Freeriding Crested Butte, One of Colorado's Rowdiest Mountains

A mountain resort with a soul, and slopes with standout terrain.

Freeride Skiing Moderate, Difficult, Severe, Extreme

Description

Tucked away in the high mountains of Central Colorado, Crested Butte is one of North America’s great low key mountain resorts. It’s known for its expansive and diverse terrain, gorgeous scenery, and friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

The lowdown: More than 1,500 skiable acres, 300 inches of snowfall per year, and a vertical drop of over 3,000 ft. There’s a ton of options for advanced skiers and freeriders, from short, playful chutes to great fall line skiing, and some of the steepest lines in Colorado.

Sources: https://www.onthesnow.com/colorado/crested-butte-mountain-resort/ski-resort.html

Routes included

Leaning Tree Chute

Leaning Tree Chute is an awesome, steep chute on the skier's right side of Dead End Chutes.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 133 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 85 m

Stevie's

Stevie's is a big open pitch in the middle of The Glades below Honey Pie.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 159 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 64 m

Down and Out

Down and Out is the bottom of Teo 2 as the terrain benches out and you head back up the Teocalli Exit to Paradise.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 149 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 54 m

Low Exit

Low Exit is a small bowl under High Exit where Lower Third Bowl entrance from Phoenix Bowl joins Lower Third Bowl via Solar Junkyard / Magic Carpet and you can head back into Phoenix Bowl.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 132 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 61 m

Lower Parachute

Lower Parachute is the continuation of Upper Parachute through the main gut of Third with awesome tree chutes and pillows to play around with.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 177 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 106 m

High Exit

High Exit has some steep, fun, gladed skiing along the skier's left hand side of Third Bowl as it is joined by the Lower Third Bowl Entrance from Phoenix Bowl.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 145 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 105 m

Chiquita

Chiquita holds soft snow hours after the powder frenzy on the skier's left side of Banana.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 283 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 162 m

No Fat Chicks Traverse

A traverse from the West Side runs back to Aspen Park Road that saves you heading down Hockey Rink to Banana Exit.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 396 m
Ascent: 3 m
Descent: 34 m

Pygmy Spear Garden

The bottom of Funnel ends in the Pygmy Spear Garden, a lower angle powder field with bumps, small trees, and bushes.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 153 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 68 m

Predator

Predator offers steep trees and fun skiing after a storm off of Sunset Ridge.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 293 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 167 m

Sunny Glade

A quick clear steep pitch in the middle of a thick tree section in the trees between Big Chute and Headwall Glades

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 273 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 138 m

Luge

A bump run through the aspen trees

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 521 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 107 m

Left West Wall

Steep tree skiing through rocky terrain and fun lines.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 188 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 89 m

Rosy Lane / Easy Rider

Back to back knolls off the skier's right of Hawk's Nest used to access the Sock it to Me Ridge.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 292 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 110 m

Phaser Trees

A steep thicker tree section on the far skiers left of the Sock it to Me Ridge.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 215 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 114 m

House Rock / Weather Station

House Rock and Weather Station are powder stashes off of the Silver Queen that put you into Upper Forest.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 380 m
Ascent: 3 m
Descent: 138 m

Treeline

Treeline is a steep, fun, rolling pitch along the skier's left side of Old Pro.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 160 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 62 m

The Sink

The Sink is a low-lying pow stash through aspen and pine forests off the Teocalli Lift.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 535 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 125 m

Land of Many Names

Land of Many Names is a pillow land with all types of 5-25 foot cliffs to bounce between.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 244 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 109 m

Hidden Chutes

Hidden Chutes are steep tree chutes off of Sunset Ridge in Funnel.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 219 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 151 m

Rabbit Ears

Rabbit Ears is a high, steep pitch into Headwall with many rocks off of the Headwall Ridge Traverse.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 214 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 127 m

Ghost Rider

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 253 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 95 m

Powder Rock Glade

Powder Rock Glade is the skier's left hand boundary of The Glades before it hits "Easy Out".

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 90 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 44 m

Beaver Slides

The Beaver Slides are the sweet powder trees between Silver Queen Road and Ruby Road above Keystone Ridge.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 101 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 34 m

Morning Glory Reacharound

The Morning Glory Reacharound is a way to get back to Headwall after skiing the top pitch of Morning Glory.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 255 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 31 m

Horseshoe Nose

The steep end of the Horseshoe Ridge, offering bony airs and mini spines.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 259 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 93 m

Schnoid's

Schnoid's are some tight, mellower trees found after Outta Sight Outta Mind on the skier's left hand side of Teo 2.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 335 m
Ascent: 1 m
Descent: 94 m

Paradise Lift Glade

Paradise Lift Glade looks out over the Paradise area with big bumps and powder stashes.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 148 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 78 m

Elevator Shaft / Right West Wall

The skier's right side of the West Wall of Paradise Bowl, which includes the Elevator Shaft.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 115 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 64 m

Gerry's

Gerry's is the group of steep trees in the skier's left area of Tower 11 Chutes.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 158 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 83 m

Quick's / No See Um

Quick's and No See Um are hidden tree runs in The Glades that access Stevie's, Paradise Lift Glade, and Powder Rock Glade through quick pitches and trees.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 316 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 102 m

Tunnel / Walkout

Tunnel and Walk Out have great fall line skiing under Old Pro and Treeline onto the "Easy Out" Exit to Paradise.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 98 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 33 m

Buck's Traverse

Buck's Traverse gives you the chance to get back to Paradise Express from Last Steep if don't want to head to East River.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 301 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 26 m

