Every fall, the valleys surrounding Crested Butte, Colorado come ablaze with aspens and other trees blanketing the countryside in fiery reds, golden yellows, and burnt oranges. This post spotlights the best fall hikes in Crested Butte and environs.
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Best Time to See Fall Color in Crested Butte
Mother Nature runs on her own schedule, and the fall color will vary slightly based on that year’s conditions. As a general rule, drier summers cause foliage to peak a week or so earlier than normal, and the color is often less vibrant and shorter-lived.
However, mid-to-late September into early October is usually a good bet for fall color viewing. Every year, we visit Crested Butte in the third week of September, and the prime viewing spots are almost always close to peak.
Fall Color Tip: The Crested Butte tourism office maintains a fall foliage report that is updated weekly during the season, with accompanying photos and maps. It’s a great resource to bookmark ahead of your trip, to find the best spots in real time.
The Best Fall Hikes in Crested Butte
Over the years, we’ve completed nearly every major trail around Crested Butte. Factoring in proximity to town, aspen groves, and other factors that contribute to vibrant foliage, the following list highlights (in our opinion) the best fall hikes in Crested Butte and environs.
Dark Canyon, Irwin and Dyke Mountain Loop
Distance: between 3–5.7 miles
Location: Kebler Pass (trailhead directions)
Good For: classic, well-rounded hike
This is one of our favorite hikes near Crested Butte, any time of year. But especially in the autumn, it has some of the best fall foliage around.
Located out along Kebler Pass, it’s about a 30-minute drive from town, but you’ll be rewarded with some absolutely jaw-dropping scenery along the way.
The full hike is 5.7 miles, but there are also many offshoot trails that loop back sooner, for less total mileage.
Tip: If you don’t want to do the full 5.7-mile loop, we recommend at least following the Dyke Trail to the scenic overlook about 2 miles in. It provides unobstructed views stretching 50 miles across Kebler Pass and the surrounding peaks, which explode in color each fall. Along the way, you’ll also pass through a thick aspen grove. When its color peaks, the air itself practically glows in golds and saffrons.
One final note: be prepared – the first mile of this hike is a steady climb before the terrain evens out. AllTrails link.
Snodgrass Mountain
Distance: between 3–6.1 miles
Location: just past Mt. Crested Butte (trailhead directions)
Good For: thick aspen grove, close to town
The Snodgrass Mountain trailhead is located along Gothic Road, just above Mt. Crested Butte. It’s a popular hike any time of year, but the thick aspen groves – in close proximity to town – make it a special draw come autumn.
As with the Dyke Trail above, you can abbreviate the hike if you don’t want to trek the full 6.1 miles.
The best aspens are located approximately 1.5 miles in. From here, you can either choose to complete the full loop, or return to the trailhead. Assuming you walk into the heart of the grove, this shorter out-and-back is about 3.5 miles total. AllTrails link.
Woods Walk
Distance: 1–2.9 miles
Location: town of Crested Butte (trailhead directions)
Good For: kids, walkability from town
Woods Walk is a delightful little stroll on the edge of town. Head west down Elk Avenue until it dead-ends against a small rise, and pick up the trail at the top of the hill.
Overall, the walk itself is flat and meandering, cutting through some beautiful groves that turn bright gold in the fall.
And while the trail does extend as far as 2.9 miles, many people shorten it to a quick 1-mile jaunt. Once the tree-lined avenue opens up to a broad vista of the valley, there’s a clear footpath on the right side of the trail that will take you back down into the residential neighborhood where you started. AllTrails link.
Columbine Trail
Distance: 1–3.7 miles
Location: Mt. Crested Butte (trailhead directions)
Good For: proximity to town, amenities besides just hiking
Columbine is technically a mountain bike trail (and you’ll want to keep an eye out for riders coming downhill). But the scenic walk takes you through a thick grove of aspens that absolutely dazzle in their vividness during the autumn months. In our opinion, this is one of the most underrated fall hikes in Crested Butte.
Since there’s no set trailhead, the best place to park is at Umbrella Bar, near the Painter Boy ski lifts. From there, you’ll find the Columbine Trail along the western side of the ridge, and can take the loop as far downhill as you like. It eventually spits you out in the residential area of Mt. Crested Butte, but there are so many crisscrossing trails, you can create as long a hike as you wish.
Tip: We love bringing picnic fixings and making a larger outing of it. Umbrella Bar is usually closed in the fall, but you can still utilize their Adirondack chairs to enjoy your spread with sweeping 360° views over Crested Butte and surrounding valleys.
While there’s no actual AllTrails link for the aspen grove along Columbine Trail, this AllTrails link gets you close.
Judd Falls
Distance: 2.2 miles
Location: Gothic Valley (trailhead directions)
Good For: panoramic views, scenic drives
Judd Falls is Gothic Valley’s most popular hike year-round, for good reason. It provides panoramic views of the valley (which is consistently ranked among Crested Butte’s most scenic drives), before you even get to the viewpoint above the cascading falls.
But in autumn, Gothic Valley comes alive, as the surrounding hillsides are blanketed in rich fall foliage. The result is a stunning hike, all for minimal mileage and elevation gain. (On your way out, be sure to stop at the quaint Coffee Lab in Gothic for a warm treat). AllTrails link.
Meridian Lake Loop
Distance: 2.1 miles
Location: Washington Gulch (trailhead directions)
Good For: quick hike close to town
We’ll note that, as far as fall foliage goes, Meridian Lake has less color than the other spots on this list. Much of the short trail winds through pine forest, which (obviously) stays green year-round.
However, the trailhead is located along Washington Gulch, which does see vibrant autumn leaves burst onto the scene each September. You’ll get sweeping views of the valley along the early part of this trail, before it climbs into the pines.
If you’re looking for a quick jaunt to stretch your legs close to town, Meridian Lake is a solid bet. AllTrails link.
Beaver Ponds
Distance: 1.1 miles
Location: Ohio Pass (trailhead directions)
Good For: kids, minimal elevation, scenic drive
Beaver Ponds is a great little hike for families and those wanting an easy stroll. The trail meanders through thick aspen groves to a pair of charming ponds, where the namesake residents have built large lodges that is a fun add-on for kids.
Getting here takes you over both Kebler Pass and Ohio Pass, two of the area’s most stunning fall foliage drives, which only adds to the seasonal charm. AllTrails link.