Location, Location... Crested Butte in General
Crested Butte is located in the Elk Mountains in the southwest area of Colorado. On the map it looks like we're close to Aspen but don't be fooled! Even if MapQuest says you can do it, you cannot drive between these two towns unless you can figure out how to drive through a mountain range. And, if you figure that out, please do tell - that would be a great party trick! (Actually, OK, technically you can 4-wheel it over
the often impassable
Pearl Pass but this is only for experts and crazies.) You can hike it....it's a beautiful hike...but no cars allowed. (The hike is over either
East Maroon Pass Trail - 14.5 miles - or West Maroon Pass Trail - 10.5 miles.)
If you are driving to CB from Denver, you can take I-70 to Copper Mountain and turn south, through Leadville and Buena Vista, and then turn right at highway 50, over Monarch Pass to Gunnison, then North to Crested Butte. Or you can take 287 from Denver through Bailey/Fairplay to Buena Vista then onto 24 south. Turn right on to highway 50 and do the same as above. The drive takes about 5 hours....4 if you drive like Mario Andretti. In summer, you can cut over from Buena Vista on Cottonwood Pass (18 miles of windy, steep, dirt) through the beautiful Taylor Canyon and cut 30 minutes off the drive. Stop at Cottonwood Hot Springs for a breather if you go that way - its well worth it!
Another Google Map Link, this Time for Town Location