Driving into Fall: via Gunnison-Crested Butte

Outstanding fall travel deals make this a prime season to explore the Colorado Rockies

Each fall, Mother Nature transforms Gunnison-Crested Butte from a valley lush with wildflowers to a spectacular mountain panorama of gold, orange, and crimson. Perhaps best known for Kebler Pass, the largest aspen grove in the United States, the area offers eye-popping vistas at almost every turn on five autumn drives and the countless trails that dot this southwest Colorado area.

It’s easy to become surrounded by the gold rush. Hike one of the outstanding trails off Kebler Pass or Ohio Pass, ride Trail 401 or one of the area’s other classic bike routes, and head out on a horseback ride with Fantasy Ranch Horseback Adventures, Sawbuck Outfitters Wilderness Horseback Adventures, or Ferro’s Blue Mesa Ranch & Guide Service. Crested Butte Mountain Guides and Colorado Backcountry can help beginner to advanced outdoor enthusiasts hit the trail on bike or foot, and fishing outfitters provide outlandish views of their own and insider tips about the annual kokanee salmon run.

Festivals, farmers’ markets, biking and running events, stargazing, gallery walks, and much more also are on tap during fall, a season of all sorts of adventures for couples, weekend warriors, and families as well as getaway options for the guys or gals.

Five Fall Drive Routes

Ohio Creek Road to Kebler Pass

From just north of Gunnison on Colorado Highway 135, take a left on Ohio Creek Road (look for signs). About 12 miles up the Ohio Creek Valley, travelers will see the spires of “the Castles.” These are erosion remnants carved out of volcanic debris that erupted from the West Elk Volcano, now extinct. Continuing on, look for a fine view of the Anthracite Range. Near the end of Ohio Creek Road is the intersection with Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12). At that junction, you can head west toward Colorado Highway 133, where southbound goes toward Paonia or northbound to Paonia Dam and Redstone over breathtaking McClure Pass, a popular route to Aspen. Heading east on Kebler Pass Road, you’ll come to Crested Butte, with the eighth largest National Historic District in Colorado. Before heading to Crested Butte, take a short detour and go north to the beautiful Lake Irwin.

Kebler Pass to Marble & Crystal River Valley

Going north out of Crested Butte on Whiterock Avenue, the road turns into County Road 12, a well-maintained, hard-surface dirt and gravel road. A stop across the road from Horse Ranch Park provides one of the most scenic landscapes of the Anthracite Mountain Range and a predictable pocket of red amongst the expanse of gold and yellow. Continuing on through the West Elk Mountains, pass by the scenic vista of the largest aspen grove in the United States. After a total of 30 miles from Crested Butte and at the intersection of Highway 133, go right and travel along the Paonia Reservoir and over McClure Pass. After the right turn onto Highway 133 and another turn on County Road 3, it is approximately 27 miles to Marble, a historic mining town.

West Elk Loop Scenic & Historic Byway

One of the most picturesque drives in Colorado is the West Elk Scenic & Historic Byway, a 204-mile route that includes Crested Butte, Almont, Gunnison, Crawford, Hotchkiss, Paonia, Redstone, Carbondale, and more. From Gunnison, the byway heads north on Highway 135 to Crested Butte, continues on the gravel Kebler Pass Road (County Road 12) and links with Highway 133 near Paonia Dam. Complete the loop back around to Gunnison by going south on Highway 133 and east on Highway 92 toward Blue Mesa Lake and the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. At Highway 50, go east back to Gunnison through Curecanti National Recreation Area or west to the main entrance of the national park and Montrose.

Almont to Various Scenic Routes

Between the towns of Gunnison and Crested Butte on Highway 135 is Almont, where the Taylor and East Rivers meet to create the Gunnison River. From Gunnison, go east at Almont on Taylor Canyon Road to Taylor Park Dam and Reservoir. From here, travelers have three choices: 1) Go east on Cottonwood Pass to Buena Vista; 2) Go north and loop back to Almont on Spring Creek Road; or 3) Go southeast through one of the richest gold strike areas in Gunnison County traveling through Tin Cup, over Cumberland Pass, and through Pitkin, Ohio City, and Parlin before reaching Gunnison.

Crested Butte to Gothic

Drive three miles from Crested Butte to Mt. Crested Butte and continue to Gothic, located on the east bank of the East River at the junction with Copper Creek. Gothic was a mid- to late-1800s boom town that now is home to the famed Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, a scientific field station. Camping and hiking and biking trails can be accessed from Gothic.

Learn more at GunnisonCrestedButte.com