Crested Butte Trails: Caves Trail

From the Town of Crested Butte: Take 135 south 6.6 miles to the town of Crested Butte South. Turn left onto Cement Creek Road (Co Rd 740) and follow it as it turns into dirt for 1.8 miles. The parking lot is on the right side of the road and the trailhead is directly across from it on the left side. Map

This trail is short and steep with numerous switchbacks that climb the hillside. Follow the well defined path up [2] and catch views of the caves off to the right side [3]. There is a distinct tunnel in the rock, which you can peer from this angle. A mix of sagebrush, aspen, and conifer trees greet along your climb.

The trail starts to level out as you make your way toward the caves. As you approach the rock formation, there is a faint path offering the chance to get a closer look at the tunnel (at your own risk) [5]. The remaining hundred feet of the main trail will reveal spectacular views of Red Mountain, directly across from CB South [9] and Cement Mountain (on the left). Look directly ahead when on top of the caves and see where the first chair lift in Colorado was built on the Pioneer Ski Area back in 1939 [8]. There aren't any trails which access the other side of the main cave, but it can be approached with a little bit of bushwhacking on steep, loose ground.