About Crested Butte

Crested Butte, a silver then coal mining town turned ski town, sits nestled alone against the south side of Colorado's magnificent Elk Ridge, and is surrounded by the finest swath of high mountain backcountry in the continental United States.  From the high mountain character to the east at the Elk Ridge, through the elegant 13,000+ foot peaks immediately surrounding the town, to the lower, aspen covered laccoliths to the west, Crested Butte is home to a mind bending range of exquisite landscapes.  To this Shangri-La -like setting, add the most interesting (and wildest) ski area in Colorado, a colorful town core of original mining architecture, and the funky, expressive community of mountain flotsam living and playing here. In total, Crested Butte is the essential Colorado mountain town.

While most people meet Crested Butte while skiing in the winter, those of us who live here most look forward to the summers.  Wildflowers abound, in fields swept clear of trees by avalanches.  Aspens also thrive here; the largest aspen stands in the world begin close to town.  In the summer, seemingly countless pristine mountain valleys open up to hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, 4wd travel and horseback riding. Folks fish, golf, photograph, hang glide, fly, balloon, climb, kayak, raft, bird watch, marmot stare and ski here in the summer.

This summer, in mid-July, fifty professional plein air painters will come to to this place to roam and paint for eight days.  All of the paintings produced by all of those artists will be for sale beginning at 5pm on Friday, July 16th, at the Oh-Be-Joyful Gallery.

If you would like to join us for this significant celebration of landscape painting, but haven't been to Crested Butte before, check the links below to find out how to visit Crested Butte efficiently and enjoyably.

Lodging and Camping
Things to Do in Crested Butte
Restaurants, Retail and Other Businesses (coming soon!)
Area Map
Photo Gallery (coming soon!)