Crested Butte Elevation

Crested Butte (Crested Butte Elevation)

There's a lot of history behind Crested Butte. The area on which the town was founded was once used in the warm months of the year by the Ute people. European settlers also recognized the potential of the area and set up mines in the late 19th century. Various towns and settlements were created in the area, and Crested Butte was one of the most successful, having both ranching and mining to support it.

The mines eventually closed down and Crested Butte started to shrink, but the town's reputation as a prime skiing resort slowly grew. Nowadays, Crested Butte can be seen listed alongside the likes of Vail and Aspen as a super Colorado skiing town, and it also has a lot to offer when the snow melts too; with additional activities like mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, hiking, and more all being enjoyed in the nearby area. The town also hosts various festivals throughout the year and attracts many visitors, being regarded as one of the most pristine and beautiful locations left in the Centennial State.

Elevation of Crested Butte (Crested Butte Elevation)

The elevation of a town tells us exactly how high or low it is in relation to sea level and is a very important geographical statistic. The elevation of Crested Butte is 8,909 feet (2,715 m), which actually makes it one of the highest towns in the entire state. The nearby ski resort, Crested Butte Mountain Resort, has a base elevation of 9,115 feet (2,778 m) and a top elevation of 12,170 feet (3,710 m), which is also one of the highest resorts in the state.

When compared to many other popular ski resorts in Colorado, Crested Butte generally tends to have a high elevation. Steamboat Springs, for instance, has an elevation of 6,732 feet (2,052 m), while Aspen has an elevation of 8,000 feet (2,438 m) and Vail stands at a height of 8,022 feet (2,445 m). Even Telluride, which is known as one of the highest ski resort towns in Colorado, still has a lower elevation than Crested Butte at 8,750 feet (2,667 m). When compared to these locations, the elevation of Crested Butte is always at least a few hundred feet higher.

Colorado is actually the highest state of all, with a mean elevation of 6,800 feet (2,070 m), so residents of this state are used to living at high altitudes in general. Even the capital city of Colorado, Denver, is nicknamed the Mile High City and has an elevation of 5,280 feet (1,609.344 m). Other key locations in Colorado are its highest point, Mount Elbert, which has an impressive elevation of 14,400 feet (4,401 m) in total and the Arikaree River, which has the lowest point in the state at an elevation of just 3,317 feet (1,011 m). The highest town of all in Colorado is Leadville, which has an elevation of 10,152 feet (3,094 m).

Climate and Things to Do in Crested Butte

As a popular skiing spot with a very high elevation, it's no surprise that Crested Butte has very cold temperatures for much of the year, especially from October through to May. Temperatures can also drop very low even during the summer months, with average lows of 38°F (3°C) in July. Heavy snowfall hits the town and surrounding area for most of the year, with the largest amounts of snow falling in December through to March.

Crested Butte is best known for the nearby Crested Butte Mountain Resort, which offers a skiable area of over 1,500 acres with more than 121 runs to enjoy. 23% of those runs are beginners, with another 20% being advanced or expert runs, so there's something for everyone at this resort. If you're not into skiing, Crested Butte is still a great area for other activities and forms of recreation like mountain biking, kayaking, and fishing, and the town's scenery is just as beautiful in summer as winter. Many people also flock to Crested Butte for festivals like Torchlight, the Winter Carnival, the Crested Butte Bik Week, and the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival.