Crested Butte Region

The Castles from Ohio Creek Rd
Fall Colors – Slate River Rd
  • FlowersBilled as “The Wildflower Capital of Colorado”, Crested Butte doesn’t disappoint. Try Cement Creek or the Lake Irwin area.
  • Fall ColorsKebler Pass – Ohio Pass
  • Scenic vistasScenery on the Slate River/Washington Gulch loop is spectacular.

Washington Gulch | Slate River

Great vistas and wildflowers!

Dawn colors the peaks along the Slate River Rd near Crested Butte, Colorado.

How to get there:

The loop starts and ends at SH 135/Whiterock Ave in Crested Butte. Up the Washington Gulch Road and down Slate River Road.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • SH135/Whiterock Ave
  • 38.8679 -106.9808

In General:High Clearance Required

  • Length: 22 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 1 hour 30 mins

Washington Gulch road starts out smooth but gets progressively rougher as it approaches the junction with the Slate River Rd, which is generally much smoother on its way back to Crested Butte.

Photo Ops:VistasFall Colorswildflowers

Abundant summer wildflowers and impressive fall colors provide plenty of photo ops. There are some fine vistas a short way down from the junction offering views into the lush Slate River valley.

Gothic Road

Some remarkable vistas.

Emerald Lake on Gothic Rd near Crested Butte, Colorado.

How to get there:

Head north on SH 135 which will become Co Rd 317/Gothic Rd. Follow the road through Gothic to Schofield Pass.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • SH135/Whiterock Ave
  • 38.8679 -106.9808

In General:CampgroundHiking

  • Length: 14 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 50 mins

This road is passable by 2wd vehicle to the pass. Return the way you came.

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Kebler Pass to West Elk Loop

West Elk Loop Scenic BywayScenic BywayNational Forest Byway

Mountain vista along the Kebler Pass Rd near Crested Butte, Colorado.

How to get there:

From SH 135 and Whiterock Ave in Crested Butte, head west on Whiterock Ave which will become CR 12, the Kebler Pass Rd.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • SH 135/Whiterock Ave
  • 38.8679 -106.9808

In General:CampgroundFishing Available

  • Length: 32 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 2 hours

This generally smooth, wide gravel road connects Crested Butte with SH133 at Paonia SP and provides access to Lake Irwin/Robinson Basin and the Ohio Pass Rd.

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Lake Irwin

Wildflowers and waterfalls!

Blue columbine in the Lake Irwin area near Crested Butte, Colorado.

How to get there:

The road heads north from the Kebler Pass Rd 6.8 miles west of SH135 and ends in Robinson Basin north of Lake Irwin.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • Kebler Pass Rd/CR 826
  • 38.8576 -107.0951

In General:High Clearance Required4wd vehicle with low range requiredHiking

  • Length: 2.7 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 15 mins

Moderately rough 4wd road. 2wd vehicles can access Lake Irwin and possibly beyond.

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Ohio Pass Road

Awesome fall colors.

Fall colors and the Castles from the Ohio Pass Rd near Crested Butte, Colorado.

How to get there:

Starts from the Kebler Pass Rd about 7 miles west of Crested Butte and connects with SH 135 two miles north of Gunnison.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • Kebler Pass Rd/CR730
  • 38.8527 -107.0976

In General:4wd vehicle with low range requiredFishing AvailableHiking

  • Length: 23 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 1 hour 20 mins

This road winds its way up to Ohio Pass at an elevation of 10,074′ in two miles. This first section may not be passable to 2wd vehicles depending on conditions. As you drop down from the pass, it will travel through a large aspen forest before emerging into hay meadow bottoms and cattle ranches along Ohio Creek.

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Cement Creek

Great wildflower opportunities.

Vista from the Cement Creek Road near Crested Butte, CO.

How to get there:

Starting from Whiterock Ave in Crested Butte, drive 6.6 miles SE on SH 135 to Cement Creek Rd on the left.

  • From Denver to Crested Butte
  • 217 miles 4 hr 30 mins
  • GPS
  • SH 135/Cement Creek Rd
  • 38.8045 -106.8906

In General:4wd vehicle with low range requiredCampground

  • Length: 15 miles
  • Driving Time: min. 1 hour

In good conditions, the road is passable to 2wd vehicles for the first 8 or 9 miles, and then deteriorates as it approaches timberline.

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