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How Long Is The Hike From Aspen To Crested Butte?

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Last updated on 7 min read
CB to Aspen Aspen to CB Difficulty: Strenuous More Strenuous Length:

10.2 miles

10.2 miles
Approx. Time: 6-8 hours 7-9 hours Elevation Gain: 2,357 feet 3,265 feet

What is the pass between Aspen and Crested Butte?


East Maroon Pass

. There are three routes hikers can take between Aspen to Crested Butte, but the two most common are West Maroon and East Maroon Pass, which are both equally scenic. While West Maroon is the more common popular of the two, it is a bit steeper compared to the East Maroon route.

Do you need a permit to hike from Aspen to Crested Butte?

Permit Info:

Each party overnighting in the MaroonBells-Snowmass Wilderness is required to self-register at the Trailhead and to carry a copy of the registrationwith them during their visit

. There is no fee charged and no limit to the number of permits issued.

What is the longest hike in Colorado?


The Colorado Trail

It runs 486 miles from Waterton Canyon to Durango, topping out at 13,271 feet and spending a good portion of time above treeline. The trail traverses six national forests and six wilderness areas – and for most hikers, takes between four to six weeks.

Is Crested Butte better than Telluride?


Telluride had the gold and silver wealth of the San Juan Mountains while Crested Butte survived as a coal mining town and was far less rich necessitating cheaper building materials

. This gives our town a quaint and homey feel that’s hard to replicate anywhere else in Colorado.

Can you drive from Aspen to Crested Butte?


If you wish to drive there on a paved road, it is a minimum of 200 miles and 4 hours

. The summer trip can be cut in half by way of Kebler Pass, a maintained dirt road. Pearl, Taylor, and Schofield Passes offer shorter distances but require a 4-Wheel Drive.

Can you mountain bike from Aspen to Crested Butte?

EVENT OVERVIEW.

The Grand Traverse Mountain Bike

is no ordinary mountain bike race. It is a point-to-point from Aspen to Crested Butte, Colorado. In total, bikers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountains with over 7,800′ of elevation gain.

Can you see Maroon Bells from Crested Butte?

Why Hike West Maroon Pass from Crested Butte

One of the great hikes in Crested Butte leads up the East Fork of Crystal River valley, renowned for its amazing display of wildflowers, to

West Maroon Pass, a high saddle boasting stunning views of the Maroon Bells

and Pyramid Peak massifs to the northeast.

Can you hike to Maroon Bells?

Maroon Bells Hike


Dogs are welcome on the trails (and are allowed on the RFTA bus from the Aspen Highlands to the to the Marroon Bells), but they must be kept on a leash

. This easy 1-mile round-trip trek starts at the parking area and follows the circumference of the lake; keep an eye out for the active beaver pond.

How crowded does Crested Butte get?

Crested Butte enjoys

very few crowds

and short lift lines, which leads us to believe there’s a misconception that Crested Butte is a destination that’s hard to get to. In fact, the resort is 35 minutes from Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC) and about 1.5 hours from Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ).

Is there a bus from Aspen to Crested Butte?

Use a Shuttle Service:

There are two shuttle services (Dolly’s and Alpine) that will pick you up from the trailhead and bring you to your hotel in Crested Butte

. Call and schedule a reservation in advance and they should be waiting for you at the trailhead. Pick-up’s typically cost about $20 per person.

Where does Crested Butte to Aspen hike end?

Many prefer to hike the West Maroon Pass from Aspen, starting at Maroon Lake and ending near

Schofield Pass, north of Gothic

. We hiked the West Maroon Pass in reverse from Crested Butte to Aspen. We absolutely loved this route and we will share details and explain below just how we did it.

How difficult is hiking the Colorado Trail?

However, because of its length, altitude — and in many places, sheer ruggedness —

the Colorado Trail can be hard to get your hands around at first

. It can take four to six weeks to hike the whole thing, but you can hike it in smaller segments.

How many days does it take to hike the Colorado Trail?

The Colorado Trail Foundation states that the average thru hike typically takes

4-6 weeks

so 33 days falls almost squarely in the middle of that range.

What is the highest point on the Colorado Trail?


Coney Summit

is the trail’s highest point, having an elevation of 13334 feet. Waterton Canyon, on the other hand is its lowest, having an elevation of 5520 feet. Along the way, trekkers can get replenishments upon passing through the towns of Breckenridge, Leadville, Buena Vista, and Silverton.

Is Crested Butte pretty?

1.

The Sheer Beauty

. There are a lot of pretty places, but our mountains know how to beautifully deliver white, green, red, gold, orange, and all sorts of colors of the rainbow during winter, spring, summer and fall.

Is Crested Butte a ski town?

Everyone who goes to Crested Butte loves Crested Butte. Devotees possess a strong “if you know, you know” attitude about the place that suggests it’s Colorado’s best-kept secret—and with good reason.

The mountain is a skier’s mountain

, known for its relatively uncrowded runs and steep, rugged, challenging terrain.

Is Crested Butte worth visiting?


Crested Butte is an extremely pedestrian-friendly town with historical buildings, mountain views, and plenty of places to stop in and visit

. It’s easy to shop locally when nearly all the businesses are not chains and unique to the area.

Can you ski from Crested Butte to Aspen?


The Grand Traverse is a point-to-point ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen

. Racers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountain range, climbing over 6,800 vertical feet. To ensure competitor safety, racers must have a partner, carry mandatory gear, and begin the race at midnight when avalanche danger is low.

What is Crested Butte known for?

Today, Crested Butte is known not only for its

winter ski season

. It is a popular summer destination for mountain biking and hiking. Its meadows full of brilliant wildflowers have earned it the title of “Wildflower Capital of Colorado.” History is an important part of the town’s identity.

Where do you fly into to get to Crested Butte?

The

Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport (GUC)

, located in Gunnison, is the closest airport to Crested Butte and offers direct flights from Denver, Houston and Dallas during the winter months.

Is Pearl Pass open 2020?


It’s completely open now

.

How long is Pearl Pass?

It’s called Pearl Pass Road. It’s an old mining road running from Crested Butte to Aspen. It’s

61km (37.90 miles)

long.

Is there a shuttle from Montrose to Crested Butte?

The best way to get from Montrose Airport (MTJ) to Crested Butte without a car is to

shuttle which takes 2h 8m and costs $117

.

How high is Maroon Pass?

Highlights: Wildflowers, Mountain Vistas Approx. Time: 4.5 hours Elevation Gain: 2,312 feet Max Elevation: 12,490 feet
Trailhead Elevation:


10,432 feet

How long is West Maroon Pass?

Imposing peaks, pretty waterfalls, stunning lakes, a huge alpine basin and panoramic views from a 12,500-ft. pass encompassing Treasure Mountain, Pyramid Peak and the Maroon Bells are the scenic rewards on this

13-mile

(RT) hike to West Maroon Pass.

Edited and fact-checked by the FixAnswer editorial team.
Kim Nguyen
Written by

Kim is a sports and fitness writer covering workouts, athletic training, sports news, and strategies for an active lifestyle.

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