Where the Wildflowers Are

I flew into Gunnison Airport which is just about a 30-min drive to the town of Crested Butte. On this trip, we did opt to rent a car as we had planned to be taking drives out to scenic hikes & viewpoints.

PLEASE NOTE: There are buses for free that will take you to Crested Butte, however, pickup is ~3 blocks from airport.

UBERS DO NOT EXIST HERE!!!

It is a pleasant, easy ride into town with plenty of horses and cows spotted along the way so you immediately feel like you're somewhere remote.

We then checked into our hotel, The Lodge at Mountaineer Square. This is a great place to stay: budget-friendly, on the mountain, front door access to free shuttles to town (7 min. ride).

Freshen up (if that's your thing) and head on down to Elk Avenue! This is Main Street and ohsocute. Take in all the historical buildings from the old mining days -- part of Crested Butte's charm.

We had a great time popping into all the little shops. One thing you will not find here are chains of any sort. We love supporting local <3

We heard live music playing from a bar down the street and went to check it out. Anthracite Cocktail Lounge is the name and it is such a cute little spot with a speakeasy vibe to it. After some delicious craft cocktails we ate at Ryce Asian Bistro. That place is absolutely bang for your buck.

It was only day one, so we were sleepy. Time for bed!

**HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE drink your electrolytes cannot stress this enough. Crested Butte is at 9,000ft elevation and altitude sickness is real, y'all.

Day 2!

We woke up the the beautiful mountain and decided to ride the lift -- yes, you can do that in the summer, who knew?!

But first, coffee. The Coffee Lab is located right inside the hotel and serves breakfast burritos, pastries etc. V good, v cute in there.

We made our way down to town and discovered that the Farmer’s Market was in full swing. Every Summer Sunday 9am - 2pm. There are so many vendors set up with everything from farm fresh peaches (delicious), to handmade jewelry, fresh flowers, clothes and art.

After our stroll through the market, we opted to float on the Slate River. Wheelies and Waves right in town on Elk will set you up with the paddle boarding equipment you need and instructions -- they even strapped the paddles to our car for us!

Floating on the Slate River, which runs through town, is like being on a lazy river with the most gorgeous mountain setting. The whole float lasts roughly an hour.

After returning our boards and cleaning up back at the hotel we got ready for dinner at The Hideout on Elk. Pretty classic, comfort American-fusion restaurant. Highly recommended the bao buns and fried chicken sandwich!

After dinner we were up for a drink, so we strolled up the street to Kochevar's, Crested Butte's oldest bar. Think historic saloon meets dive bar vibes. We had a blast playing darts and shuffleboard.

Today was Monday and we were eager to check out more of the natural beauty that Crested Butte has to offer. Our first stop was Camp 4 Coffee, which could quite possibly be the cutest coffee shop on the planet? It is a must — not just for the photo ops, but for excellent coffee as well.

After fueling up with lattes and breakfast pastries, we headed out for a hike at Oh Be Joyful. The name alone is enough to make you smile, but the scenery is even better. Think rushing rivers, waterfalls, and endless wildflowers tucked between towering mountain peaks. It’s one of those places that makes you stop every few minutes just to take it all in.

We spent the afternoon wandering through town before heading to Alpenglow — Crested Butte’s beloved free Monday night concert in the park. Locals spread out blankets, drink tents go up, food trucks come out, and the whole town seems to gather as the sun dips behind the mountains. It’s the perfect way to slow down and soak in the community vibe.

For dinner in town, we went to The Slogar, which is southern comfort food to the max. COME HUNGRY. Appetizers are all you can eat — creamed corn, biscuits, coleslaw, cottage cheese, tomato chutney, mashed potatoes…. it truly is all the fixins. Not to mention, the fried chicken. All served up in a spectacularly kitschy dining room setting.

We went to bed very full and very happy.

Sadly, it was our last day in Crested Butte. We started the morning slowly with breakfast at McGill’s — a classic diner that feels almost quintessentially small-town in the best way. It’s cozy, unpretentious, and the kind of place where there’s something on the menu for everyone.

After breakfast we decided to squeeze in one last adventure and drive out to Emerald Lake. It’s just shy of an hour from town, and we had heard it was absolutely worth it. Before leaving, we packed a picnic lunch from the Gas Cafe. Yes — technically it’s a small restaurant inside the gas station in town, but don’t write it off. It’s seriously crazy good. They make amazing burgers, sandwiches, and fries, and it’s the perfect place to grab snacks and drinks for the road.

Now I won’t lie — the drive out there can be mildly treacherous, so make sure you have a vehicle with four-wheel drive. You’ll need it. But the views are absolutely breathtaking and the wildlife alone makes the trip unforgettable. At one point we were so close to the cows grazing along the road that I honestly felt like I could roll down the window and pet them. We even saw mama cows nursing their calves. It felt a little magical, and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped for so many photos during a single drive.

When we finally reached Emerald Lake, the view was completely jaw-dropping. You immediately understand how it got its name. The water glowed this brilliant green-blue as the sun reflected off the surface, and for most of the time we had the entire place to ourselves. We spread out our little picnic, dipped our feet into the water, and just sat there taking it all in. You can swim if you’re brave enough — but fair warning, it’s freezing. After all, it’s essentially melted snow from the surrounding mountains.

It was one of those picture-perfect afternoons that makes you wish you could slow time down just a little bit.

After our afternoon at the lake, we headed back to the hotel to clean up for our final — and perhaps most spectacular — dinner in town at Sunflower on Elk. It’s definitely one of the more upscale spots in Crested Butte, but it never feels overly fancy or intimidating. Just seriously good, seriously fresh food. Everything tasted like it had been picked from a garden that morning. It was the perfect way to end our trip, and a place I truly cannot recommend enough.

This morning, we headed out but not before stopping by Butte Bagels in town. They make a whole variety of delicious bagel sandwiches and they’re perfect to take on the go.

It was hard not to feel a little bittersweet about leaving. Crested Butte has a way of pulling you in with its stunning scenery, charming little downtown, and the kind of easygoing pace that makes you instantly relax. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to linger just a little longer — and start planning your next visit before you’ve even left.