Woods Walk
Woods Walk is Crested Butte's front porch trail: aspens, wildflowers, and a full Peanut Lake panorama, all starting two minutes from Elk Avenue. It's the easiest introduction to hiking here, short enough for a spare hour and scenic enough that nobody feels shortchanged. Flowers through the summer, golden aspens in late September, and the views punch far above the effort.
At the Trailhead
Rain Showers
Tap a day for the detailed forecast
Trailhead Info
Good to Know
Under Control
Under control is the Forest Service rule on most trails in this district: your dog comes back on the first call, every time, including around wildlife, horses, and other dogs. If that is a maybe, it is a leash day. Rangers can and do write tickets for it.Avg 4G Cell Signal
The bars refer to cell tower connectivity. Calls, maps and photos all need one. Newer phones can now text (no calls) over satellite automatically without cell towers, depending on your provider. You typically need an open view of the sky for it to work.The Route
Highlights
Along the Trail
Trail Directions
- From the trailhead parking on Kebler Pass Road (1), the first quarter mile climbs gently through an aspen grove (2).
- The trail opens to the grand vista (3): Peanut Lake below, Gothic Mountain and Mt. Crested Butte beyond.
- Follow the trail down into the valley with aspen groves off to your left, staying left at junctions for the higher trail.
- The last stretch runs through the meadow above Peanut Lake (5) before the trail meets the valley floor (6).
- At the end, continue down to the Lower Loop Trail, bear left onto the Budd Trail toward the Upper Lower Loop, or turn around.
Elevation Profile
Map and GPX
Base Map
Overlays
Cell Signal
Topo from USGS. Wilderness boundaries from the US Forest Service. Snow, temperature and rain are NOAA analyses and forecasts, one at a time. Cell coverage from FCC carrier filings.Take It With You
Cell service fades fast out here. Save the route before you lose the argument with your phone.
Free, and no account needed. Works in Gaia, CalTopo, onX, Garmin, and anything else that reads GPX.
Leave It Better
The locals have pitchforks. And camera phones.
And social media. Do not go viral.
Share the Trail
Bikes yield to hikers and everybody yields to horses, but the system really runs on predictability. Hold your line, step to the same side, keep dogs close, and say hello. A surprise is the only thing out here that causes a wreck.
Leave the Flowers
Do not pick, cut, or wade into them for the photograph. This valley is one of the best wildflower displays in Colorado precisely because generations of people walked past without helping themselves.
Pack It All Out
Everything you carried in, plus the orange peel and the pistachio shells you assumed would rot. At this elevation they last years, and a marmot will find them long before they break down.
This trail and many others like it are maintained by the Crested Butte Conservation Corps. From picking up trash to trail maintenance to poop removal, they do it all and keep our backcountry pristine. Please help support them with a tax-deductible donation (501c3).
This Hike Is One of the 31
All 31 routes, walked and mapped by us. No battery, no bars, no problem.
Get the Book
More Wildflower Walks
The bloom does not stop at this trailhead.
Good Questions
How hard is the Woods Walk trail?
It is one of the easiest trails in the area: 2.9 miles round trip with 213 feet of gain from a 9,042 foot trailhead, and you can turn around anywhere. The name is a fair warning about the difficulty level.
How do I get to the Woods Walk trailhead?
From town, take Whiterock Avenue west as it turns into Kebler Pass Road. The trailhead parking is 0.2 miles from town on the left side of the road, between Treasury Road and Trappers Way, opposite the trailhead itself.
Are dogs allowed on Woods Walk?
Yes, and this is one of the most popular dog walks in the valley. Leash rules apply at all times, yield to other users, and pack out everything your dog produces.
When is Woods Walk at its best?
Wildflowers bloom through the summer and the aspens turn gold in late September, so the honest answer is most of the year the trail is open. Early mornings beat the crowds either way.
