Cross-Country Skiing in Crested Butte

Things to know

• Covid measures in Crested Butte, Colorado

  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’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • • An experienced, certified ski guide with extensive knowledge of the area
    • Half a day of cross-country skiing
    • Group equipment (map, compass, first aid kit)
    • Rescue access, coordination, and response if necessary

  What’s not included:

  • • Cross-country skiing equipment
    • Transportation
    • Accommodations
    • Food and snacks
• How fit do I need to be?

  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.

• What if I’ve never backcountry skied before?

  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.

• What equipment do I need to bring?

  For technical backcountry cross-country skiing gear, you will need to bring:

  • • Cross-country skis (can be rented)
    • Boots and poles (can be rented)

  For personal items, we recommend bringing:

  • • Helmet
    • Sunglasses
    • Gloves
    • Beanie or another winter-style hat
    • Ballcap or visor
    • Buff, neck gaiter or balaclava
    • Wind and waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Ski pants (Gore-Tex recommended)
    • Down or synthetic puffy jacket
    • Synthetic or wool base and mid-layers, underwear, and socks
    • Boot gaiters — optional
    • Water bottle or bladder system and 1L of water
    • Thermos with a warm beverage — optional
    • Lunch and plenty of snacks you can eat on-the-go
    • Sunscreen and lip balm
    • Daypack large enough to carry all items listed (around a 20-25L backpack)
    • Camera — optional
• Can I rent equipment?

  All mandatory gear can be rented if you don’t have your own. You can rent:

  • • Cross country skis, touring boots, and poles can be rented from your guide

  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 age requirements

  Group sizes and pricing:

  • • For this adventure, the max client-to-guide ratio is 5:1. All prices are per person.
    • Costs per person decrease as the group grows, so it’s the perfect opportunity to ski with friends and family.

  Cross-country skiing in Crested Butte can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has skiers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  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.

• Cancellation policy

  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.