Boutique Lodge near Skiing at Crested Butte Mountain

Crested Butte is affectionately called "Colorado's last great ski town.” The feel of the Old West is still intact here: Elk Avenue, the main drag in the downtown National Historic District, is lined with Victorian storefronts and fine-dining restaurants housed in log cabins. The Inn at Crested Butte is situated in the heart of downtown, about 2 miles south of skiing at Crested Butte Mountain.

All members of the inn's front-desk staff are longtime residents of the area, and they know the ins and outs of the mountain trails here. They can also help you arrange for lift tickets and equipment at Crested Butte Mountain Resort; the mountain opens for skiing on November 21. Guests at The Inn at Crested Butte are entitled to 20% off equipment rentals at Peak Sports, which is located at the base of the lifts.

Once you return to the inn after a day out, you can join a complimentary wine tasting that features seasonal selections handpicked by a local sommelier. Feel free to curl up by the lobby fireplace with a glass of red, or buy a bottle of white to take back to your room. "This is a great place for people who like to go out and do things, and then come back, relax, and watch the sunset," says Ken Stone, a consultant for the Inn at Crested Butte.

It’s also easy to get a nice view of the mountains at the Inn. A hot tub located on the second-story porch looks directly at the peaks. The sun-filled dining room has a front porch with great views; guests head here every morning to enjoy a hearty continental breakfast, which has a spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, and pastries.

Crested Butte, Colorado: Small Ski-Resort Town in the Rockies with Authentic Old West Charm

Crested Butte is situated at 9,000 feet in southwest Colorado's Rocky Mountains, and it’s surrounded by some lovely scenery. After a resort area was built on Crested Butte Mountain in 1961, the former coal-mining town emerged as a major ski center, particularly for extreme skiers. The mountain today has the Gold Link Terrain Park. The park is great for skiers of all levels, though—74% of its 121 trails are designated at the intermediate/beginner level.

Crested Butte's downtown area nods to its Old West roots. Victorian storefronts and art galleries line downtown Elk Avenue, and there’s a famous rum distillery that welcomes visitors year-round. For a glimpse into the town's history, head to the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, which has an elaborate diorama that elucidates life here in the mining days of the 1920s.

Though most famous for skiing, Crested Butte is also hailed as one of the most dynamic cities in the country for mountain biking. Some even claim the sport actually began here. Located 8 miles from the hotel, Pearl Pass—the birthplace of the "fat-tire" craze—stretches for nearly 40 miles through rugged alpine terrain.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.