal time to see the most wildflowers in bloom is between mid-July and mid-August. For someone who is well-traveled, I had seen mountain town wildflowers. I had attended other versions of wildflower festivals and acknowledged the beauty of flowers in bloom. I was not prepared for the grandiosity of wildflowers in bloom in Crested Butte, which is the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. Miles of color can be seen from the road, from hikes, from mountain bike trails. The blooms are everywhere – in town and on the highest peaks. For as serious as Crested Butte takes its skiing and boarding, they raise the bar with the wildflowers.

A Gothic ghost town

When you visit Crested Butte in the summer a must-see is the ghost town of Gothic. Located a few glorious and colorful miles north of Mt. Crested Butte, Gothic is home to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL). Welcoming one of the largest annual migrations of field biologists, RMBL, is home to research laboratories and protected research sites to help preserve the local ecosystems. If you were to do nothing more than take the short drive from Mt. Crested Butte to Gothic, your trip would be worthwhile. In that stretch where valleys meet mountains and rivers snake along both sides of the road, it would be the rare individual who didn’t stop at least once to take in the beauty and attempt to capture it with a camera.

Where to ride

RMBL offers tours, and wildflower history, and visitors can be directed to hikes, horseback rides, and mountain bike trails through stunning and sometimes shoulder-high wildflowers. Crested Butte is also recognized as the birthplace of mountain biking. It is where you’ll find 401, the quintessential singletrack mountain bike trail and one of the most famous in Colorado which, as one local explained, “means one of the most famous in the world.” The trail attracts intermediate-level mountain bikers who are seeking adventure and shoulder-high wildflowers in the Gothic Corridor.

Well-known for its mountain biking opportunities, Crested Butte has more than 750 miles of single-track trails that easily link to one another. The ski slopes at Mt. Crested Butte are an additional option for two-wheeled adventurers and ambitious hikers – there are also more relaxed options of taking in the scenery.

Purchase a lift ticket at the base of the slopes and depending upon your adrenaline of choice make your decision. Put your bike on the Red Lady Express lift and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ride miles of single-track trails. Hikers can take the Silver Queen Express lift to the top and hike the 1.5 miles to the summit (although this lift stops running at 2 p.m.). The trail to the summit is well-marked and steep enough that there are fixed ropes to help maneuver around boulders in one section. For those who simply want to ride up and back for the views – that is an option as well as riding up and hiking down through every color of wildflower.

Where to eat

In Crested Butte, the quest for snacks, meals, and libations isn’t difficult. At the base and slopeside of the mountain, there are an abundance of restaurants. Unlike what I expected – limited shops and restaurants open for the summer, the destination was not only blooming – it was also booming. Every shop and restaurant were open and thriving with a summer-like ease that winter can’t deliver. Shorts and sandals with a light jacket in the evening make it easy for alfresco dining.

At Mt. Crested Butte (the home of the ski slope) you’ll quickly find the popular Butte 66 open which is a great place to grab lunch or dinner and a drink while watching the moonrise. This is the place to be every Wednesday evening in the summer for the popular Music on the Mountain summer concert series.

There are many places to stay but for a convenient and cozy, home-away-from-home feeling, staying at Mt. Crested Butte is recommended. The Lodge at Mountaineer Square offers a steps-from-the-slopes location with an indoor-outdoor pool and hot tub for guests. The hotel has a protected parking garage making it easy for visitors to leave their mountain bikes on their vehicles.

From 8 a.m. to midnight, the Town Shuttle service stops in Mountaineer Square every 20 minutes making it easy to access the town of Crested Butte’s restaurants and shops. Because the popular town is small with limited parking, the shuttle service is an easy choice with multiple stops. It’s difficult to go wrong with a restaurant choice – the town’s food scene is thriving – however, a meal at the Breadery, that features local and regional foods, was one of the finest I’ve had. When you’re in Gothic, for a unique and seasonal treat, stop into the Coffee Lab and order a drink with wildflower essences.

Getting there

Driving from Texas is a popular choice – there were as many vehicles with Texas plates as Colorado. However, for those who don’t want to commit to a long drive from the Lone Star State, the nearby town of Gunnison has an airport with multiple flight choices. In Gunnison, visitors can rent a car or opt for the free shuttle bus.

Bottom line? If you’ve been to Crested Butte in the winter, you’ll likely fall in love with it in the summer. If you’ve not yet traveled to Crested Butte – it’s time to check it out – you’ll find there is something for everyone.

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Cover photo courtesy Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Haven Lindsey resides in Taos, NM. She is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience writing on topics including healthcare, well-being, public policy, education, travel, food and human-interest stories. She was recognized by NPR for her solo travel series exclusive to Texas Lifestyle Magazine. Haven’s second book, The Blue Dog and the White Horse ‘The Best of Friends’ will be released by Brandylane Publishing later this year.