What comes with wintry storms, wet springs, and sun soaked summers? An array of flowers that cover the hills of Crested Butte like no other place. With the official title of Wildflower Capital of Colorado, it's worth a visit to just experience this summer phenomenon.Â
Etiquette
- Do not pick, cut, or walk on wildflowers or other plants.
- Doing so is Illegal on public land
- Stay on the trail at all times
- Keep dogs on leash, under control, and on trail at all times
- If you see someone doing this, please give them a friendly reminder not to do so, and ask them to pass it along the message to others
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What is blooming and when? As the snow melts and the sun hits, you need to know where and when to hike to see the most colorful displays. Our friends at the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival help to keep you in the loop with this nifty chart.
This guide was created to help you choose the best Crested Butte wildflower trails within a number of categories: Trail, Location, Difficulty, Distance, Time, and Features. All trail guides are also mobile friendly, so feel free to take some screenshots or print out the directions (there is rarely cell service on the trails):
| Trail | Area | Difficulty | Peak Season | Minutes from Town | Mileage from Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily Lake | Kebler |  | Middle-Late | 15 | 7 |
| Snodgrass | Snodgrass |  | Early-Middle | 15 | 5 |
| Rec Path | Town | | Early-Late | 1 | 0.5 |
| Budd Trail | Slate River | | Early-Middle | 5 | 1.5 |
| Lupine Trail | Slate River | | Early-Middle | 10 | 2 |
| Crested Butte Mountain Resort | Mt. Crested Butte | | Early-Late | 10 | 3 |
| Lower Loop | Slate River | | Early-Middle | 5 | 1.5 |
| Lake Irwin | Irwin | | Middle-Late | 20 | 8 |
| Brush Creek Trail | Brush Creek | | Early-Middle | 10 | 3 |
| Woods Walk | Slate River | | Early-Middle | 1 | 0.5 |
| Whetstone - Upper Upper Loop | Brush Creek | | Early-Middle | 10 | 2.7 |
| Caves Trail | Cement Creek |  | Early-Middle | 15 | 1.7 |
| Green Lake | Town | | Middle-Late | 1 | 1 |
| Walrod Gulch | Cement Creek | | Early-Late | 15 | 9 |
| Oh Be Joyful | Slate River | | Middle-Late | 10 | 5 |
| Meridian Lake Trail (Long Lake) | Washington Gulch | | Early-Late | 15 | 3.5 |
| 401 | Gothic | | Middle-Late | 20-30 | 15 |
| Scarp Ridge | Irwin | | Middle-Late | 35 | 4.6 |
| Daisy Pass | Slate River |  | Middle-Late | 45 | 4.6 |
Looking to enjoy wildflowers close to town? We’ve got 6 hikes for you that always come with some of the best flowers around: Top 6 Easy Crested Butte Hiking Trails Close to Town
The Complete Crested Butte Hiking Guide: Click Here
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Difficulty
Difficulty is subjective, however we incorporate a number of elements into the Crested Butte wildflower trail guide to help distinguish how strenuous each trail will be for you. This includes: total mileage, steepness, trail conditions, altitude, and elevation gain.
Weather
It’s always recommended to check the weather forecast the night before your trip. Keep in mind, much of the wildflower season here is also during the monsoon season, when afternoon thunderstorms occur like clockwork. Many trails take you above the tree line and are very exposed. Lightning is the main concern and if dark storm clouds are brewing, it’s best to head down immediately. Temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, especially with rainfall, so be prepared with proper clothing and layers. A rule of thumb is to be at your high point by noon.Â
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