Merry Christmas from Crested Butte Mountain Resort, where holiday cheer meets high-alpine adventure! Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, offering 1,547 acres of varied terrain.
Wind
Humidity
Despite a relatively thin snowpack of 11 inches—56% below average—conditions remain rideable thanks to recent grooming efforts and strategic trail management. Overnight temps hovered around a mild 34°F, preserving the existing base. While no major snowfall graced the resort in the past 24 hours, the skies are gearing up again: 0.48 inches of new snow is expected today, with a promising 2.34 inches over the next 72 hours and up to 3 inches in the 5-day forecast. With all lifts running and nearly every terrain zone open—including the coveted Phoenix and Spellbound Bowls—there’s still plenty of terrain to explore for skiers and riders of all levels.
In exciting news, the Paradise Express Lift is fully operational, expanding access to some of Crested Butte’s most iconic runs just in time for the holidays. The resort is also celebrating the 50th Annual Al Johnson Memorial Telemark Race, adding festive flair and a nod to local tradition. While the snowpack is lean, the stoke remains high as powder looms on the forecast and lift lines stay manageable. Keep an eye on the skies—another storm cycle could bring fresh turns before the weekend.
Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) shows how much water the snow holds. This is ideal for year-to-year tracking of real snowfall and water resources. Measurements from Butte.
Snowpack depth measures how much snow has accumulated in the area. This is a key indicator of powder quality, trail coverage, and how epic your runs are going to be this season at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
Recent air temperature fluctuations at Crested Butte Mountain Resort impact snow quality and stability, from powder to slush.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado is situated in the Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains. The resort itself is located on the slopes of Crested Butte Mountain, which is part of the Elk Mountains. The highest peak in the Elk Mountains is Maroon Peak, which stands at 14,156 feet.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers a variety of terrain for skiers and snowboarders, including steep chutes, groomed runs, and backcountry access. The resort is known for its challenging terrain and abundance of expert runs, making it a popular destination for advanced skiers and riders.
The resort's best trails include the expert-level Headwall and The High Lift, as well as the intermediate-level Painter Boy and Keystone. A little-known fact about the resort is that it was one of the first ski resorts in the country to allow snowboarding. For beginners, the resort offers the friendly and easy-going trails of the Red Lady and Lower Keystone. The best apres ski bar is the Avalanche Bar and Grill, which offers live music and a cozy atmosphere to relax after a long day on the slopes.
Night Skiing | No |
Lift Count | 16 Lifts |
Hourly Lift Capacity | 19850 per hour |
Base Elevation | 2857 Meters |
Terrain Park | Yes |
Acreage | 1167 Acres |
Established | 1963 |
Run Count | 121 Trails |
The ski area received 0" of new snowfall since yesterday.
Weather today, snow showers, mainly before 4pm. some thunder is also possible. high near 34. west southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. chance of precipitation is 80%. new snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is expected to receive up to 3.45" of new snowfall in the next 5 days.
Colorado ski resorts can expect a mix of calm and accumulating snow over the next five days. The heaviest snow is projected in the southern San Juan Mountains and the northwest. Wolf Creek Ski Area, near the Wolf Creek Summit sensor, leads with 12 inches forecasted, along with nearby Upper San Juan and Cumbres Trestle. Telluride should also benefit from ... Read more