My mountain fam visited Colorado this summer and loved all the summer kid activities at Crested Butte Mountain Resort! Here’s eight great summer activities we recommend.
1. Mountain Biking
Our fam’s FAVORITE summer activity! The Evolution Bike Park at Crested Butte Mountain Resort is great for mountain bikers of all abilities. Mountain Dad scoped out some runs in the morning and especially enjoyed the blue (intermediate) Luge run.
The green (beginner) run Hotdogger was perfect for me and 9-year-old Big E – long and flowy with little jumps and rollers.
So FUN!
Click here to see our Mountain Biking Gear recommendations.
2. Scenic lift ride on Silver Queen
Crested Butte gets its name from an awesome natural rock feature – see this photo?
It seems so massive and inaccessible, but actually you can hike right to the top! It’s just 4.6 miles from the top of Silver Queen lift to the tippy top of THE Crested Butte. While I did NOT try that hike with my kids (I’m not crazy – my 3-year-old would not have survived) I loved looking at the Butte on a scenic lift ride.
While we were there wedding guests loaded the Red Lady lift to enjoy a scenic lift ride before attending a wedding back at a Crested Butte cabin as well. I thought that was pretty cool – a beautiful place for a beautiful day.
3. Tin Cup Mining
The Crested Butte Mountain Resort Adventure Pass ($47 adults, $40 kids 7-17, $35 kids under 6) allows access to all the fun activities at the resort’s base including mountain biking in the evolution bike park and my kids’ favorite – Tin Cup Mining!
Psst…The only activity the daily adventure pass doesn’t cover is zip lining – that’s an extra charge.
Tin Cup Mining in the Adventure Park was the absolute favorite activity of Big E and little G. Every Adventure park daily pass offers one bucket of sandy goodness that you can sift through a sluice in search of precious gems.
I’m not sure WHY finding rocks was so cool for my kids, but Tin Cup Mining was the first and last activity my kids wanted to do. Big E even spent $13.50 extra of his own money (ouch!) to buy the Emerald Strike deluxe bag of sand.
4. Zero Gravity BagJump
Did I just hear you ask, “Uh, What’s a BagJump?”
Don’t worry, I didn’t know either until I saw it…and it’s awesome. Basically it’s a gigantic pillow – like the size of two or more camper trailers that you jump onto from high in the air.
Kids and adults alike can climb twenty feet in the air and leap onto an air-filled bag. If you’ve ever imagined what it would be like to jump out of a building without getting hurt this is your chance.
The Zero Gravity BagJump is a must do for kids AND adults and something unique to Crested Butte Mountain Resort. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
5. Flying Gopher Mini Golf
This 18 hole mini golf course entertained my crew for hours. Three-year-old Baby L liked to just grab her ball and send it down a tunnel over and over again.
I liked all the local flavor incorporated into the course – there’s Colorado license plates adorning the windmill, carved bears standing guard and a Wildflower Capital of Colorado hole as well.
I also liked the large pavilion that offers shade and protection if it rains. Afternoon thunderstorms are common at Crested Butte Mountain Resort so this is a big plus.
Some of the mini golf greens are a bit worn but Flying Gopher Mini Golf was still lots of fun.
6. Rock Climbing Tower
Little G is our little climber and enjoyed going UP the climbing tower in the Adventure Park, but got scared coming down.
Luckily the Crested Butte Mountain Resort employee manning the Rock Climbing tower was prepped and accomodating. He scurried up there and helped her down.
7. Camp CB
Now if you’re coming to visit Crested Butte and want some time away from your 3 to 14 year old, you could sign them up for Camp CB!
This day camp for kids uses all the Adventure Park activities – Rock Climbing, Bungy Trampoline Jump, Mini Golf, Bag Jump, Playground, Tin Cup Mining, Evolution Bike Park, Scenic Lift Rides and more. It’s a great option if you’re trying to raise a mountain kid.
The one drawback is the price. At $103 per day ($92.70 if you pre-book online) it’s not something my mountain family could afford as part of our family vacations, especially since we have three kids.
8. Mountain Kids
For the even more adventurous mountain kid, Crested Butte Mountain Resort offers a high adventure Mountain Kids day camp. Activities include natural rock climbing, stand up paddle boarding, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, ropes courses, archery and more.
In the Mountain Kids program, your child might be zooming down single track on their mountain bikes one day and scaling that iconic Crested Butte the next.
Pricewise it’s similar to the Camp CB – $90 per full day, or $75 for a 3/4 day that ends at 3:30pm.
The difference between the two camps is that Camp CB keeps kids at Crested Butte Mountain Resort while Mountain Kids will travel all over Gunnison valley for more high adventure activities.
There you have it. Eight summer activities for kids at Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. Next time you’re planning a Colorado vacation, don’t miss Crested Butte Mountain Resort!
Thank you to Zach at Crested Butte Mountain Resort for coordinating this trip and giving us free Adventure Passes.
