Crested Butte Mountain Resort is looking at a mild start to the holiday week with overnight temperatures hovering around 36°F and a current snowpack of 11 inches—nearly 50% below average for this time of year. Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders, offering 1,547 acres of varied terrain.
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While the base is thin, all lifts are open across the mountain, a testament to the resort’s commitment to delivering full access early in the season. Conditions remain firm with machine-groomed runs dominating the terrain, and the legendary Extremes terrain is reported to be open, offering seasoned skiers a thrilling challenge.
Looking ahead, skiers can anticipate a much-needed refresh with 8 inches of snow projected over the next five days. While snowfall in the next 72 hours is minimal (under 1 inch), the forecast promises a more generous storm system rolling in by the weekend. Crested Butte is buzzing not just from the slopes—holiday festivities are in full swing, and non-stop flights are making travel easier than ever. However, the resort remains in the news spotlight following a major court ruling involving a past lift accident, prompting ongoing safety discussions. For now, skiers should stay cautious, dress for spring-like conditions, and keep an eye on the skies—Mother Nature may deliver just in time for Christmas turns.
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 38. west southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the morning.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is expected to receive up to 8.43" of new snowfall in the next 5 days.
Snow is set to pile up in southwest Colorado, where resorts near the San Juan Mountains are expecting the highest totals in the next five days. Wolf Creek Ski Area leads the state with a forecast of up to 15–20 inches through the weekend, supported by nearby sensor data from Wolf Creek Summit (15") and Scotch Creek (20"). Telluride is ... Read more