Best Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte

(Last Updated On: July 11, 2017)

Crested Butte is dubbed the “Wildflower Capital of Colorado” since 1990. We even have a wildflower festival to celebrate these wonderful native plants. And we can give testament to the fact that we have some pretty good wildflowers in these parts – just about as best as they come! While you can see many wildflowers by venturing out on scenic drives, there is no better way than to appreciate the wildflowers we have than hiking.

But, where is the best place to hike? Herein lies the problem. The peak of the wildflowers fluctuates. Where they are best depends on the time of summer, and it even depends on the rate of snow-melt – which in itself can vary from year to year. But, there are patterns of progression to the wildflowers. And this article will help you decide where to hike to find the wildflowers depending on the time of summer.

Wildflowers in early to mid-June

Depending on the year, many wildflowers don’t really come out until mid-June. But, June is our greenest month. So, when the wildflowers begin popping out, they are a rainbow among the leprechaun green that blankets the valley. The lupine is always the first flower to really proliferate, although close to snow-line you will see a lot of glacier lilies. This as also the time when the corn lilies (more commonly, but incorrectly, called skunk cabbage) starts to sprout and grow quickly towards the sky.

Trails may be limited in June due to snow-cover still. It is likely that most trails above tree line will still have snow. If you are wondering about snow-cover during a certain year, make sure to stop into a local outdoors shop to find out more information.

Look for lupine on the Upper Loop and Lupine Trail. There will also be larkspur, paintbrush, and other “wetter” flowers on the Copley Lake Trail and Lower Loop.

Wildflowers in late June to mid-July

In late June and early July, the sunflowers are in their glory. You will see hues of yellow, from Aspen sunflowers to mule’s ears to sneezeweed. These will be at their best at mid-elevations, at treeline or just below. In many places, these will be heavily contrasted with scarlet gilia. Of course, there will still be plenty of blue and purple hues with larkspur, monkshood, and waning lupine. Columbine will also be present in a lot of areas.

The best trails for sunflowers during this time include the Cliff Creek trail towards Beckwith Pass, Oh-Be-Joyful, and Rustler Gulch. You will also find great wildflowers of all kinds on Meander or Prospector, and parts of Columbine, at the Crested Butte ski area.

In drier grassy/sage-brush areas different flowers may be popping out like flax and penstemon. These will likely be best on the Upper Loop, Tony’s Trail, Strand Bonus, Upper Cement Creek trail, and the East River Trail.

Wildflowers in late July to early August

During this time, the sunflowers are still usually good, but at higher elevations. Additionally, the late summer flowers, like asters and fireweed, start to make their appearance better known. You will likely notice corn lilies (aka “skunk cabbage”) beginning to die back.

The flowers don’t get much better than up the trail from the West Maroon Trailhead. Most years, you will find wildflowers that are over your head! Head toward Rustler Gulch, West Maroon Pass, Frigid Air Pass, or Hasley Pass. If you can, drop into Fravert Basin or Hasley Basin for added wildflower goodness. The wildflowers are also spectacular on the Schofield Pass Loop.

Further away, the wildflowers will likely be great on Daisy Pass and the upper part of Oh-Be-Joyful basin towards Blue Lake.

Wildflowers in mid to late August

In late August, some of the flowers at higher elevations can start to be impacted by frosts. You will notice that the sunflowers really start to wane. However, you still will find good flowers above treeline. While the sunflowers are on their way out, lower-lying flowers stick around for quite some time – like paintbrush. You will also find fields of beautiful fleabanes and goldeneye. Then the asters emerge at many different elevations. In some years, even the West Maroon area can have abundant wildflowers even at the end of August. But, the sunflowers will have likely passed in this area by then. Usually, the wildflowers tend to remain good far up Rustler Gulch. The Schofield Pass Loop is still usually good. And Cliff Creek trail towards Beckwith Pass sometimes stays good this time of year.

Often, there is a resurgence of flowers in the grassy/sage-brush areas. The buckwheat is particularly beautiful with its range of colors from cream to peach to orange to yellow-green to red. Try the Upper Loop, Tony’s Trail, Strand Bonus, Upper Cement Creek trail, and the Brush Creek Trail.

