Things to Do in Twin Lakes

History of Twin Lakes

Twin Lakes was settled in 1865 and was then called Dayton.  It became an important transportation town between Leadville and Aspen, where silver and gold were discovered, and a rough toll road was established over Independence Pass.

 Additionally, a hotel was constructed on the south shores of the natural Twin Lakes, now dammed to augment its water storage.  The hotel only lasted 25 years, but at the time Interlaken was known for its deluxe accommodations and Twin Lakes was described as the most charming summer mountain resort in Colorado.

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Top Things to Do in Crested Butte

History of Crested Butte

Crested Butte, once home to the Ute Indians, became a thriving coal mining town in the 1870s.  The coal mining survived many setbacks and lasted until 1952.  Thereafter, less industries relied on coal and the railroad removed its tracks.  Consequently, Crested Butte dwindled in size until 1958.

In such year, Texan Hubert Winston Smith established the Law Science Academy, an organization which provided educational programs for doctors, lawyers, and their families during the summer.  It resulted in the first large attraction of tourists.

Seven years later, in 1960, Dick Eflin and Fred Rice opened a ski area and added Colorado’s first gondola a few years later.  Today, Crested Butte continues to be a popular ski destination. 

Located at 8,885 feet near the Gunnison National Forest and Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, Crested Butte also offers plenty of summer time activities.  Below are some things to in Crested Butte.

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wildflower hike in Crested Butte

Wildflower Hikes in Crested Butte

There are so many wildflower hikes in Crested Butte.  In fact, you don’t even need to hike in mid-July to see amazing wildflowers as they line Washington Gulch Road, Gothic Road, and FS 317.  It would be easy just to take a scenic drive to see the wildflowers in Crested Butte.  Personally, however, one of my favorite pastimes is hiking through wildflowers, and Crested Butte is one of the best places to do this.  There is a reason why Crested Butte calls itself the wildflower capital of Colorado.

HAPPY HIKING!
wildflowers on hasley basin loop near crested butte

Happy Hiking: Hasley Basin Loop

With as many hikes as I’ve been doing in Crested Butte, I would normally try to condense them into a few blogs.  But the wildflowers in Crested Butte during mid-July are simply remarkable.  It’s hard enough to condense my daily barrage of photos just down to ten.  As a result, each hike warrants its own post. Today, Hasley Basin Loop gets the honors.

HAPPY HIKING!
wildflowers at rustlers gulch, crested butte

Happy Hiking: Rustler’s Gulch

Rustler’s Gulch is a 9 mile, heavily trafficked trail located in the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness near Crested Butte, Colorado.

Getting to Rustler’s Gulch

Rustler’s Gulch is about 8 miles from town, but the drive takes about 30 minutes on the dirt road, FS 317.  Don’t worry, FS 317 is passable by two-wheel drive car to this location, and the drive through mountainsides of wildflowers is spectacular.

HAPPY HIKING!
wildflowers on snodgrass trail in crested butte

Happy hiking: Snodgrass Trail FS 317

I previously posted about hiking a portion of the Snodgrass Trail from the Washington Gulch side.  Today I hiked the other portion of the trail beginning at the more popular start on FS 317.

While I loved the Washington Gulch side, the 3.3 mile lollipop loop from FS 317 was even better!  It is hard to imagine with all the wildflower hikes in Crested Butte that I’ve completed this week, that they can keep topping one another.  But it seems the Snodgrass Trail did just that!

Happy Hiking!
wildflowers on judd falls trail in crested butte

Happy Hiking: Judd Falls Trail

After a handful of challenging hikes in Crested Butte during the Wildflower Festival in mid-July, I picked an easy one Friday, Judd Falls Trail. This short, out-and-back 2.2-mile hike was perfect to get Annie a little exercise before I completed my “on the road” chores such as laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning VANgo and the like.

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Happy Hiking: Snodgrass Trail

Wednesday was a day of dreary weather.  As a result, I picked a trail I saw as I drove to my Crested Butte campsite off Washington Gulch Road.  It turned out to be Snodgrass Trail which initially confused me, as the AllTrails app shows the trailhead off FS 317. 

Happy Hiking!
wildflowers on gothic mountain

Happy Hiking: Gothic Mountain

I’ve always wanted to visit Crested Butte during the Wildflower Festival.  I finally did just that and for my first hike to Gothic Mountain via Trail 403 from Washington Gulch Road, they did not disappoint!

Happy Hiking!
selfie on second creek trail

Happy Hiking: Second Creek Trail

I arrived in Colorado on Jun 30th after basically two months on the road.  After Wanderful Wheels replaced my defective stove, whose top shattered while I was cooking, I headed to Estabrook, our family property near Bailey.

I didn’t leave the property for an entire week!  I woke up every morning to the Platte River and took cover from the rain every afternoon.  In the middle I relaxed, blogged, and took Annie on walks all over the old logging roads.

HAPPY HIKING!