Holly MandarichMay 14, 2020The OutboundComment

72 Hours in Crested Butte

Holly MandarichMay 14, 2020The OutboundComment

72 Hours in Crested Butte! Where to camp, what to hike and everything in between!

This article is published on The Outbound.

Below you’ll get a glimpse and itinerary of what our girl trip, weekend warrior getaway, to Crested Butte was like! You’ll find a recommended camping overview, along with my recommended hike! Each day, you’ll see a play by play of our experience. I documented this lil weekend getaway, so if you too, are in a pinch for time, can experience the beauty that we discovered!

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Recommenced Camping: There is a variety of camping in Crested Butte, we found our spot off of Slate River Rd. - Slate River Rd. goes back about 15 miles up to Paradise Divide, after the divide it starts to curve back down toward the town of Gothic. All along the way you’ll find camping off the side of the road whether you fancy primitive camping or uniformed camping (Oh Be Joyful). There are some truly EPIC campsites once you start the climb up Slate River Rd (Just about 10 miles back.) If you decided to venture up the pass, you will need a 4x4 vehicle, the first few miles of the road are drivable by 2 wheel. This truly is an epic drive, so be sure to take in the sights along the way to finding your campsite. *Be cautious there are signs as to where you are allowed to drive your car off the road. We learned the hard way on this one, with backcountry parking tickets ($200 each yikes)!*

Recommenced Hike: In our weekend getaway in CB, we ventured to explore the Blue Lake trailhead. Which just so happens to be located at Oh Be Joyful campground on Slate River Rd! (So you won’t have to venture far from your campsite.) To access the hike, you’ll need to be comfortable crossing the river, either by foot or with a trusty 4x4 vehicle. There is some parking before the river crossing, if you choose to wade by foot. Reference photos below for detail of the river crossing. Round trip the hike is about 15 miles (7ish, each way). The beginning of the hike has a climb 500 ft and then flattens out through some valleys before a final push of 1500 ft in the last 1.5 miles to high alpine lake!

Tip: Pick up a free map of the area in downtown Crested Butte on Elk St. The maps are everywhere - and you'll need one if you want to explore the fun 4x4 roads in the area. Also, ask the locals about 4x4 road conditions before venturing, they'll know better than the internet!

Day One: Town & Setup Camp

* Nowadays with the influx a people I recommend you head up and grab your campsite before wrapping up your day!*

If you arrive into town early, grab a pick me up and finish up your remote work at Octopus Coffee. The Coffee is delicious and the internet is fast!
Dinner at The Secret Stash, will leave you feeling full of happiness from a truly unique experience! The Pizza is a 9/10, the atmosphere is a 15/10, almost like a gypsy / India / 20’s / mystical vibe. Curtains, culture and good people!
A beer at The Eldo will have you soaking up all the good feels from the locals, in the event that there is a show, i'd recommend grabbing your campsite and coming back into town for the jams!
A run to the store and off to Slate River Rd. - not but 3.2 miles east on your way toward the ski resort.
Arrive at camp, and enjoy your night under the stars by campfire light!

Day Two: Hike

Wake up, hop in your adventure rig and head over to Oh Be Joyful campground
The Blue Lakes Trailhead is just across the river at the campground, you will see the sign! If you have a 4x4 vehicle - cross the river, (see photos for point of reference) if not, park in the campground and wade across!
Eat breakfast!

Begin the hike from the parking lot. You’ll start through a lighter almost gladed forest, not but couple hundred feet in - the trail turns right and you start to climb. Once you're out of the the forest - you'll follow the trail along a cliff / river edge, waterfalls will tower high above you in the distance coming down from the mountains and you'll pop in and out of trees for another mile or so - always be looking up! There will be a bit more of a climb and curve to the right, then you'll hit the wilderness sign. After here the trail starts to flatten out into the most MAJESTIC wildflower valley you've ever seen - this lasts for the majority of the hike (for about 3 or 4 miles). Again you’ll see waterfalls to your left the whole way, with mountains that look like nothing you've seen before. In the far distance you'll see a range, that's where you're headed. After waling through the flowers, you'll eventually hit a gate, I would suspect this gate is about halfway - just for purpose of mental noting. Continue on through the valley, until you hit the forest again - this is where you'll start to climb. Reaching a fork - you'll go left, into the basin where tree-line breaks, waterfalls all around, you'll see the waterfall coming from the mountain in the middle - straight in front of you, your lake is up there. Follow the trail through the bottom of the basin and then climb the switchbacks. You'll reach your lake in no time, the majority of the climb is here, but it's worth every step!

Take a dip in the lake - and eat your lunch!
Your hike out is all downhill, I'd estimate 2-3 hours to get back to the trailhead.
Head back to camp, eat and celebrate, revel in the joy and magic that the Butte provides!

Day Three: A fun Drive and coffee before you head out!

Wake up, pack up. Eat breakfast!
If you're not already camping at the top of Slate River Rd. near Paradise Divide, Hop in your 4x4 vehicle and head to the top! The views will not disappoint. We were here in mid July and the connecting road down to Gothic had been avalanched out, in the event you can make it to Gothic, take that way back into town!
After your Sunday drive adventure, grab a beverage at Camp for Coffee, it’s affordable and absolutely superb, then dink around town for a bit - before heading back to your place of origin.