Gunnison County’s two million acres of snow-capped landscapes just scream backcountry adventure. With some of the most accessible skiing terrain in Colorado and lines that often get 2-3 times more snowfall than the resort ones, choosing the backcountry is a no-brainer! And while the area’s more famous for its steep and challenging terrain, it also boasts an impressive amount of Nordic and cross-country opportunities. The Elk Mountains house too many classic trails to count, the snowy valleys are a feast for the eyes, and the terrain variety is guaranteed to satisfy all levels of cross-country connoisseurs. If you’re itching to discover how Crested Butte earned its title of Nordic Ski Capital of Colorado, come and see why!
Abandon the groomed trails and head for the wilderness! Join an experienced local guide on a fully customized cross-country ski tour in Crested Butte’s breathtaking backcountry. Whether you’re a newcomer or a cross-country fanatic, your guide will choose the perfect terrain and individual objectives for you. Travel light and fast, as most of the trailheads are only 15 minutes away from the town of Crested Butte!
Exceptional guides, exceptional skiing. Five-star experience.
Highly impressed all around by Irwin. Kudos for doing it right!
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Crested Butte, Colorado, please refer to Colorado’s COVID-19 travel guidelines.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
To enjoy this backcountry adventure, you’ll need to have decent cardiovascular fitness levels. You’ll be cross-country skiing on varied terrain for half a day. While cross-country skiing is a full-body workout and it can be very challenging, your guide will help you choose the right terrain for your experience and fitness levels.
This cross-country ski adventure isn’t just for experienced skiers, it’s also beginner-friendly, meaning anyone with decent physical fitness can participate. If you’re a beginner, you’ll stay on relatively flat and short low-altitude trails, and your guide will teach you basic cross-country techniques while you’re enjoying the beauty of the backcountry. For intermediate and advanced cross-country skiers, Crested Butte also has plenty of red and black trails to enjoy.
For technical backcountry cross-country skiing gear, you will need to bring:
For personal items, we recommend bringing:
All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:
Ski rental locations are in Crested Butte and should be picked up the night prior to your outing. If you need to rent gear, let us know and we can help make arrangements.
Group sizes and pricing:
Cross-country skiing in Crested Butte can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to Crested Butte, CO, most people fly into Denver International Airport 4.5 hours away. From there, you can rent a car and drive to Crested Butte. Alternatively, you can take a bus to Gunnison and a taxi to Crested Butte, or hop on a local flight to Montrose and take a shuttle there.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop in Crested Butte or a predetermined location. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the ability of the group.
Day Trips Cancellations
Fully refundable within the initial 48 hours from booking, unless the trip date is less than 7 days from the time of the booking.
Cancellations up to 7 days prior to the trip date are refundable 100%.
Cancellations within 7 days prior to the trip date are non-refundable.
Irwin does it right. They have top-notch accommodations, excellent terrain, extremely knowledgeable guides, and incredibly friendly staff. Billy, Jake, Sidney, and Dave were amazing on the mountain, and Tim, Juniper, Neil, and the rest of the support staff were great. My buddy broke a binding early in the day and Tim buzzed up, picked him up, gave him Irwin skis and he was back with the group on the next lap. Throw in being lucky enough to catch the best powder day of 2018 and you have a day we will never forget. I highly recommend Irwin for their professionalism, knowledge, and first-rate accommodations. I can’t wait to get back and ski with my new friends. Can’t say enough about this great outfit.