In a Hurry? Fastest Crested Butte Ski Lifts
When its a pow day, you want the most time on your skis, not on the lifts. So we compiled all the chair lifts at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (not including the T-bars and magic carpets), so you can plan your snow day on the hill to get the most laps in. We also included fun stats on each lift below, so check it out before you hit the slopes.

Gold Link Lift
Lift | Ride Duration | Vertical Feet | Vertical Feet/Minute |
---|---|---|---|
Silver Queen | 7 minutes | 2,072 feet | 296 feet/minute |
Paradise | 5 minutes | 1,291 feet | 258 feet/minute |
East River | 5 minutes | 1,014 feet | 253 feet/minute |
Red Lady | 5 minutes | 967 feet | 193 feet/minute |
West Wall | 4 minutes | 464 feet | 116 feet/minute |
Prospect | 5 minutes | 505 feet | 101 feet/minute |
Gold Link | 5:30 minutes | 523 feet | 95 feet/minute |
Teocalli | 7 minutes | 615 feet | 87 feet/minute |
Painter Boy | 4 minutes | 331 feet | 82 feet/minute |
Peachtree | 3:30 minutes | 167 feet | 47 feet/minute |
Lifts are listed in order of most vertical feet per minute
1. Silver Queen
Good For: Intermediate/Advanced riders
Quad chair
Access to the peak (when the run is open), as well as the longest run on the mountain from the peak to lower treasury, which is 2.6 miles.
2. Paradise
Good For: Intermediate/Advanced riders
Quad chair
Access to the North Face lift and Paradise Warming Hut, where you can enjoy a famous bacon bloody Mary on the sun deck.
3. East River
Good For: Intermediate/Advanced riders
Quad chair
Good mix of expert and intermediate runs, with access to the Paradise Warming Hut, making it an ideal zone for a big group with varied skiing/riding ability.
4. Red Lady
Good For: Beginner/Intermediate riders
Quad chair
Can access the back side and front side of the mountain from here, a great central lift to meet at.
5. West Wall
Good For: Intermediate riders
Quad chair
This is a great lift for families with small kids in ski school, it runs near Peachtree lift and the magic carpets. West Wall accesses intermediate terrain, perfect for kiddos in half day lessons who are skiing and riding at an intermediate level.
6. Prospect
Good For: Beginner/Intermediate riders
Quad chair
Over in the Ten Peaks zone, which accesses intermediate and beginner runs, as well as to the progressive and Cascade terrain parks. The Umbrella Bar is at the top of the lifts, which is a great place to have lunch or a cocktail and meet your group.
7. Gold Link
Good For: Intermediate riders
Triple chair
Also in the Ten Peaks zone, this lift runs parallel to the Cascade terrain park. If you get lucky you might catch some folks going through the park.
8. Teocalli
Good For: Intermediate riders
Double chair
Arguably the slowest feeling lift at the resort, its still faster then Painter Boy and Peachtree lifts (according to vertical feet per minute). It’s a great lift for a first date–plenty of time to chat and sit close.
9. Painter Boy
Good For: Beginner/Intermediate riders
Triple chair
This lift is your access point to the Ten Peaks area, and the Umbrella Bar
10. Peachtree
Good For: Beginner riders
Double chair
If you park in the lower free lot and have your season pass or lift ticket for the day, walk up the stairs through the condos across from the parking lot and take Peachtree lift up to easily ski over to the base area. This is a great lift for beginners, all runs that are accessed by Peachtree are greens.