crested butte

Location: 226 miles southwest of Denver on Colorado 135
Elevation: 8885,Population: 1529

Originally a mining camp town frequented by outlaws such as Butch Cassidy and Billy the Kid, Crested Butte now attracts bikers and skiers from all over the world. A model for cities nationwide, Crested Butte perfectly melds its rich heritage and charm with the latest and greatest in modern art and entertainment. On the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, Crested Butte's antique lamp-lit downtown is an eclectic mix of boldly painted faux-front buildings and miner's shacks. Visit the quaint shops and quirky eateries lining Elk Avenue on your way to the Center for the Arts and the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum. Or learn about fat-tire riding's single track history at the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame and Museum next door.

Three miles up the road waits Crested Butte ski area, 1,160 acres of prime downhill country, where every year brave souls launch themselves down chutes and off precipices during the U.S. Extreme Skiing and Snowboard Championships. Rest assured, there's plenty of moderate terrain too, and the Butte also offers splendid cross-country trails.

Every July, stop and smell the glacier lilies during the Wildflower Festival, or visit during Fat Tire Bike Week, a classic event held in the place where it all started.

Source: Colorado.com

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