Useful Information

When possible, I have provided links to our official hiking guide. But, some of the trails I have mentioned above are not in my guide, as we tend to bike them more than hike them. If this is the case, you will find them in our biking guide. But, I have included a bit of information on them here:

• Columbine

To hike Columbine, park at the lot at the base of the ski area. If you would like a map, stop by the Adventure Center and they can provide a free one for you. From the bottom of the Red Lady Lift, look for a trail called Up and Away. After about a half mile, this trail will intersect with Columbine. Columbine winds upward, intersecting with Painterboy. You can keep following Painterboy, to the top of the ridge, or you can turn around. This trail is best done as an out and back. It’s about 2 miles one-way from the base to the top of the ridge.

• Lower Loop

From HWY 135, turn west onto Elk, then right onto Second, then left onto Butte Avenue. Continue on the dirt road, past Peanut Lake, to a parking lot and the start of the Lower Loop. The Lower Loop can be done as an out and back or an actual loop. From Peanut Lake, the loop is about 4 miles. See a map here.



• Lupine

From HWY 135, turn west onto Slate River Rd. Continue a few miles until the road becomes dirt. Shortly after, the trail will be on your right. Park off the side of the road. Lupine is 2.5 miles one-way, and best done as a out-and-back.

• Meander

From town, continue up HWY 135 past the base area for the ski area. Go until the road becomes dirt. You will see parking on the left side of the road. Park there, and cross to the other side of the road (east side) to begin your hike. Walk up a short dirt road for about 1 minute, then you will see Meander veering off to the left and downward. Meander is best done as and out-and-back and is about 3-miles one-way.

• Prospector

From town, continue up HWY 135 past the base area for the ski area. Go until the road becomes dirt. You will see parking on the left side of the road. Park there, but continue walking up Prospector Rd (which is paved) for about 1/4 mile. You will see the bottom of the Prospector lift. Continue upward, following the Prospector trail signs. Prospecter is best done as an out-and-back and is about 1.5 miles long.

• Strand Bonus

From town, head south and after about a mile, turn left onto Brush Creek Road. Continue on Brush Creek Rd. The road will become dirt. At 2.5 miles, you will find the Brush Creek Trailhead, pass that and go another 1.6 miles to the bottom of the Canal Trail. Parking is limited, but park off the side of the road. To begin your hike, you will need to cross the canal and begin hiking upwards on the canal trail for .9 miles. There, turn right onto Strand Bonus. You can hike until the end of Strand Bonus (1.3 miles) and turn around. See a map of the area.

• Tony’s Trail



Tony’s trail can be easily accessed from town. Go East on Elk Avenue until it dead-ends into a dirt road. The dirt road is private property, but walkers and bikers are allowed on it to access Tony’s trail (but no cars). Walk about 1/2 mile on this dirt road until it meets up with Tony’s trail. Tony’s trail winds .7 miles upward until its intersection with the Upper Loop. Continue on the Upper Loop if you like or retrace your tracks back to town. See a map of the area.
• Upper Loop

To see wildflowers, the Upper Loop is best accessed via Tony’s Trail. So, follow the directions for Tony’s Trail. Tony’s Trail intersects with the Upper Loop. There, turn left (or north). Upper Loop continues another 1.3 miles until a road, but the wildflowers will be best in the first .5 to .75 miles. Turn around when you desire and retrace your tracks back to town. See a map of the area.

• Upper Cement Creek Trail

From HWY 135, turn east up Cement Creek. Go 6.7 miles and you will see the parking for Deadman’s trailhead on your right. Continue onward another 1.3 miles to a big switch back in the road. The Upper Cement Creek trail starts here. Park on the side of the road, although parking is limited. The Upper Cement Creek trail is a little over 3 miles one direction and best done as an out-and-back. See map of the area.

Hiking for Wildflowers

I love riding my bike. And I love riding my bike while surrounded by wildflowers. But, I really can’t enjoy the wildflowers while on wheels as much as I can on foot. There have been trails I have biked many times, and have hardly noticed the wildflowers- only to go back there on foot and find myself engulfed in them. Hiking among wildflowers is simply magical. The sweet scent of the air, the buzzing of the bees, and the myriad of colors are something that everyone should experience. And the goal of this guide was to help bring that experience to you.

Hopefully, you found this guide useful for determining the best wildflower hikes in Crested Butte, depending on the time of summer. Should you have any questions or information to add, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Now, get out and enjoy the flowers!