Best Day Hikes

By H. F. Bushman

 

Crested Butte is probably best known for its winter activities, especially skiing and snowboarding.  However, this quaint former mining town also boasts dozens of day hikes within easy reach, appropriate for hikers of all fitness levels and abilities.  All directions given below are from downtown Crested Butte, Elk Avenue and State Highway 135 (Gothic Road).

Before starting out on any of these walks, it's important to remember some basic guidelines. Remember that Crested Butte is situated almost 9,000 feet above sea level, and many of these hikes will take you even higher than that.  Give yourself extra time on these hikes if you're not used to the altitude, and always carry plenty of water.  Also, afternoon thunderstorms are almost a daily occurrence in this part of the Rockies, so be sure that you have appropriate gear to deal with wetness, and be prepared to cut your walk short if things get too hairy.  And it should go without saying that you should let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back, and wear quality shoes or hiking boots with good ankle support.  That said, let's look at some trails.

1. Judd Falls - A beautiful and easy hike, with a huge scenic payoff at the end, Judd falls is one of my favorite hikes in the area. To get there, head north on Gothic Road toward Mt. Crested Butte and the ski resort; keep going past the resort and into the narrow valley beyond (the East River valley). The peak on your left is Gothic Mountain; to your right is Avery Peak. The trailhead is to the right, about nine miles from our starting point in CB. The Judd Falls parking area is just past the town of Gothic (blink and you'll miss it) and is well marked. The trailhead is a further half mile up Gothic Rd. and is gated. There's no parking here per se, but a generous shoulder and little traffic makes leaving your car here no problem.

 

From the gate, you'll start uphill on a rocky jeep trail then veer right on a single-track, again, well marked. This will be the majority of the trail, and it's in very good condition. The trail follows a more or less level path through aspen forest interspersed with mountain meadows. If you've come in June, you'll be treated to some of the most spectacular wildflower displays in the world, and even if the flowers aren't out in force, the views across the valley to Gothic Peak are breathtaking. After about two miles, the trail forks, turn left, following the signs, to Judd Falls. There's a bit of an uphill scramble in the last few hundred yards, but nothing too strenuous, and then you'll be treated to the view you came for. Copper Creek tumbles out of a narrow gorge in a 200 foot free fall down to another narrow gorge. There's a bench at the view point that makes a great place to have lunch.

Once you've had your fill of falling water, you have a couple of choices. You can go back the way you came, you can head uphill and continue to Copper Lake, or you can head downhill back to Gothic Road. The climb to Copper Lake is rated Moderate, except for the final push to the lake itself, which is pretty tough, but the lake is very beautiful. If you head down to the road, you'll have to walk back up the road to your car, so be prepared for passing vehicles and their attendant dust. Whatever you choose to do, you should be back in Crested Butte in time for supper.

2. Lost Lake Slough - This balloon hike gives you some fantastic views over to jagged Marcellina Mountain, and if you're game, the slough itself is so shallow you can get your waders on and go fly-fishing when you get back. It's fairly short, but there's some fairly substantial altitude gain in the first part, so be aware.

To get there, head up Elk Avenue from 135, then turn left on 2^nd Street, go two blocks and turn left on Whiterock. This becomes State Rt. 12, also known as Kebler Pass Road. It's paved for the first bit, but quickly turns into a perfectly adequate dirt road. About 15 miles from Crested Butte, look for the sign for Lost Lake Slough Campground. The trail head is here, and there's ample parking.

 

This hike features three lakes strung together like a necklace, each with their own particular charms. First is Lost Lake Slough, which, as noted before, is very shallow. There's a well developed campground on the north side of the lake that can make finding the trailhead confusing at first, but you'll find it. Head south along the west side of the shallow slough and up into the trees. Along the way, watch for trout swimming in the Slough, which is actually a small man-made reservoir. After about a quarter mile, you'll turn away from the slough and head upward toward Lost Lake, a little less than half a mile up. Head around it and turn east. You'll come to a fork, with a sign pointing you back toward the slough or a mile over a small ridge to Dollar Lake. I highly recommend taking the fork to Dollar, it's a true gem. Isolated by the ridges, and surrounded by wildflowers in spring, it's one of the most peaceful places I've ever found.

When you've had your fill of peace, you can head back the way you came to the fork and down the other side of the slough. You'll pass through the campground on your way back to your parking spot.

 

It's worth noting that the LLS campground can easily serve as a jumping off point for any number of longer backpacking trips into the West Elk Wilderness to the south. Consult a good trail map for an idea of the many trails that pass through or near this area on their way into the back country.

3. Union Canyon - This quick out and back is a little further drive than the other two. Located off of the Taylor River Canyon, it follows Union Creek behind Park Cone, and ends in Union Park, south of Taylor Reservoir. Don't let the well-paved road fool you, this section of the Gunnison Country is pretty remote, and while the hike itself is easy and level, it does feature some rocky parts that can pose a danger to unprotected ankles. Good shoes are a must. That said, the hike takes you through some very pleasant pine forest, quite different from the aspen on the lower slopes, and features the soothing sounds of babbling Union Creek throughout.

From Crested Butte, head south on 135 to Almont, about 17 miles. Bear left at County Rd 742 to head up Taylor Canyon. This is a fun drive in good weather, but avoid the temptation to speed, it's twisty in unexpected places and others won't be able to resist the temptation. You'll be almost all the way up to the reservoir when you see the sign for Lottis Creek Campground, 16 ½ miles up from Almont. Turn right and head through the campground to a grassy area among the lodge pole pines. Park here. There are a few trails that start off here, the ones that head south go into the Fossil Ridge Wilderness, and are decidedly not day hikes. Follow the sign for Union Canyon; you'll head to the left.

As you head up the canyon, keep your eyes open for mountain goats on the ridges above. About halfway up, the trail crosses Union Creek in a shallow ford, unfortunately you've got no choice but to get your feet wet (I recommend doing it barefoot, a few seconds of cold is better than squelching all day). After that the trail is level and easy, and passes several interesting complexes of beaver dams and ponds. If you're lucky, you might even see the little buggers at work. You know you're nearing the end when you can see Union Park ahead of you. The big valley is popular with ATV and dirt bike riders, but the Union Creek trail is too rocky for most of them, and odds are you won't see anyone else on this trail at all. When you decide you're done, it's a simple matter to head back the way you came, splash through the creek again, and be back to your car. All told no more than six mile out-and-back.

There are any number of other fantastic hikes around Crested Butte, some much more difficult than these, many better experienced over a several day trip. But these three will give you a good idea of the terrain in this part of the Rocky Mountains, and contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the country.  Enjoy!