Bluebird skies greeted early risers at Crested Butte Mountain Resort this December 16, 2025, with overnight temps holding steady at a crisp 26°F. Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, offering 1,547 acres of varied terrain.
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The mountain currently boasts an 11-inch snowpack—below average for this time of year—but a welcome refresh is on the horizon. Nearly 3 inches of fresh snow are forecasted to fall over the next 72 hours, with another 2 inches expected later in the five-day outlook. While coverage remains thin in some backcountry areas, trail crews have worked overtime to maintain the resort’s celebrated groomers and recently opened terrain, including new access to The Peak and Third Bowl.
Exciting updates round out the holiday buzz: Crested Butte is now fully integrated into Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass system, making it easier than ever for skiers to explore multiple destinations under one pass. Despite lighter snowfall to start the season, all lifts are spinning and all terrain is open—an achievement CB has accomplished only a handful of times. Ongoing lift maintenance negotiations have reached a tentative agreement, ensuring smooth operations through the winter rush. With festive activities underway and fresh flakes in the forecast, Crested Butte is primed for a spirited season ahead.
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, sunny, with a high near 34. north wind around 5 mph becoming south southwest in the morning.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is expected to receive up to 2.99" of new snowfall in the next 5 days.
Northern Colorado is currently seeing the heaviest snow activity. The Tower SNOTEL station near Steamboat Springs leads the state with a 5-day snow forecast of 7 inches and a robust 31" snowpack. Surrounding areas like Willow Park, Lake Irene, Joe Wright, and Long Draw Reservoir confirm 5–7" forecasted snowfall, indicating consistent storm activity. Closest resorts include Steamboat Resort and Howelsen ... Read more