+ 150
Lower Loop
Hiking Trail
Moderate
7.51 mi
640 ft
A flat, easy, but incredibly scenic hike directly from downtown Crested Butte.
Hanging out in Crested Butte and hankering for a hike? Thanks to the convenient access to the Lower Loop trail, you can hike directly from idyllic downtown Crested Butte directly onto beautiful, mostly flat singletrack.
It's difficult to overstate how scenic this trail is, from the crystal-clear river flowing right below the singletrack, to jagged mountain peaks lining both sides of the narrow valley. Vistas back toward Crested Butte highlight the monolith of Mount Crested Butte towering above town. And if you strain your eyes, you can glimpse Paradise Divide way down at the end of the Slate River Valley. Along the trail itself, wildflowers spring up every year, and the aspen groves—while gorgeous any time of year—turn a brilliant gold in September.
Hiking out-and-back on Lower Lower Loop is a fantastic route for those looking for an easy, enjoyable hike. Since the Lower Lower Loop follows the bank of the river, the elevation gain is minimal. This is about the flattest yet most entertaining trail imaginable!
If you opt to climb up to the Upper Lower Loop, the views are ratcheted up another notch, along with a bit more aerobic work required. And of course, like all the trails in Crested Butte, you could always go much, much further—only your imagination, your fitness, and the amount of gear you’re carrying in your pack limit the distance of your hike in this amazing mountain destination.
All things considered, the Lower Loop is an absolute gem of a trail! Written by Greg Heil
Hanging out in Crested Butte and hankering for a hike? Thanks to the convenient access to the Lower Loop trail, you can hike directly from idyllic downtown Crested Butte directly onto beautiful, mostly flat singletrack.
It's difficult to overstate how scenic this trail is, from the crystal-clear river flowing right below the singletrack, to jagged mountain peaks lining both sides of the narrow valley. Vistas back toward Crested Butte highlight the monolith of Mount Crested Butte towering above town. And if you strain your eyes, you can glimpse Paradise Divide way down at the end of the Slate River Valley. Along the trail itself, wildflowers spring up every year, and the aspen groves—while gorgeous any time of year—turn a brilliant gold in September.
Hiking out-and-back on Lower Lower Loop is a fantastic route for those looking for an easy, enjoyable hike. Since the Lower Lower Loop follows the bank of the river, the elevation gain is minimal. This is about the flattest yet most entertaining trail imaginable!
If you opt to climb up to the Upper Lower Loop, the views are ratcheted up another notch, along with a bit more aerobic work required. And of course, like all the trails in Crested Butte, you could always go much, much further—only your imagination, your fitness, and the amount of gear you’re carrying in your pack limit the distance of your hike in this amazing mountain destination.
All things considered, the Lower Loop is an absolute gem of a trail! Written by Greg Heil
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