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Crested Butte Travel Guide

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Crested Butte Travel Guide

Thank you for visiting the Gunnison Valley for the 2025 IFSA ski and snowboard competitions! Use this guide to plan transportation to Crested Butte and find lodging for your trip. We’ve also included ski area beta, the best bang-for-your-buck restaurants and more insider tips to make the most of your visit. Have fun, and good luck in your comp!

Trip planning

 

Lodging guides

 

Traveling to and around the Gunnison Valley

 

Ways to get here

  • Fly to Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport
    • Airport shuttles are available
  • Drive (~4 hours from Denver)
  • Take the Bustang regional bus service
  • Find info on flights, driving directions, airport shuttles and the Bustang in our getting here guide

How to get around while you’re here

  • The Gunnison RTA bus stops in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the ski area
  • The Mountain Express bus runs between downtown Crested Butte and the ski area
  • Ski gear is allowed on the buses, but luggage is not
  • Find bus schedules and more info in our Gunnison Valley public transportation guide

 

Skiing and other activities

 

Crested Butte downhill skiing beta

  • Find info about every lift and zone on the resort, including descriptions of nearly every run, in our Crested Butte Mountain Resort skiing guide
  • It’s highly recommended to pick up a paper map of Crested Butte’s extreme terrain when you arrive to help you get a feel for the extremes and plan your lines. Maps are available for sale at gear shops around the resort and in town. They’re not available online. 

Ski and boot repair

  • Boot issues? Call or text RB at Real Balance in Gunnison, (970) 349-8349. He’s a Zipfit dealer and boot wizard. The folks at Christy Sports in the resort base area are also reliable.
  • For ski tunes and repairs, head to Crested Butte Sports, Christy Sports or the Crested Butte Rental and Demo Center, all located in or near the base area.

Other things to do

 

Affordable restaurants for hungry skiers and riders

 

Gunnison

Crested Butte

Mt. Crested Butte

 

Best (free) slopeside hangout spot 

  • Free wifi and immaculate vibes in the Matchstick Lounge inside Elevation Hotel (it’s free and open to the public)