Slipper

Slipper's technical rocks and pillows offer a steeper finish to Hawk's Nest and Old Pro onto "Easy Out" Exit to Paradise.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 67 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 40 m

Disgusting Trees

A thick tree run through the steep trees that separate Slot Rocks and Sock it to Me Ridge.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 271 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 147 m

Picture Perfect Glades

Steep but playful gladed terrain above the Staircase section of North Face.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 149 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 68 m

Solar Plexus

Solar Plexus can be a pillow smashers dream over large and medium pillows if the conditions are right and it's not too sun baked.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 239 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 122 m

Body Bag

A steep, gnarly run that ends in a mandatory 15 foot cliff band.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 203 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 125 m

Big Tree Chute

Big Tree Chute is the lowest skier's right hand boundary of Third Bowl through a natural chute between trees and rocks.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 182 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 111 m

Mushroom Cliffs Bowl

Mushroom Cliffs Bowl has playful pillows and steep trees on the skier's right hand boundary of Third Bowl

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 202 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 84 m

Dead Bob's Chute

A long shaded chute in the in the Staircase section of the North Face.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 347 m
Ascent: 3 m
Descent: 182 m

Sun Steps

Slightly gladed playful terrain with some drops

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 202 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 41 m

Rock N Roll Glades

A fun tree run littered with small cliff drops.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 210 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 126 m

Slot Rocks

A rocky cliff section near the bottom of the Staircase area.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 142 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 91 m

Tower 10 Glades

Tower 10 Glades is the most skier's left side of The Glades under the Paradise Express with fun tree skiing and powder stashes.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 231 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 72 m

Marley's Glade

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 324 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 148 m

Outta Sight Outta Mind

Outta Sight Outta Mind has some serious pillows and spines through trees from the top of Teo 2.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 257 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 167 m

Figure 11 Chutes

Figure 11 Chutes are some steep, rocky tree chutes to the skier's right of Big Chute and skier's left of Sunny Glade.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 312 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 146 m

Timber Chutes

Timber Chutes are the tight trees on the skier's left of Paradise Cliffs.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 135 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 74 m

Slot

A steep tree run containing cliffs and rocks near the Staircase section of the North Face.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 287 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 169 m

Good Luck Glades

Good Luck Glades is the skier's right hand side of Third Bowl after the top pitches bench out above Lower Parachute and Solar Plexus.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 201 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 105 m

Crystal Trees

Well pitched tree section in between Crystal and International.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 533 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 201 m

Headwall East

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 268 m
Ascent: 1 m
Descent: 72 m

Center Westwall

Steep tree skiing with fun chutes and bony airs.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 138 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 79 m

Angle Gully

A billy goat line through the middle of the main rock section of headwall.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 111 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 75 m

Championship Cliffs

A large cliff area in the far upper skier's right of the Sock it to Me Ridge.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 168 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 104 m

Nub's Knob

Nub's Knob has some awesome aspen tree skiing in steeper terrain in the Bakery Trees.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 280 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 92 m

Upper Old Lift Line

A bump run originally cut for the Old Silver Queen Gondola.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 380 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 153 m

Cess Pool

A steep rocky run with a closeout choke on the far skier's left of Sock it to Me Ridge.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 196 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 120 m

Little Hourglass

A steep apron that funnels into a narrow mandatory cliff move before opening up in the runout.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 162 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 91 m

Lower Old Lift Line

Cut bump run off the left side of International bordering Championship.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 512 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 108 m

Silvanite Left

An open field of turns beyond the trees on Silvanite's left hand boundary.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 211 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 67 m

Psycho Rocks

A steep cliff section on the lower side of the mountain.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 316 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 93 m

Keyhole / Last Stash

Keyhole / Last Stash is a steep pitch in tight trees above Last Steep, accessed by a short side-step above "Easy Out" Exit To Paradise.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 372 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 126 m

Honey Pie

Honey Pie is the opening section of The Glades with rolling powder pitches, trees, and pillow options.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 244 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 87 m

Pungee / V-Tree Chutes

Pungee/V-Tree Chutes hide between The Glades and Tower 11 Chutes.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 229 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 111 m

Whatever

Deep on the skier's right boundary of Teo 2 you'll find Whatever after taking the Teo 2 traverse all the way out.

Moderate Freeride Skiing

Distance: 165 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 42 m

Dead End Chutes

Steep chutes that end in large cliffs at the bottom of the North Face.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 198 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 122 m

East LA / Pasta Bowl

A wide bowl that begins with large cliffs in the hike to terrain skier's right of Spellbound Bowl.

Severe Freeride Skiing

Distance: 256 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 106 m

Phoenix Chutes

Steep tree chutes with larger cliffs and lines

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 327 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 211 m

Upper Parachute

Upper Parachute is the central entrance into Third Bowl, with big pillows or mandatory turns around them through the trees.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 134 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 85 m

Big Hourglass - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Big Hourglass is a permanently closed area on the skier's left side of lower Third Bowl sometimes used as freeride competition venue.

Extreme Freeride Skiing

Distance: 202 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 164 m

Smuggler's Knob

Smuggler's Knob is the skier's right hand rope line area on a little bench under Good Luck Glades as it falls through steep, fun terrain into Lower Third Bowl.

Difficult Freeride Skiing

Distance: 164 m
Ascent: 0 m
Descent: 59 m

Solar Junkyard / Magic Carpet

Solar Junkyard and Magic Carpet form the skier's left hand side of Third Bowl after Solar Plexus and High Exit are joined by the Lower Third Bowl entrance from Phoenix Bowl.

Severe Freeride Skiing