Summer Things to do with Kids in Crested Butte, Colorado
One of the most beautiful parts of Colorado is Crested Butte. This small mountain town in western Colorado is such a peaceful and beautiful getaway any time of the year.
If you want to bring your kids, summer is a particularly great time because there are so many pretty and kid-friendly hikes!
You can’t beat the cute mountain town and it’s colorful Elk Avenue that runs right through town. You’ll find everything you need for a relaxing weekend away no matter what time of year you visit!
Where to stay with kids in Crested Butte, Colorado
We stayed at the Elevation Hotel and Spa at the base of the mountain. It was a perfect hotel with our kids because it was walking distance from all of the mountain-side attractions and an easy bus ride into town.
The rooms are comfortable and come with a kitchenette, which is always a huge plus with kids!
But the star attraction? This hot tub with incredible views of the sunset! You could find us out here (or the indoor pool and hot tub) every night!
Where to eat with kids in Crested Butte, Colorado
There are some great restaurants in Crested Butte! Both in town and up on the mountain. Here are a few of our favorites!
Niky’s Mini Donuts
You can’t miss a stop at this sweet donut shop! Not only are there a ton of delicious toppings and the donuts are small enough that you can try a few, the shop itself is super fun! It’s decorated with vintage pop culture and candy themes and is so much fun.
Public House
This pub has a super fun atmosphere and is totally kid-friendly! The restaurant is located right across the street from the old City Hall building and has outdoor seating. The kids’ menu has homemade mac n’ cheese, grilled cheese and a cheese burger.
Secret Stash
This pizza was one of our favorite meals in Crested Butte. We loved Texas Bigg’n and the kids were obsessed with the crazy bike out front. Check out the Bohemian feel inside the restaurant and the funky waiters (ours was wearing a coconut bra!).
Crested Butte Burger Company
This is a great place to grab a bite if you are spending the day up on the mountain at the adventure park or riding the chair lift and hiking. Just your basic burgers and fries but they are located a few steps away from the all of the action. There is also a playground right outside the restaurant, which is a perfect place for the littles to have some fun!
Third Bowl Homemade Ice Cream
Looking for something sweet? We loved the ice cream at Third Bowl in town. There is great outdoor seating and lots of fun flavors with fresh waffle cones.
Where to hike with kids in Crested Butte, Colorado
Crested Butte is known for its beautiful hikes and especially summer wildflowers. You can spend the whole weekend hiking in Crested Butte and not tire of the scenery! Here are a few of the hikes we loved.
Woods Walk
This trail is right out of the main area of Crested Butte. Follow Elk Avenue toward the east and then follow an access road to Kebler Pass Road. The trailhead will be on the right a few hundred yards up Kebler Pass.
This trail is easy and features views of the town, great wildflowers and wooded areas. The trail is 2.9 miles out and back, or you can break off on multiple trails to head back to town. We broke off and headed back to town on Butte Avenue.
Brush Creek Trail
South of town, Brush Creek Trail in the East River Valley is a perfect hiking spot with kids. It’s an easy out-and-back trail, which means that even though the trail is 4.9 miles round-trip you can turn around any time. There are beautiful wildflowers, a few small creeks to cross and views of Teocalli Mountain and White Rock Mountain.
Upper Loop Trail
This trail was up near our hotel. If you are staying up near the resorts, you can easily walk to this trailhead, but if you would rather drive, there is enough space for a couple cars to park. This trial features rolling hills and gorgeous views. Watch out for mountain bikers as this is a narrow trail. One of our favorite parts of this trail was the grove of aspen trees. But watch out for mosquitos!
Lower Loop Trail
The Lower Loop Trail is another great trail that starts right out in town. After enjoying some time at one of the local restaurants, head out on Butte Avenue and connects to several trails, like the Woods Walk trail listed above.
Highlights include wildflowers and gorgeous mountain views! Peanut Lake is not very far in on the trail. Watch out for mountain bikers. There is a steep incline about 3 miles in, so make sure to take that in account if you are hiking with little ones.
Other Things to do with kids in Crested Butte, Colorado
Although hiking definitely should be center stage on any summer or fall trip to Crested Butte, there are lots of other fun ways to spend your time there with kids.
You should definitely spend a couple hours meandering around town, checking out the watershed, window shopping, getting treats and finding taking in the scenery.
But for a little more structured fun, here are some of the best kid-friendly attractions in Crested Butte.
Adventure Park
Adventure Park is a really fun park at the base of the resort and features mountain biking, bungee trampoline, rock climbing and more!
For the youngest kids, there is tin cup mining, mini golf and a playground.
Activities can be purchased individually for each attraction or as a day pass that includes unlimited runs. For more information, check here.
Silver Queen Chairlift
This was one of the highlights of our trip! The Silver Queen is a chair lift that takes you almost all the way up to the peak of Mount Crested Butte. It’s a 7-minute ride and you can see the entire valley and amazing views of Mount Crested Butte and the surrounding mountains.
Once at the top, you can hike to several amazing view points or take a more challenging climb to the peak of the mountain. We were told that the hike to the peak was steep with loose rocks so we didn’t attempt it with the little kids.
Trailhead Children’s Museum
If you want a little down time, take your children to the Trailhead Children’s Museum located in town. This small museum has a range of exhibits and offerings. But the hours and days of operation vary by season, so please check online before you go!
Looking for other Colorado adventures with your kids? Check out these adventurous summer Colorado destinations!
Also, while you are in western Colorado, make sure to head up to Glenwood Springs and take a dip at the Glenwood Hot Springs!
