When it’s too cold to ski
What to do in Crested Butte when it’s too cold outside.
This past weekend we were in Crested Butte and found ourselves with a dilemma. Usually we go to stay with friends and ski, but this past weekend temps were in the negative or single digits. Since we don’t have a ski pass here and would have to get buddy passes, we really didn’t feel like spending the money to be frozen. So here’s a few things we did instead.
Cross-country skiing is great in Crested Butte because there’s lots of trails where you can xc ski for free or you can get a pass from the Nordic Center in town. You can also rent gear here and compared to downhill it’s cheaper and in many cases dog-friendly. The trails are groomed for xc ski, skate ski or you can even snowshoe the trails. You can get maps at the Nordic Center as well and there’s a variety of terrain for everyone. This is a great activity even when it’s cold because you’re working hard and can go later in the day when it’s warmer, plus no lift lines!
Walking around town and grabbing a coffee at Camp 4 is one of my favorite winter activities. There’s so many art galleries and shops and if you’re staying on the mountain you can take the free bus into town so you don’t have to worry about parking. We also got pizza to go at The Secret Stash and some great Indian food from Pita’s in Paradise to go. I also recommend the Gas cafe and Butte Bagles. For the Gasser make sure you call in your order ahead of time. Butte Bagels always seems to have a line so go early!
I also went to Bread after 5 and got a loaf of sourdough that we used for French toast the next day. Sometimes they have a line and they usually sell out of bread so get there right at 5 for the best selection.
Sledding is free in CB and there’s an unofficial hill by the ice skating rink and an official hill with parking on your way up to the mountain. You’ll need your own sleds, but this makes for a fun free winter activity.
You can also rent ice skates at the Nordic Center and skate and there’s a variety of skate times from open skate to stick and puck. This is also a free activity if you already own skates and one we really enjoy no matter what the weather.
While we usually stay with a friend when we visit CB when we do rent a place we stay at the Grand Lodge because it’s dog-friendly and they have a heated pool and big hot tub. It’s also steps away from skiing so if you’re coming to ski that’s an extra bonus. We’ve always gotten good deals staying there so that’s one of my recommendations!
We visit CB several times a year and it’s always a blast even if it’s cold! So if you like to cozy up in-doors with a side of getting out and not spending too much money, hopefully these activities speak to you!